SUU’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance presents Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, “You Can’t Take It With You.” Directed by Richard Bugg, SUU theater professor and founder of Cedar City’s Neil Simon Festival, the production is a zany clash of ideals, ambitions, and romance. The laughter begins on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Evening performances continue on Feb. 4, 5, 6, and 8, with a Saturday matinee on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. The show will be performed at SUU’s Randall L. Jones Theatre.
The Vanderhof-Sycamore-Carmichael household in upper Manhattan is unique. Grandpa enjoys going to college commencements, tending to his snakes, and avoiding paying his taxes. His daughter Penny pursues playwriting and painting with equal zest while her husband Paul manufactures fireworks in the basement. Their daughter Essie is a would-be ballerina and part-time candy maker, and her husband, Ed, is a xylophonist and deliveryman for his wife’s candies. Then there is Alice Sycamore, Paul and Penny’s other daughter, who despite the eccentricity thriving all around her holds down a job in a highly respected New York business firm and has fallen in love with her boss, Tony Kirby. However, their relationship is threatened when Tony insists that their families meet, resulting in a would-be dinner party that remains a high point in American comedy.
Creating the colorful and eccentric environment of the comedy are scenic designer Brian Jude Beacom, costume designer Chyanne Christensen, lighting designer J.D. Sargent, sound designer Ryan Turpin, and properties master Ruth Faulkner. Kristine Nordby serves as the production’s stage manager assisted by Chris Stewart and Kat Taratko.
The Sycamore family is portrayed by Tatem Trotter as Penny, Alex Grieg as Paul, Amber James as Alice, Brittany Reed as Essie, Robert F. Wilson as Paul, and Dan Frezza as Martin Vanderhof. The other members of eccentric household include Steve Turner as Mr. DePina, Kade Cox as Boris Kolenkhov, Kaitlyn Curry as Rheba and Justin Stockett as Donald. Joshua Leigh Hopkins plays Tony Kirby with Henry Ballesteros and Madeline Peck as his parents. The cast also includes Devin Anderson, Nicole Heath, Benjamin Knowlton, Max Kunz, Abigail Nakken, and Parker Rawlins.
Ticket prices for “You Can’t Take It With You” are $10 for adults, $8 for alumni with ID, and $5 for youth. SUU faculty, staff and students are admitted free with a valid ID. Faculty and staff are entitled to bring one guest. The CPVA Flex Pass offers six admissions to any theater, dance or music event and can be used for a single entrance to a production or can be used to admit six people to one event. The cost of the Flex Pass is $40 per pass, a $65 value. For tickets or the Flex Pass, call the SUU Ticket Office at (435) 586-7872, Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or purchase in person at the Centrum Arena box office. Single tickets may be purchased online at suu.edu/pva/arts.
The 2015–2016 SUU Theatre Arts & Dance Series includes the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical “Rent” and “Elevated Movements,” a faculty-choreographed dance concert.
