IUP Theatre’s performance ensemble company, Theater-by-the-Grove, is proud to announce the opening of their developmental premiere of a new play, By The Time We Got To Woodstock, written by notable playwright John Spellos. The poignant comedy was selected after an open submission process that resulted in over 430 plays from around the world being sent to the faculty of IUP’s Theatre Department last November.
By The Time We Got to Woodstock follows the story of a young man, Hank, whose family cabin is overrun by a motley crew of strangers all trying to get to the fabled music festival in the summer of 1969, through bad weather and worse luck, before it ends. The new fellowship (consisting also of the flower child Donna, militant activist Bernie, rock musician hopeful Roger, consciousness-altered Wally, and the uncertain-but-curious Cindy) must recognize their own places in a national landscape torn between change at home and overseas while navigating the parallel politics of friendship, loyalty, and self-determination.
“Staging John’s newest work has been a joy not just because of the genius of his script, but because of the talented and dedicated students who eagerly signed up to be a part of it,” said Kelly. “Developing a new play in collaboration with the playwright is a huge opportunity a lot of students don’t get at the university level with challenges they haven’t had before. They’ve had all the excitement and insight of a professional company through this process.”
By The Time We Got to Woodstock features several exciting elements beyond its process, including the nostalgia of 1969-era music so many of us still love today, a rain shower of daisies, and a transformation from act one into the world of Woodstock in act two, which will rearrange the audience seating into a more immersive configuration evoking the crowd-camp of the festival. Apart from all this, Spellos’s play is steeped in hilarity, introspective searching, psychedelic color, historical references and jokes, and the talents of many university artists across students, faculty, and multiple disciplines.
By The Time We Got to Woodstock by John Spellos features performances by IUP theatre students Nathaniel Roberts as Hank, Alexxa Kowalski as Bernie, Ashley Rhodes as Cindy, Tyreese Roselle as Roger, Lauren Bryant as Donna, and Samuel Nagar as Wally. The production is directed by Joshua Kelly, with scenic design by Marty Savolskis, costume direction by Nancy Pipkin-Hutchinson, costume and prop design by Desiree Hutchinson and Kostadena Hartley, dramaturgy by Michael Schwartz, and music performances by Xander Vivirito and Lauren Fischer. Performances are February 26–28 at 7:30 p.m. and March 1 at 2:00 p.m. in the Waller Hall Theatre on IUP’s Indiana campus.
By the Time We Got to Woodstock contains mild adult themes and is recommended for teen to adult audiences. Tickets are available for advance purchase online or by phone through the Lively Arts Office at 724-357-2787, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Remaining tickets may be purchased at the door one hour before each performance.