“Someone sneezes. Someone can’t get a signal. Someone won’t answer the door. Someone put an elephant on the stairs. Someone’s not ready to talk. Someone is her brother’s mother. Someone hates irrational numbers. Someone told the police. Someone got a message from the traffic light. Someone’s never felt like this before.”
This November, Millersville University theatre presents “Love and Information,” summarized above. The production is a fast-paced play with more than 100 characters.
The play is directed by Jonathan Strayer, who is an assistant professor at the University. “Love and Information” was proposed to Millersville University’s theatre season selection committee last year and was a favorite among the students to Strayer’s surprise.
“This play has been on my radar since 2018,” says Strayer. “If I read a play and can’t figure it out right away, that makes me want to get into a room with a group of creative artists, explore the piece, and try to figure out how it works. ‘Love and Information’ is one of those plays.”
The ensemble cast is comprised of 25 students from 13 different majors. The performance involves singing, dancing, live music, video projection, social media and even using plants to produce sound.
“It’s a wonderful experience working with such a vast array of students because they all bring such varied perspectives and experiences to the stage and that enriches the entire creative community,” Strayer says. “This is also one of the more diversly talented groups of students I’ve ever worked with.”
The play is noteworthy for including a seemingly random collection of scenes that can be arranged in whatever order the director wishes, which allows for a variety of different productions.
“We have ordered the play and are crafting something unique that no one has ever seen before. That is exciting for both us and the audience!” Strayer says.
Additionally, the production is created by Caryl Churchill, who Strayer describes as a “living legend of a playwright.”
“She has been writing for the last 50 years and she is still creating plays this innovative and exciting,” says Strayer. “It’s great to get our students involved with her work.”
Ticket for “Love and Information” are now on sale. Seven in-person performances will take place from November 4-12, in Clair Hall at the Winter Center. Two livestream performances will take place on Friday, November 5 and Friday, November 12.
For more information about ticket prices and showtimes, click here.