Riverland Community College Theatre department continues their 2015-2016 season with the Tony Award winning Dancing at Lughnasa by Irish playwright, Brian Friel. The production opens Wednesday and plays through Sunday. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. except for the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

The play tells the story of five unmarried sisters eking out their lives in a small village in Ireland in 1936. Their spare existence is interrupted by brief, colorful bursts of music from the radio, their only link to the romance and hope of the world at large. When two unexpected visitors arrive, the past and present collide and begin to destroy the foundation of the family forever. This haunting play is Friel's tribute to the spirit and valor of the past.

Riverland Theatre Instructor Susan V. Hansen directs Dancing at Lughnasa. The set, lighting and sound designer is Mark Spitzer. The costumes are by Riverland alumna, Emma Waters. The production is stage managed by Jacob Mueller.

Lughnasa is the Celtic Harvest Festival named after the God of the Harvest, Lugh (Lew) that starts around August 1, halfway between the summer solstice and the fall equinox and runs through harvesting season into September.

“This is such a beautiful play told through the eyes of a grown man, Michael,” says director Susan V. Hansen. “He is looking back on a specific three weeks of his life in 1936 when he was seven-years-old, living with his mother and four aunts. Michael touches on the power of memories, ‘atmosphere is more real than incident and everything is simultaneously actual and illusory.’ These five strong women are holding on to family, values, belief, hope and strength. They have their individual dynamics and are forever changed by encroaching technology, religious conflict, and the desire to celebrate life. Their strength, humor and love guide them through a tumultuous time. Dancing at Lughnasa is perhaps Friel’s best known play and his most autobiographical. Sadly, he passed away in October.”

The cast of Dancing at Lughnasa includes Jake Berndt (Blue Earth) as Michael, Claire Olson (Austin) as Kate, Katelyn Larson (Medford) as Maggie, Alexa Ferguson (Lyle) as Agnes, Nora Curtis (Austin) as Rose, Emily McAlister (Austin) as Chris, Ian Beardon (Austin) as Gerry, James Zschunke (Austin) as Jack.

“This is a wonderful cast. I am very pleased with what they have accomplished. They have all taken on the Irish dialect and picked up some ballroom and Irish dance steps. It is a very realistic style of performance with humor and pathos. The actors have had to explore new ranges of emotion. They are entertaining, charming and heartbreaking. These are all wonderful characters that I would love to know.”

Dancing at Lughnasa will be performed Nov. 18-21 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre.

Individual tickets to Dancing at Lughnasa are $13 and currently on sale at www.riverland.edu/tickets 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The online ticketing system allows customers to choose their seats and pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Tickets may also be purchased at the Riverland Box Office, located in room E107 in the East Building of the Austin campus. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one hour before performances. Riverland students receive two free tickets to each performance with a valid student ID. Contact the box office at 507-433-0595 or by emailing boxoffice@riverland.edu.

Dancing at Lughnasa is suggested for ages 10 and up. Riverland Theatre strives to provide quality productions that are entertaining and challenging to both the audience and the artists. Because we reach such a diverse audience, some audience members may find some subject matter, language, or situations objectionable. If you have concerns about a specific production, we encourage you to become familiar with the material before attending the performance.

Riverland’s Theatre Department is a high-energy performance-oriented program. Plays produced vary from classical tragedy to modern comedy and from full-scale large cast musicals in intimate small cast plays. Students are encouraged to get involved in all areas of theatre production including, but not limited to, acting, stage managing, set building and painting. Strong academic offerings provide challenges in and out of the classroom.