Conveniently located in metro Atlanta, the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies (TPS) at Kennesaw State University offers a Bachelor of Arts with four concentrations: Acting, Musical Theatre, Design and Technology, and Performance Studies. TPS is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre
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Barbecue
Department of Theatre and Performance Studies
Barbecue by Robert O'Hara
Directed by Damian Lockhart
October 1-6, 2024 | Onyx Theater
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Pride and Prejudice Program
Department of Theatre and Performance Studies
Pride and Prejudice
Adapted by Kate Hamill
Based on the novel by Jane Austen
Directed by Marlon Burnley
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Once on This Island
This Tony Award-winning musical is the sweeping, universal tale of Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl in search of her place in the world, and ready to risk it all for love. Guided by the mighty island gods, Ti Moune sets out on a remarkable journey to reunite with the man who has captured her heart. With a score that bursts with life through its Caribbean rhythms and instruments, Once on This Island: The Musical is a timeless testament to theatre’s unlimited possibilities and that a beautiful story simply told has the power to inspire and heal all. Read more and see costume sketches here.
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SWEAT by Lynn Nottage
Kennesaw State University Department of Theatre and Performance Studies presents SWEAT by Lynn Nottage,
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A BKBX Frankenstein
Made for adventurous audience members ages 12+, the show remixes and riffs on the themes found in Mary Shelley's gothic horror classic: technology, creation, and modern monsters. Stitching together a mix of favorite restaged repertoire with a new cast and fresh interstitials, "A BKBX Frankenstein" is a contemporary delight on an ancient form of storytelling.
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RENT
Jonathan Larson
We’ve thought a lot about what RENT means to us in 2023. This play isn’t about one thing or one theme. While the play addresses the HIV/AIDS crisis head on, the themes of RENT also directly address homelessness, poverty, and gentrification. Modern audiences know that being behind on rent isn’t far-fetched because most people live paycheck to paycheck, regardless of their level of education or rigorous work ethic. As Americans, we don’t have many opportunities to let our anger out against the structures that confine us… government, patriarchy, institutions, capitalism… the list goes on. So, instead of punching up, we punch to the side. Americans have become greatly polarized in their viewpoints and their politics. RENT reminds us how to handle these emotions and these challenges with joy, resourcefulness, and love, in every season.
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Love and Information
Caryl Churchill
In a world that is increasingly virtual, how do we traverse the devastating gap between our longing for love and our addictive need for information? In this fascinating kaleidoscope of 57 short plays, more than 100 characters try to find true human connection and make sense of what they know--and don't know. A mesmerizing and unpredictable play by one of the world's most groundbreaking playwrights, Caryl Churchill. Directed by Emily Kitchens.
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Jitney
It is 1977 in a Black neighborhood of Pittsburgh known as the Hill District. Drivers of unlicensed cabs (jitneys) fight for love, survival, and respect as the powers-that-be threaten to close down their garage in the name of neighborhood improvement.
Though Jitney is one of August Wilson’s first plays, it was the last of his 10-play American Century Cycle to premiere on Broadway. Using Wilson’s characteristically rich language, Jitney explores what happens when tempers flare, potent secrets are revealed, and the fragile threads that bind people together threaten to come undone.
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She Kills Monsters
After losing her family in a car crash, Agnes Evans returns to her hometown hoping to learn more about her late sister, Tilly. She’s shocked when she learns about her sister’s butt-kicking Dungeons and Dragons adventures as Tillius the Paladin. Agnes joins Tilly’s game, fights demons, dragons, and maniacal cheerleaders, and discovers the thrill of finding self, connecting with family, and “making the saving throw.”
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Company
TPS pays tribute to the titan of American Musical Theatre with a concert staging of this musical that features many of Sondheim’s beloved songs. How are your life decisions affected by the company you keep? Company takes us on Bobby's journey as the couples around him ponder his singlehood and encourage him to find a mate. We question whether his friends are living their own advice. Company is a delightful look at how society molds our ideals and how those ideals are translated into our relationships.
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Genesis Redux
Genesis Redux reimagines the first stories in the book of Genesis through a script devised from research, improvisation, and movement by students in spring of 2020. Drawing on a variety of traditions and styles of performance, Genesis Redux uses these stories from the past to help us understand ourselves in the present. This is a world premiere workshop production.
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The SpongeBob Musical
Based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg;
Book by Kyle JarrowSongs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, They Might Be Giants and T.I. And Songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny & Andy Paley. Additional Lyrics by Jonathan Coulton. Additional Music by Tom Kitt.
Musical Production Conceived by Tina Landau.
Directed by Amanda Wansa Morgan
The power of optimism really can save the world!Adapted from the beloved animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, this colorful and vibrant musical is an uplifting tale of overcoming the odds and celebrating the joy of life.
SpongeBob and the sea creatures who inhabit Bikini Bottom are confronted with the total annihilation of their world. All hope seems lost, but our unlikely hero saves the day. An affectionate and timely satire of our individual and political foibles that affirms community, teamwork, and trust in one’s full potential. This production is the Atlanta-area premiere.Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants, and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
The Spongebob Musical is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals
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Mother Road
Inspired by The Grapes of Wrath, this modern epic picks up generations later when William Joad must find a blood relative to inherit the family land in Oklahoma that was abandoned in Steinbeck’s novel. Learning that the only surviving descendant is the young Mexican American Martín Jodes, Joad convinces him to travel from California across the American heartland to Oklahoma. During their journey, these two men forge an unexpected bond as they grapple with the brutal past and strive for a hopeful future. An inventive and engrossing tale of American identity, immigration, and the ties that bind.
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KSU Tellers Fall 2021
Charlie Parrot
The KSU Tellers invite you to join them as they present their best solo performances from each semester.
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The Spitfire Grill
Timothy Ellis and Amanda Wansa Morgan
Kennesaw State University’s Department of Theatre and Performance Studies (TPS) will present “The Spitfire Grill” November 16-20 at the Onyx Theater on the Kennesaw campus. “The Spitfire Grill” offers a heartwarming story about finding redemption and building meaningful relationships in one’s new home. A parolee arrives in a small Wisconsin town and struggles to find her place in a community of troubled souls who gather at a well-worn diner. Her presence sparks re-connections and reconciliations that bring the community together.
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Everybody by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins
Death shows up unexpectedly and tells Everybody his time is up. Everybody scrambles to find company. No one will go with him! Brandon Jacob-Jenkins' audacious riff on the 15th century morality play.
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Coming Out Monologues (9th Annual)
Inspiring, celebratory, and thought-provoking, this performance features original coming-out stories from KSU and Atlanta-area communities, performed by KSU students.
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24-Hour Play Festival
Created by KSU students, the 24-Hour Play Festival encompasses conception, creation, and performance in less than 24 hours. Inventive, unpredictable, and a ton of fun.
