NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Theatre and Music departments announced the 2023-2024 season of performances with four productions including visiting performing artists, guest directors, and student directors in addition to two student concerts.  

 

The fall season opens on Nov. 3 with a MainStage production titled "Antigone by Sophocles" translated by Anne Carson and guest director Rudy Ramirez. The show is scheduled to run on Nov. 3-4, 10-11 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. in Venable Theatre.  

 

Rudy Ramirez, Benedetti Teaching Artist in Residence, is a director, writer, and teaching artist specializing in developing new work and new artists. They have directed and developed work for a number of organizations around the country, including Colby College, the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and Herman Melville's Arrowhead. They are the founding Artistic Director of Avante Theatre Project and Associate Artistic Director of The VORTEX in Austin, Texas, where they were named Best Director of 2017 in the Austin Chronicle Readers Poll and where they won 10 B. Iden Payne Awards for their work in directing, acting and music composition. They have an MA in Performance Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and an MFA in Directing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

 

On Nov. 16, MOSAIC, formerly known as MCLA Arts & Culture, or MAC, will host Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band in the Venable Theatre. Internationally acclaimed Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band brings passion, virtuosity, and contagious energy to every performance, says a press release.

 

TheatreLab will perform two short plays, "Tango Palace" and "Dr. Kheal" by María Irene Fornés in Venable Theatre on Dec. 1-2 at 8 p.m. 

 

On Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. On Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., MCLA studio students, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Choir Monday will perform a winter concert at the Church Street Center Auditorium.  

 

Performances will return in March of the spring semester with a MainStage production of "The Summer in Gossensass," by María Irene Fornés, which will run on March 29-30 and April 5-6 at 8 p.m., and April 7 at 2 p.m. in Venable Theatre.  

 

TheatreLab will present a developmental workshop musical, "Emma When You Need Her" on April 26-28, written by Benedetti Artist-in-Residence Rudy Ramirez.  

 

On April 29 at 7 p.m., MCLA studio students, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Choir Monday will perform a spring concert in the Church Street Center Auditorium.