"Even though his world looks cockeyed, it's universal in all its themes," said guest director Susan Sargeant, who has been active in the Dallas/Fort Worth theatrical community for more than 25 years. "We're dealing with a world that is fascinating to watch, but at the same time emotionally complicated."
The University of North Texas Department of Dance and Theatre presents Landscape of the Body at 8 p.m. April 4 (Friday), 8 p.m. April 5 (Saturday), 2:30 p.m. April 6 (Sunday), 8 p.m. April 10 (Thursday), 8 p.m. April 11 (Friday), 8 p.m. April 12 (Saturday) and 2:30 p.m. April 13 (Sunday).
All performances take place in the University Theatre in the UNT Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building, corner of Welch and Chestnut streets. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7.50 for students, seniors and UNT faculty and staff. Contact the box office at (940) 565-2428 or Metro (817) 267-3731, ext. 2428. Box office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
The "American dreamscape" play has moving scenery that quickly shifts from one scene to the next, Sargeant says, moving from a ferry to an interrogation room and from a travel agency to an apartment. Despite the tragic themes, Guare deals with his subject matter with a sense of humor, Sargeant said.
"You can be in the most macabre of situations, but somehow his humor just sears through the piece," she said. "Even in the most dire circumstances, humor is the saving grace."
Sargeant serves as producing artistic director for WingSpan Theatre Company, which she founded in 1997. Some of her directing credits include: Full Moon Murders! for Pegasus Theatre and The Play About the Baby for WingSpan Theatre Company, which was named in the 2007 Dallas Morning News Top Ten List.
For Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, she directed Sylvia, The Women (which received a Critics Forum Award), The Miss Firecracker Contest and The Dining Room. For Circle Theatre in Fort Worth, she directed A Moon for the Misbegotten (which received the Critics Forum Award), Vanities, Three Tall Women, Seascape, The Countess, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Desperate Affection, The Kiss at City Hall and Talley's Folly.
Other directing credits include Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (which received a Critics Forum Award) for WingSpan Theatre Company and The Cherry Orchard with Classical Acting Company. Sargeant was also named Best Stage Director of 2005 by The Dallas Observer (Critics' Pick).
As an actress, Sargeant appeared as Molly in WingSpan's 2006 critically lauded production of The Gnadiges Fraulein. Other recent acting endeavors include Classical Acting Company's Death of a Salesman and All of the Above for Risk Theater Initiative. She also received the Critics Forum Award/Acting for WingSpan's Mrs. Klein and The Last Flapper. Sargeant has also appeared on the stages of The Dallas Theater Center, Theatre Three, Dallas Children's Theatre, Teatro Dallas, Arkansas Repertory Theatre and Circle Theatre, among others. Sargeant, who has toured regionally and nationally and worked overseas, is also a voice-over talent.
Designers are faculty member Kenneth Verdugo (scenic designer), student Katie Lance (costume designer), Jared Land (lighting designer), student Meredith Truman (makeup designer) and student Brooks Wilhoite (sound designer).
What: Landscape of the Body -- A University of North Texas Department of Dance and Theatre production
When: 8 p.m. April 4 (Friday), 8 p.m. April 5 (Saturday), 2:30 p.m. April 6 (Sunday), 8 p.m. April 10 (Thursday), 8 p.m. April 11 (Friday), 8 p.m. April 12 (Saturday) and 2:30 p.m. April 13 (Sunday)
Where: University Theatre in the UNT Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building, corner of Welch and Chestnut streets
Cost: $10 for adults; $7.50 for students, seniors and UNT faculty/staff
Contact: Box office at (940) 565-2428 or Metro (817) 267-3731, ext. 2428. Box office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.