The Riverland Community College Theatre 2011-2012 season continues with the comic drama Be Aggressive, Nov. 16-20 at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on the Austin campus.

Called “a new, exciting, and unique voice in the American theatre,” Annie Weisman’s poignant satire paints a resonant picture of adolescence and its challenges. The story begins in the California Paradise of Vista del Sol. However, when seventeen-year-old Laura’s mother is killed in a car crash, her world turns upside-down.  Struggling to both take care of her family and keep her spot on the varsity cheer squad, Laura turns to a new friend, Leslie, who thinks she has the answer: driving cross-country to attend an exclusive cheerleading camp.

Riverland Director Lindsey Duoos Williams directs Be Aggressive. Taylor Bliese is the choreographer. The set and lighting designer is James Douglass. The costumes are by Madlain Vander. Jordan Wylde is stage managing.

“I fell in love with this play the first time I read it,” says Williams.  “It’s one of those gems that manages to be both hilariously funny and emotionally moving at the same time.  The characters are very relatable, and it deals with issues that anyone who has survived adolescence will appreciate.”

The cast of Be Aggressive includes Samantha Johnson (Austin) as Laura, Victoria Torkelson (Adams) as Leslie, Amelia Holcomb (Albert Lea) as Hannah, Sam Gustine (Waltham) as Phil, Katie Hunerdosse (Austin) as Judy and Robert Hodge (Wells) as Cop.  The cheerleaders are Sarah Brinza (Maple Lake), Mary Chol (Sudan), Yesong “Anna” Park (Seoul, South Korea), Michelle Possin (New Richland), Asuka Suzaki (Niigata, Japan), Anne Szymanski (Alden), and Jessica Williams (Brownsdale).

Be Aggressive will be performed Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 16-19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.

Individual tickets to Be Aggressive are $12 and currently on sale 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. Tickets are also available for purchase at Coffee House on Main in Austin.

Be Aggressive is recommended for ages 14 and up due to adult language.  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.