The Blinn College-Bryan Campus Theatre Arts Program continues its 2019-20 season with a story that delves into the complexities and possibilities that emerge when a domestic abuse survivor grapples with moving on.
The Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe will present Lynn Nottage’s Poof! at 7:30pm Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 19-20, in Student Center Room F-120 (map). The BBTT consists of Blinn theater students who create short, interactive theater experiences to encourage cultural and collaborative exchange in the community.
The play is for a mature audience and is approximately 20 minutes long.
Tickets for the campus showings are $5 for students and $10 for the general public. All theater performances are open seating. Tickets can be purchased at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice/bryan. For questions regarding ticket reservations, contact the Box Office at (979) 209-8100 or bryanboxoffice@blinn.edu. Tickets also will be available at the door.
At the center of Poof! is the question of what would happen if you could just wish someone away. This is the scenario lead character Loureen faces when her abusive husband Samuel suddenly vanishes into a pile of ashes and she grapples with the reality of reclaiming her life. Written by the only woman to have won two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama, Poof! reflects the complex topics acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Nottage often addresses in her work.
Following both campus performances, attendees are encouraged to stay for a brief “Talkback” session featuring a dialogue with the cast and production team, who will invite the audience to ask questions and share their feedback. A staff member from Phoebe’s Home, a local Bryan organization that supports victims of domestic and sexual abuse, will also participate in the discussion.
“This play addresses a difficult topic, but one that is very timely and important to shine a light on,” Blinn-Bryan Theatre Director Greg Wise says. “Injected with a sense of wit and poignancy, Poof! is a moving narrative and we’re proud to leverage this production to spotlight a community organization that supports victims and their family members.”
Now in its second year, the BBTT continues its successful outreach program that brings live theater and educational tools and exercises into local schools, community centers, libraries, and retirement communities. As a counterpart to their on-campus shows, the troupe will conduct community performances made possible by a grant from the Eugene Edge III Charitable Trust.
“This performance wraps up a second successful season for the Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe,” Wise says. “Our programming really enables us to share the arts with the local community while showcasing Blinn’s talented students and commitment to outreach and engagement.”
Blinn’s Theater Arts Program hosts a variety of performances each year on its Bryan and Brenham campuses, and integrates the artistic, technical, and academic disciplines of theater from the classroom to the stage. The Theater Arts Program is part of Blinn’s Division of Visual/Performing Arts and Kinesiology, which offers courses and hands-on learning opportunities in architecture, arts, communication studies, construction science, kinesiology, music, and theater.
For more information or to reserve a performance by the Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe, contact Wise at greg.wise@blinn.edu.
About the Blinn College District With innovative programs and award-winning co-enrollment partnerships, Blinn’s academic transfer rate ranks No. 1 among Texas community colleges. Courses are available online and at five Central Texas campuses, and students save 42 percent in tuition and fees compared to the average state university. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
