Events at Poorman Black Box Theater

Blue Christmas Dance Concert

Directed by Gregg Hurley

Feeling challenged by the upcoming holidays? Reflect, process, and prepare for this season of Advent with us through the media of text, music, and dance. Messiah University dance students acknowledge the struggles and challenges of this broken and fallen world with this lament-driven dance experience. Reflect with us through the medium of dance with this intimate evening of words, music, and dance that will tenderly prepare us all for the joyous season of Advent.

Climenhaga Building, Poorman Black Box Theater
Nov. 21, 7 p.m.

Tickets: Free Ticketed Event
Tickets are required due to limited seating. Reserving tickets in advance is recommended. Tickets can be reserved online at messiah.edu/tickets, by phone at 717-691-6036, or at the door as available.

Blue Christmas Dance Concert

Directed by Gregg Hurley
Messiah University dance students acknowledge the struggles and challenges of this broken and fallen world with this lament-driven dance experience. Reflect with us through the medium of dance with this intimate evening of words, music, and dance that will tenderly prepare us all for the joyous season of Advent.

Climenhaga Building, Poorman Black Box Theater
Nov. 16, 7 p.m.

By the Bog of Cats

Written by Marina Carr
Directed by Daniel Inouye

"Loosely based on Euripides' tragedy Medea, this is the prophetic tale of Hester Swane, an Irish Traveller, who attempts to come to terms with a lifetime of abandonment in a world where all whom she has loved have discarded her. Set on the bleak, ghostly landscape of the Bog of Cats, this provocative drama discloses one woman's courageous attempts to lay claim to that which is hers, as her world is torn in two. Hester's long-term lover, Carthage Kilbride, with whom she has a seven-year-old daughter, is selling her "down the river" for the promise of land and wealth through a marriage with the local big farmer's daughter. In the final moments of the action, we witness a woman provoked beyond the limits of human endurance. By the Bog of Cats is a furious, uncompromising tale of greed and betrayal, of murder and profound self-sacrifice."

“This production contains prop weaponry and is intended for mature audiences only. Viewer discretion is advised.”

Climenhaga Building, Poorman Black Box Theater
Oct. 3-5, 8 p.m.
Oct. 6, 3 p.m.

Full Program here

Tickets: $10—Adults; $7—MU Students (w/ID), MU Employees (w/ID), Youth (under 18) & Seniors (60+)
Tickets can be purchased online at messiah.edu/tickets, by phone at 717-691-6036, or at the door as available. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

By the Bog of Cats

Written by Marina Carr
Directed by Daniel Inouye

"Loosely based on Euripides' tragedy Medea, this is the prophetic tale of Hester Swane, an Irish Traveller, who attempts to come to terms with a lifetime of abandonment in a world where all whom she has loved have discarded her. Set on the bleak, ghostly landscape of the Bog of Cats, this provocative drama discloses one woman's courageous attempts to lay claim to that which is hers, as her world is torn in two. Hester's long-term lover, Carthage Kilbride, with whom she has a seven-year-old daughter, is selling her "down the river" for the promise of land and wealth through a marriage with the local big farmer's daughter. In the final moments of the action, we witness a woman provoked beyond the limits of human endurance. By the Bog of Cats is a furious, uncompromising tale of greed and betrayal, of murder and profound self-sacrifice."

“This production contains prop weaponry and is intended for mature audiences only. Viewer discretion is advised.”

Climenhaga Building, Poorman Black Box Theater
Oct. 3-5, 8 p.m.
Oct. 6, 3 p.m.

Full Program here

Tickets: $10—Adults; $7—MU Students (w/ID), MU Employees (w/ID), Youth (under 18) & Seniors (60+)
Tickets can be purchased online at messiah.edu/tickets, by phone at 717-691-6036, or at the door as available. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Crimes of the Heart

Written By Beth Henley
Directed by Ed Cohn

The scene is Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the eldest, never left Hazelhurst -- she is the caretaker of the sisters' cantanherous Old Granddaddy. Meg, the middle sister, left home to pursue stardom as a singer in Los Angeles, but has, so far, only found happinessat the bottom of a bottle. And Babe, the youngest, has just been arrested for the murder of her abusive husband, Zachary Bottrelle. Their troubles, grave yet somehow hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail. Under the scorching heat of the Mississippi sun, past resentments bubble to the surface and each sister must come to terms with the consequences of her own "crimes of the heart."

Feb. 16-18, 8 p.m. and 18-19, 3 p.m.
Climenhaga Building, Poorman Back Box Theater

Full program available here

To purchase, please contact the Messiah University Box Office at 717-691-6036 option #1 or online at messiah.edu/tickets.