Theatrix Continues 2009-2010 Season with Revenge, Obsession, and Mystery in 'A Picasso' and 'Murder by Poe'

Theatrix, the student organized theatre organization under the auspices of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film (JCSTF) continues its 2009-2010 season with Jeffrey Hatcher’s A Picasso and Murder By Poe, two one act plays one that looks into the life of Pablo Picasso and another that explores the mind of Edgar Allen Poe.

A PICASSO takes the audience back to 1940s France. It explores the work of Pablo Picasso and raises questions of Picasso using his paintings for political purposes. As the story grows the audience gets an inside look at Picasso’s life, exploring his dreams, aspirations, and secrets. Theatrix welcomes back Junior performance major Kelsey Black as the fierce and controlling Miss Fischer and Senior performance major Justin Gamerl as the complicated and philandering Picasso.

MURDER BY POE takes place in a remote mansion on a dark and stormy night.  A traveler arrives seeking shelter and encounters four others who have found their way to this desolate house. As they wait out the storm, each tells how they came to be in this place. Each of their stories has to do with murder. As the story continues, the killers share their stories and are unmasked by their own fear and guilt. Theatrix is proud to present a full cast of talented actors including Sophomore, Emily Martinez bringing the show to life as her character Woman accidentally stumbles into the house of murders. Junior, Jordan Deffenbaugh brings to life the Inspector Dupin who helps narrate the story and solve the mysteries.

A PICASSO and MURDER BY POE are directed by Trent Stork, a performance and directing/management undergraduate student at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. The scenic design of student Rachel Aguirre coupled with the lighting design of first time designer Aja Jackson establish the dark and haunting feel of the two plays. Sound designer Jordan Deffenbaugh enhances the spooky mood of the play with an eerie soundscape. Costume design by graduate students Emily Parker and CeCe Stickler helps to emphasize daunting characters of the show. The atmosphere created by this design team is one of mystery that leaves the audience feeling as though they have stepped into a horror movie.

A PICASSO and MURDER BY POE will run Thursday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 27th at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 28th 2:00 p.m. in the Lab Theatre on the 3rd floor of the Temple Building, 12th and R St. in Lincoln, Nebraska.
 
Individual show tickets are $6, via credit card (some user fees may be applied) at www.unl.edu/theatrix, or at the theatre the evening of the performance (subject to availability).