Thiel Players examine ideas of race with production of award-winning ‘Clybourne Park’

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College, a leading liberal arts college in northwestern Pennsylvania, announces the Thiel Players present “Clybourne Park,” the winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best New Play, Nov. 10-12 in the William A. Robinson Theater.

The production is free and open to the public. Reservations are not necessary, but are recommended.

Written by Bruce Norris, “Clybourne Park” is a satire that explores race and poverty across two generations 50 years apart. The first act portrays a “white flight” where white families moved out of city neighborhoods and were replaced by minority families. In the 50 years that pass from the first act to the second, white families are moving back in, and begin to renovate areas that became predominantly minority neighborhoods.

 “It is an unfortunate reality evidenced by events in Charlottesville (as only one example) of how far we have yet to go as a society to have an open and honest conversation about race relations in America,” Assistant Professor of Performing Arts and show director Pete Rydberg, Ph.D., said. “Norris’ play does an incredible job at portraying two parallel moments in this nation’s history—one focused on a neighborhood’s integration, and one on its gentrification—and helping advance the conversation that is crucial to our society’s continued quest for equal rights and mutual respect.”

The Thiel Players have provided free theater for the campus and community for five decades. They choose productions on a three-year rotation. Over the course of six semesters, students work on a Classical piece, a period-language piece, an early modernist piece, an English language classic, a contemporary play, a musical and a production for young audiences.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10-11 and 2 p.m. on Nov 12. The William A. Robinson Theater is located behind the William A. Passavant Memorial Center on campus.

• For reservations, email reservations@thiel.edu or call 724-589-2847.

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