Lone Star College-Montgomery’s drama department has an exciting 2013-14 theatre season. With a focus on community engagement and enrichment, there will be plenty of opportunities to experience the college’s talent and excellence in a unique line-up of shows.
 
“We offer a great variety of shows for our student actors and our audience,” said Chase Waites, LSC-Montgomery’s drama department chair. “Each offering this season is unique: an original play, a contemporary teen drama, an evening created by the students, wild and whacky Shakespeare, and a family favorite truly round out the ‘something for everyone’ motif.”
 
The season opens with the world premiere of an original play written by LSC-Montgomery alum Christopher Young called Place of the Skull. The show will run October 10-12 in the college’s Mainstage Theatre, located in the Performing Arts Center (Building D).
 
Place of the Skull follows the final few days of a death row prison inmate as he shares his journey through accepting mortality, recognizing morality, and human forgiveness and communication.
 
“Place of the Skull is especially exciting because it is a world premiere of a play written by one of our alumni,” said Waites. “It’s a twisted tale of a killer seeking answers, self-reconciliation, and even a bit of redemption in his last days on death row. This is a play that will make our student actors look deep within themselves to find honesty in the performance. The audience will walk away with many thoughtful questions about life, death, and powers that motivate us to do the things we do.”
 
Later this fall, the department will present the Actors Workshop, a one-act play called Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead that provides the students an opportunity to perform in a more intimate setting. In the spring, the Actors Workshop will feature a collection of short scenes and monologues to showcase the student’s work as they prepare for their annual trip to the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The Actors Workshops take place in the Black Box Theatre, which is located on the second floor of the Performing Arts Center (Building D).
 
Next spring brings a return of Shakespeare as the department presents William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, on stage April 9-12, 2014, with special engagements for area intermediate and high schools. In The Tempest, the story of Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plays out as he plots to restore his daughter to her rightful place using illusion and skillful manipulation.
 
Finally, plan now to see the classic musical Annie, coming July 10-12, 2014. In this beloved story, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorsteps of an orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan.
 
“We try to balance our season with productions that focus on specific actor and technician training and a production or two that’s just fun for the audience,” said Waites. “It’s going to be an exciting year.”
 
LSC-Montgomery’s drama department will continue its tradition of offering a preview performance on the Wednesday evening prior to all shows taking place in the Mainstage Theatre. This performance is free for students, faculty, and staff, and $5 for the general public. The preview performance offers a free reception with food and drinks beginning at 4:30 p.m., and the show begins at 5:30 p.m.
 
For information about any of the shows or to purchase tickets, visit www.LoneStar.edu/Theatre-Montgomery, or contact Fong Chau, program coordinator for theatre/fine arts at LSC-Montgomery, at (936) 273-7021, or Fong.T.Chau@LoneStar.edu.
 
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.

Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.