UA Ready to Throw a Musical ‘Wild Party’ at Allen Bales Theatre

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – “The Wild Party,” Andrew Lippa’s musical set during the Roaring ’20s, opens Tuesday, Oct. 21, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Allen Bales Theatre in Rowand Johnson Hall on The University of Alabama campus, a production of UA’s theatre and dance department.

Adapted from Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 epic poem, “The Wild Party” tells the story of Queenie, a dancer, and her tumultuous relationship with Burrs, a vaudeville clown. One night, the world unhinges, and tension builds during one wild party. It’s Prohibition, the world is on edge, and so are the guests. With jealousy as their weapon of choice, Queenie and Burrs battle it out. In the end, drastic measures will be taken, and new lives will be found by the light of the new day. With an award-winning score by Lippa, “The Wild Party” captures the sound of a long-gone era of excess.

“I was drawn to the controversial background of the original poem,” says Marian Mantovani, a third year directing graduate student who’s staging the musical. “It captures the essence of the period. The risqué content really inspired me to create a world of mischief and sordidness as well as drawing out the emotional content of the characters in a world they are trapped into and are screaming to escape from.”

Featuring a young, energetic cast, “The Wild Party” showcases the tremendous talent of the department’s rising stars, as well as set designs by faculty member Andy Fitch and costume designs by faculty member Donna Meester.

“The Wild Party” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Allen Bales Theatre is on Stadium Drive at Marr’s Spring Road in the UA Theatre District. Tickets are $8 for everyone ($6 + $2 service charge) and can be bought at the Box Office in Rowand-Johnson Hall from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, by visiting www.crimsonartstickets.com or by phoning 205/348-3400.

Patrons are also reminded that parking is no longer permitted on Colonial Drive, Stadium Drive or Marr’s Spring Road. However, parking is available on the side and rear of the theatre building. Parking is also available in the ten Hoor Parking Deck No. 1 (entrance on Stadium Drive), at no charge, which is next door to the theatre at Stadium Drive and Marr’s Spring Road.

The department of theatre and dance is a part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.