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The Emporia Theatre Guild serves as a “friends of the theatre” social club, committed to celebrating the arts through attending theatre productions, and extending the experience through social events fueled by friends, food, and cocktails.

The organization was founded on two pillars: the first was to create an engaged community of theatre patrons through dynamic social events; the second was to ensure perpetual, high-quality theatre in Emporia through supporting ESU student scholarships. The 2022-23 season is exciting, challenging, and diverse. Guild members may make reservations a week before public sales begin, and receive 15% off all ticket orders at emporia.edu/tickets.

Individual memberships for 2022-23 are available at the rate of $200 (one patron pass for exclusive events). Household memberships are available for $300 (two passes for exclusive events). $100 of either membership is your tax-deductible gift for student scholarships. The remainder underwrites our soirées:

Sunday October 30th, 2022 @ Noon: Curtains Backstage tour of remodeled theatre facility

                                                12:30: Mimosas and Brunch (Skyline Room)

Thursday April 27th, 2023 @ 6:00 pm: Love for Love Opening Night Soirée (Skyline Room)

Thursday June 22, 2023 @ 6:00 pm: Ride the Cyclone Opening Night Soirée (Skyline Room)

In order to confirm your 2022-23 Theatre Guild membership, please contact Denisha Seiter at dseiter@emporia.edu or by calling 620-341-5257.

Guild Members also receive exclusive invitations to special annual events such as the Pflaum Lecture Series, the Irene Ryan Scholarship Competition Showcase, the directing class’ One Act Festival, and performances by ZOIKS! Improv & Sketch Comedy Troupe as well as the Pantomime And Non-traditional Theatre Society (PANTS).

2022-2023 Memberships cover the following productions:

Curtains

Book by Rupert Holmes, Lyrics by Fred Ebb,  Music by John Kander

A Musical ‘Whodunit?’: Musical Comedy • Directed by Pete Rydberg

Karl C. Bruder Theatre • emporia.edu/tickets

October 27-30, 2022

A murder mystery inside a musical, wrapped up in a theatre-savvy comedy. It’s opening night for a new musical, but the leading lady has been murdered. Detective Frank Cioffi – a music theatre aficionado – is called in to investigate. Everyone is a suspect as the bodies begin to pile up. CURTAINS is packed with glorious tunes, show-stopping dance numbers, and delightful characters. Nominated for 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

God of Carnage

By Yasmina Reza • Translated by Christopher Hampton

“Responsible parenting” spins into chaos: Dark Comedy • Directed by Jim Harris

Ronald Q. Frederickson Theatre • emporia.edu/tickets

December 1-4, 2022

A playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings two sets of Brooklyn parents together for a meeting to resolve the conflict. The veneer of diplomacy evaporates, cocktails flow, and the gloves come off. A comedy of manners... minus the manners, GOD OF CARNAGE was the winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play.

How I Learned to Drive

by Paula Vogel

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize: Drama • Directed by Jim Harris

Ronald Q. Frederickson Theatre • emporia.edu/tickets

March 23-26, 2023

A wildly funny, surprising, and yet devastating tale of survival shown through the lens of a disturbing relationship between a young girl and an older man. From behind the wheel of a Chevy ’56, a woman grows up and learns the rules of the road… and life. HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE was the winner of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Mature Audiences Only*

*Themes of sexual abuse, incest, and pedophilia.

Love for Love

By William Congreve • Adapted by Dennis Turney, Jr. 

A Restoration disco-glam mashup: Comedy • Directed by Dennis Turney, Jr

Karl C. Bruder Theatre • emporia.edu/tickets

April 26-30, 2023

In this witty farce, love and money square off as two brothers attempt to follow their hearts without losing their inheritance. William Congreve skewers vanity, scandalous behavior, and extravagance of the “upper crust.” Adapted and directed by ESU Theatre Professor Dennis Turney, Jr., LOVE FOR LOVE, a witty Restoration comedy, is transported to the Studio 54 nightclub at the height of the disco era.

Ride the Cyclone

Music, lyrics and book by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell

A Musical Fantasy: Dark Comedy • Directed by Pete Rydberg

Karl C. Bruder Theatre • emporia.edu/tickets

June 22-25, 2023

When life goes off the rails, we discover what really matters. Six Canadian teens from a chamber choir take one last ride on a rollercoaster that will forever change the course of each of their lives. Quirky and smart, edgy and beautiful all at once, RIDE THE CYCLONE ultimately reveals the resilience of the human spirit and, according to The New York Times, is “high-spirited and just plain fun from start to finish.”

In order to confirm your 2022-23 Theatre Guild membership, please contact 

Denisha Seiter at dseiter@emporia.edu or by calling 620-341-5257.

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