The NAU Theater season opens with On New Beginnings, a play written and directed by theater professor Mac Groves and staged Oct. 11-20 at the Studio Theater.
The story takes place in modern day Oklahoma and follows six women who belong to the New Beginnings Baptist Church Literary Guild and Book Study. They each have their own personality defects that seem insurmountable if not addressed collectively. They address their problems by sticking together and helping one another with openness and honesty.
Groves wrote the play, his first, while on sabbatical in Oklahoma in 2011 in his childhood town.
“These are women that I’ve known my entire life,” he said. “In this area, they are the most wonderful people in the world or the most worthless people in the world.”
Several theatre students star in the production, including Jenna Worden, Alexandra Rigby, Charity Ormand, Katie Gardea, Chelsea Hightower and Caitlin Shepherd.
The performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11-12 and 16-19 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 13 and 20 in the Studio Theater.
Individual tickets for the performance are $14 for general public; $12 for seniors and NAU staff; and $8 for children and NAU students. Tickets can be purchased from the Central Ticket Office located in the University Union (bldg. 30,) across from Ardrey Memorial Auditorium, by calling (928) 523-5661 or (888) 520-7214, or by visiting nau.edu/cto.
Free parking is available after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends in Parking Lot P13, behind the Cline Library.