MOUNT VERNON — The Cornell College theater and music departments will present two productions in March: “The Glory of Living,” a play about a child’s rage at her moral ambiguity and the society that regards her as disposable; and vocal selections from musical theater, operetta and opera.
“The Glory of Living” by playwright Rebecca Gilman will be staged Friday and Saturday, March 16-17 and 23-24, at 8 p.m. in Armstrong Theatre. General admission is $8 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, non-Cornell students and youths 15-18. Tickets may be purchased at the door or reserved by calling (319) 895-4293.
The play is directed by Lisa Rothe, who guest directed “Stop Kiss” last year at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City. Rothe earned a master of fine arts degree in directing and acting from New York University. “The Glory of Living” tells the story of a 15-year-old, Lisa, a good student who lives in a trailer with her mom, the local prostitute. The mother falls for a trucker and they set off on a nightmarish honeymoon of looting, kidnapping, rape and murder. The play contains adult situations and adult language that might be inappropriate for a young audience.
On March 23, Cornell vocalists will present “Beau Soir (Beautiful Evening)” at 8 p.m. in King Chapel. Works performed by students will include excerpts from “The Consul,” “Don Giovanni,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Les Miserables,” “Miss Saigon,” “Porgy and Bess” and “West Side Story.” Accompanists are Mary Drexler, Feilin Lin and Sara Mueske. The production is directed by Cornell music instructor Jonathon Thull. Admission is free.