The kids are away at college. The wife is at work. Lonely, detached, middle-aged Greg finds a new zest for life in Sylvia, a talking canine who lavishes him with love and adoration. Sylvia comically changes these empty-nester’s lives forever in this zany, drop-dead funny play.
Guest Director
Jan Rogge, local AEA actor and member of the Kansas City Actors Theatre
Dates
October 7, 8, 9, & Sunday, October 10 (Homecoming Weekend)
Dinner theatre performance October 8 and 9. Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
With several ensembles there are many ways to experience great choral and orchestra music. Each presentation is entirely free to the public. For information on performance dates and locations, visit Avila.edu/choral or call the Box Office at 816.501.3699.
Both performances are Free and will be held in the Goppert Performing Arts Center
“Twelve Sketches”
by Michalis Koutsoupides, Assistant Professor and Artist-in-Residence
November 22 7:30 p.m.
“Songs for a new world”
by Jason Robert Brown
December 10 7:30 p.m.
Avila University Theatre Presents:
The Imaginary Cuckold
Written by Moliere Translated into English by Richard Wilbur
Synopsis:
Is he with her? Or she with him? And what of the maid!?! Jealousy! Accusations! Appearances aren’t always what they seem as assumptions, suspicions, and laughter fly. And all sparked by a chance encounter which leads to an increasingly farcical—and hilarious—series of events.
Director
Matt Schwader Harbor, Director of Performance Studies and assistant professor of theatre
Kansas City celebrates the 400th birthday of the genius of comedy Jean-Baptiste Poquelin a.k.a. Molière (15 Jan. 1622-17 Feb. 1673) and the 200th anniversary of the French trading post which became Kansas City by François & Bérénice Chouteau in accord with Native nations. Imaginary Cuckold is part of KC MOliere: 400 in 2022, a city-wide, year-long festival celebrating Molier’s 400th birthday.
Avila University Theatre Presents:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Written by Simon Stephens
Synopsis:
Compassion. Trust. Forgiveness. The play opens with a dead dog and a falsely accused teen. What happens next is a thrilling adventure to uncover the true killer as our unforgettable young hero discovers family secrets that turn his – and our – world upside down.
Director
William Grey Warren
Dates
February 24, 25, 26 & Sunday, February 27 Location: Frantze Family Black Box Theatre inside the Goppert Performance Arts Center
This entitles you to two special discounted Goppert Theatre season passes and VIP passes to opening night champagne receptions. You will also be noted in Arts at Avila publications and the Avila University Donor Recognition List.
Sponsor of the Arts – $150
This entitles you to four special discounted Goppert Theatre season passes and VIP passes to opening night champagne receptions. You will also be noted in Arts at Avila publications and the Avila University Donor Recognition List.
Patron of the Arts – $300
This entitles you to eight special discounted Goppert Theatre season passes and VIP passes to opening night champagne receptions. You will also be noted in Arts at Avila publications and the Avila University Donor Recognition List.
RENT
Music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson
Synopsis:
This powerful rock opera tells the story of one year in the life of a group of bohemians struggling in modern-day East Village New York.
Director
Chioma Anyanwu
dates
April 28 – 30, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. May 1, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
Reserve tickets by calling the Box Office at 816.501.3699 for more information.
Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinee performances begin at 2 p.m.
Season Tickets
Regular — $30 Seniors — $28
Dinner Theatre
$30
*Available for October 8-9 productions of Sylvia
Regular Tickets
Regular — $10 Seniors — $8 Non-Avila Students — $8 Avila Students — FREE
Children under 10 receive free entry at all Avila Performing Arts events
Welcome to the Goppert Performing Arts Center
Project Highlights
With its multi-level, naturally illuminated spaces and prime location on the Avila campus, the new Goppert Performing Arts Center welcomes students, patrons, and the community. There’s room for all, as our new and renovated spaces allow for multiple audiences to be entertained, educated, and inspired simultaneously.
Frantze Family Black Box Theatre
The Frantze Family Black Box Theatre—with nearly 2,000 square feet of performance and rehearsal space, this versatile 200-seat theatre space allows for smaller, more intimate performances. For Avila students it’s a valuable laboratory where they will hone their craft in performance and design/technical theatre.
Sue King Willcox Ph.D. Music Hall
Not only is the new choir space acoustically beautiful, the striking architecture and floor-to-ceiling windows create a truly inspired space for learning.
Virginia C. and William D. Tompkins Rehearsal Hall
The Virginia C. and William D. Tompkins Rehearsal Hall is one of two rehearsal spaces. Dance, music, tech, and theatre — each of Avila’s performing arts programs – will utilize these spaces as they prepare for the main stage. Naming opportunity available! Contact Maggie Mohrfeld at 816.501.2435 or Maggie.Mohrfeld@avila.edu to take advantage.
Roderick J. & Jo Anne Cyr Grand Lobby
The Roderick J. & Jo Anne Cyr Grand Lobby is at the center of it all. Pre-performance gatherings. Social functions. Informal learning. Post-performance conversations. The Grand Lobby not only unifies the existing Goppert Theatre space with the new construction and renovations, it also reflects the sophistication and quality of programming on each stage. Bravo!
Academic Information
What does Avila have to offer?
Avila Performing Arts provides students with a personal and participatory learning environment. We are not just talk – our integrative learning style is active, allowing students to directly apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to real-world applications. Come be a part of our University and experience the best of undergraduate academic and professional education.
Charlene Gould, Ph.D. (retired) Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences