Bethel University

Renaissance Home



RENAISSANCE THEATRE NEWS:

INTO THE WOODS announced as Renaissance Spring Production

The Renaissance Program is proud to present the beloved musical "Into the Woods" to audiences this April.  Shows will be April 16-18 at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center in Huntingdon, TN.  A special 'Bethel-only' show is scheduled for Thursday evening, April 15.  Tickets are available by calling the DIXIE box office at 731-986-2100, or by going online to www.dixiepac.net.  Friday and Saturday night shows will begin at 7:00 pm and the Sunday matinee begins at 2:00.  All seats are reserved and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.  Contact the Dixie office for specifics on tickets.

For Bethel faculty, staff, and students, you are invited to the special "BETHEL-ONLY" night on Thursday, April 15.  To pick up your voucher, stop by the Renaissance office or the Bethel Bookstore.  Be sure to bring your student ID.  Seating for this performance is General Admission, but you must show your Bethel ID at the door. 

INTO THE WOODS SYNOPSIS

A Beautiful Princess, Little Red Ridinghood, Prince Charming who is not-so-charming, and a witch...who raps. They're all among the cockeyed characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's fractured fairy tale. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, encountering many other characters along the way including Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later, with disastrous results. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy in the style of "The Princess Bride" becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility, family, and the stories we tell our children.

For information on the Renaissance program, check us out on the Bethel website at www.bethelu.edu or check our blog www.renaissancetheatre.blogspot.com.  You can also call our office at 731-352-6445 or 6414.

• Our mainstage shows include major plays and musicals that will be produced throughout the year.  We will do 2-3 mainstage shows each year which could include musicals and plays and will be performed in our BethelPerformingArtsCenter.  Shows that we have produced in the past include “Oklahoma,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Matchmaker,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Seussical”, "God's Favorite", "Bye Bye Birdie", and "Disney's Beauty & the Beast." 
• Along with presenting great material to our community, we also have a desire to bring the arts into local schools and provide educational opportunities for elementary, middle school, and high school aged students to learn about theatre and the performing arts.  Each year, we will travel to schools in our area and do workshops, acting exercises, and present educational material to students.  This will be an important part of what we do in Renaissance by teaching younger children and students about acting and the arts.
• Another very important part of our program is our church production.  Each year, we will create a dramatic/musical piece to be taken to churches around the southeast.  This program will include music, drama sketches, mime, and other creative tools to communicate the message of Jesus Christ. 

Renaissance Theatre performs a majority of it's shows in BPAC, the Bethel Performing Arts Center.  Once the home of the McKenzie First Cumberland Presbyterian Church,  BPAC seats around 200 people and the historic building is the only building in McKenzie listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The current building was completed in 1892 and replaced a previous church building that had been constructed in 1873.  The vaulted sanctuary is an architectural marvel that was constructed over a 5 year period.  Comfortable and cozy, you will love seeing a show at BPAC as you will feel like you are a PART of the action.  We hope you will join us soon! 

How YOU can join Renaissance Theatre!