Published Tuesday, November 7th, 2023
Robert Askins’ hilarious yet dark satire will be performed in the Black Box Theatre.
As the cold winter threatens, the gray squirrels gloat over a fat cache of nuts. Starving red squirrels beg the gray squirrels to share. The result is all-out war.
The Wayne State College Theatre Program presents Robert Askins’ “The Squirrels” Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 16-19, in the Black Box Theatre, located on the lower level of the Lied Performing Arts Annex of the Peterson Fine Arts Building. Performances are 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, available at the door, are $5 per person for the public, with free admission for Wayne State students, faculty, and staff with their college ID card. There are no reserved seats and seating is limited.
“The Squirrels” is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Services, Inc.
This hilarious, yet dark, satire mirrors a modern-day society of wealth inequality and fear of the other. Echoing cultural conflicts, “The Squirrels” scrutinizes avarice, arrogance, politics, and prejudice. A forbidden romance kindles further drama. Tension soars, leaving no squirrel, gray or red, unscathed. “The Squirrels” contains mature themes and runs approximately 90 minutes.
Cast members include:
Willemstad, Curaçao – Nathania Mercelina
Whitby, New Zealand – Sophie Pascoe
Lafayette, La. – Debonaire Williams
Ida Grove, Iowa – Ashly Gunderson
Missouri Valley, Iowa – Mariah Pleskac
Nevada, Iowa – Iyla Sutherland
Canton, S.D. – Seth Gustad
Yankton, S.D. – Gavin Kafka, Madison Reisner
Cedar Bluffs – Brayden Hermanson
Gretna – Ella Johnson
McCook – Chloe McMichael
Omaha – Kaito Moreno Solorio
Valley – Nevin Hayner
Other Wayne State students involved in the production are Claire Jensen, Aurora, costume designer; Zoey Campbell, Papillion, stage manager; and Eve Gilmore, Sioux City, Iowa, scenic artist.
“The Squirrels” is directed by Rusty Ruth, associate professor of theatre at Wayne State. Mollie Young, adjunct professor of theatre, serves as intimacy director, and Brian Begley, associate professor of theatre, is the scenic, lighting, and sound designer. Begley also serves as fight choreographer and technical director.
For more information, contact Ruth at [email protected].