Aristophanes’ “The Frogs” Opens Fall Season at Performing Arts Center
The Seton Hill University Theatre and Dance Program will present “The Frogs,” by Aristophanes, translated by Ian Johnston, September 28-October 6 in the William Granger Ryan Theatre, Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa. Tickets are $16, with student and group rates available. Call the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center Box Office for tickets at 724-552-2929 or purchase tickets online.
Performances: September 28, 29, October 4, 5, 6: 8 p.m.; September 30: 2 p.m.; October 3: 10:30 a.m.
In this classic comedy by Aristophanes, author of “Lysistrata,” “The Birds” and “The Wasps,” a flamboyant Dionysus, the god of theatre and wine, takes desperate measures to end an interminable war. He travels to Hades to bring the best dramatist back from the dead in the hope that they can convince the politicians and people to bring about peace. He wrangles foolish servants, encounters a chorus of frogs and plenty of bawdy jokes on his journey. But how to choose the best dramatist, when both Aeschylus and Euripides, are vying for the title? A hilarious faceoff between the two playwrights, staged á la “Iron Chef” leaves Dionysus to judge who has the dramatic ammunition to end the war.
The Seton Hill student cast of “The Frogs” includes Carolyn Cole of Jeannette, Pa., Gabriella DeCarli of Dubois, Pa., Josh Dushack of Pittsburgh, Pa., Mike Hamilla of Smithfield, Pa., Megan Henderson of Columbia, Md., Brittany Lamb of Suffolk, Va., Kaylin Martin of McAlisterville, Pa., Andy Meholick of Reynoldsville, Pa., Hayley Mendola of Monongahela, Pa., Kelsey Riker of Douglassville, Pa., Sienna Sears of St. Louis, Mo., Bill Smolter of Glenshaw, Pa., and April Yanko of Johnstown, Pa.
The Seton Hill student technical staff includes Jimmy Amor of New Holland, Pa., assistant technical director, Layne Bailey of Wexford, Pa., dresser, Gretchen Cullison of Sparks, Md., shop manager, Farrah Felten of Schellsburg, Pa., props manager, Shawn Howland of Latrobe, Pa., assistant lighting designer, Tyler Kluck of Pittsburgh, Pa., assistant sound designer, Andrew Kutrufis of Pittsburgh, Pa., stage manager, Kelsey Marin of McAlisterville, Pa., make up stylist, Ben Otto of Mt. Holly Springs, Pa., assistant stage manager, Maggie Ozzello of Jeannette, Pa., design assistant, Amber Palfy of McKees Rocks, Pa., dresser, Alyssa Shaeffer of Carlisle, Pa., wardrobe manager, Kristina Stoddard of Hamilton, Ohio, assistant stage manager, Emily Urbaniak of Pittsburgh, Pa., prep crew, Veronica Vento of West Homestead, Pa., hair and wig stylist, and Ariel Watters of Everett, Pa., co-designer and make up manager.
Seton Hill Theatre’s production of “The Frogs” is directed by Denise Pullen, associate professor, theatre and dance. Professional artistic staff for the production includes Ken Clothier, assistant professor, theatre, sound designer, Karen Glass, assistant professor, theatre, set designer, R.J. Heid, adjunct instructor, music, rhythmic coach, Susan O’Neill, instructor, theatre, costume designer, and Deborah Peelor, adjunct instructor, theatre, lighting design.
Venue Information: All Seton Hill Theatre and Dance performances are held in the William Granger Ryan Theatre in Seton Hill University's Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Avenue, Greensburg, Pa. The Performing Arts Center is a fully accessible and climate-controlled facility. Parking is available in four nearby Greensburg parking areas: the Bell Parking Garage on North Otterman Street (across the street from the Performing Arts Center), the Hellman-Ghrist lot on North Main Street, the Albert Grillo lot on Seton Hill Drive, and the Wib Albright lot off West Otterman Street.
Ticket Information: Single admission tickets are $16. Seton Hill students (with valid ID) can purchase tickets for $5. Non-Seton Hill students (with a valid school ID) can purchase advance tickets for $13. Students from any school can purchase rush tickets five minutes before curtain, subject to availability, for $5 (with valid school ID). Groups of 16 or more can purchase tickets at a rate of $12 each with a reservation and advance payment. Order tickets online, by phone at 724-552-2929, or by mail at SHUPAC Theatre Box Office, Seton Hill University, 1 Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, Pa. 15601-1599. Box Office Hours, by telephone: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Extended hours on performance days: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday.
Seton Hill University's Performing Arts Center is 73,000 square feet of everything a performing arts major needs to move from student to professional. The Center houses two dedicated, flexible performance spaces, the Carol Ann Reichgut Concert Hall and the William Granger Ryan Theatre. The Center also includes a performance studio, new classrooms, rehearsal rooms and technical areas that include the best equipment for learning and performing, from Steinway pianos to the latest in lighting, sound, video and acoustics. The Center is located in downtown Greensburg, putting it squarely in the middle of the city’s cultural district yet still only minutes from Seton Hill’s main hilltop campus.
The Seton Hill University Theatre and Dance Program has a long history of educating performing arts majors for professional careers while playing a vital role in the educational life of the campus. Seton Hill’s Theatre and Dance Program offers four full-length productions (as well as a number of shorter works) and one dance production each year that generate audiences of over 3,500 and speak to topics addressed in courses across Seton Hill’s curriculum.