Illinois College TheatreWorks presents “Against All Odds”
Illinois College TheatreWorks has announced its production lineup for the 2018-2019 season with a theme of “Against All Odds,” to highlight people striving for a better future, from historic Illinois College activism to a fantasy mission battling demons.
The College’s first production this year, “Against the Tide,” is written by historian Tara McClellan McAndrew and will be directed by Aasne Daniels, assistant professor of theatre. Showtimes are October 27 and November 1-3 at 7:30 p.m. and on November 4 at 2 p.m.
“Against the Tide” is a historical drama set in the early days of Illinois College history. It tells the story of IC’s first president, Edward Beecher, as he brings his family from the cultural refinement of Boston to the “wild frontier” of Illinois. Between battling cholera and balancing the budget, Beecher finds himself taking a leadership position within the rising tide of abolitionist sentiment. Pushback and protests from slavery supporters become riots, ultimately leading to violence in this world-premiere play.
Illinois College’s spring production, “She Kills Monsters,” is written by Qui Nguyen and will be directed by Dr. Nancy Taylor Porter, professor of theatre. Showtimes are April 13 and April 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. and April 21 at 2 p.m.
“She Kills Monsters” has been heralded as “an ingenious comedy” that slips between a Midwest high school and a Dungeons & Dragons quest. The play tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio after the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. As Agnes enters into the world her lost sister created, her playful romp through fanciful landscapes uncovers a deeper lesson. She gains a new understanding of Tilly and begins to see herself through her sister’s eyes in a way she couldn’t before her death. The dragons Agnes encounters and slays are more real than she ever imagined and reveal her sister’s hidden battles. As New York Times reviewer Eric Grode wrote, this remarkable play, will “slash and shapeshift its way into your heart.”
Tickets for the 2018-2019 TheatreWorks season are $10 and available online at www.ic.edu/theatre/tickets or by phone at 217.245.3471. Learn more about the theatre program at Illinois College at www.ic.edu/theatre.
For information on making a donation to support Illinois College TheatreWorks, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 217.245.3046 or visit www.ic.edu/supportus.