Can you be a good person in a bad world? Playwright Bertolt Brecht’s explores this question in his parable, The Good Person of Setzuan. The UTC Theatre Company in conjunction with the First Tennessee Foundation presents Tony Kushner’s adaptation of Brecht’s classic work in Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre located in the UTC Fine Arts Center. Performances are scheduled for Tuesday, November 18 through Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on the 22nd.
In The Good Person of Setzuan, protagonist Shen Te struggles to live harmoniously with her troublesome neighbors. After she is the only one in her village to provide shelter to three gods who have come to earth, Shen Te is rewarded for her kindness and opens a small store to make a living. When her neighbors still try to take advantage of her kindness, Shen Te devises a unique way to combat their selfishness.
“Good Person raises some important questions about how society operates, about what is important to us,” Steve Ray, Interim Department Head and Associate Professor of Theatre and Speech, said. “Brecht was always hoping to change his audience and therefore change society. He wanted audience members to think about what they were seeing. Our audience will be confronted with interesting ideas, unusual staging and fun songs.”
“Every few years we like to throw in a Brecht show for our students. He is one of the most influential theatre innovators of the 20th century and so many aspects of how we do theatre today can be traced back to him,” Ray continued.
Tickets can be purchased at the Fine Arts Center box office by phone at (423) 425-4269 or in person. Tickets are also available to purchase at tickettracks.com. Tickets are $12 for General Admission and $10 for students and seniors.
UTC Theatre Company’s The Good Person of Setzuan production features:
Cast: Maya Abram, Dalton Arbaugh, Austin Blackburn, Amber Brown, John Brown, P.J. Burchfield, Jack Conway, Cierra Dolata, Calvin Forrest, Sam Fort, Emily Greene, Grace Holtz, Mario Hoyle, Jacob Madden, Josiah Motok, John Nichols, Allison Offutt, Justice Payne, Anne Sharpe, Taylor Smith, Nick Sterling, Haley Talley, and Madeleine Young.
Director: Gaye Jeffers
Assistant Director: Rebecca Rouse
Stage Manager: Erica Bastida
Assistant Stage Manager: Mason DeGroot
Scene Designer: Gaye Jeffers and Adam Miecielica
Costume Designer: Stephanie Henderson
Lighting Designer: Reid Austin
Technical Director: John R. Burgess
Sound Designer: Gregory F. Jackson
Photographer: Jaimie Davis
