The Sul Ross State University Theatre Program will present “Art,” a Tony Award-winning comedy by acclaimed playwright Yasmina Reza, on weekends from Oct. 11 through Oct. 27 at the Fine Arts Studio Theatre on the Sul Ross campus.
The play explores the unraveling of a 15-year friendship between three middle-aged men. When Serge spends a small fortune on a white painting, his friend Marc is enraged, leading to a seismic shift in their relationship. Yvan, caught in the middle of his two feuding friends, is about to get married, adding to the tension.
“Art” premiered at the Wyndhams Theatre in London in 1996, featuring actors Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, and Ken Stott. Its Broadway production in 1998 starred Alan Alda, Victor Garber, and Alfred Molina, earning the Tony Award for Best Play that year.
“‘Art’ is both a comedy and tragedy,” said Director and Associate Professor of Communication and Theatre Marjorie Scott. “The dialogue is witty and incisive, and the ideas the play explores are profound. We choose our friends, and sometimes we choose them for reasons that keep us stuck in an identity that no longer facilitates our growth and happiness. Are we friends with someone because of who they need us to be? Or because of a mutual desire to support one another through the inevitable changes life brings? What happens when friends prevent each other from being who they really are? Does it cease to be a friendship? These are important questions, and ‘Art’ manages to ask them in a highly entertaining way.”
Performances are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Oct. 27. Tickets are $15 for general admission and seniors aged 65 and older. Veterans and SRSU students, faculty, and staff receive free admission. To purchase tickets, visit www.bit.ly/sulross-theatre.
The play contains mature themes, some profanity, and brief depictions of violence, making it suitable for audiences aged 14 and over.
Photo: From left: Cristian Sanchez, Justin Hinton, and Garrison Rutledge rehearse a scene from “Art” by Yasmina Reza in the Fine Arts Building Studio Theatre. (Photo credit: Sul Ross)
