Theatre Department News

“GOOD GRIEF!” An Unauthorized Parody comes to the WIT Studio Theatre!

 By Nicholas Munson

Monmouth, IL (October 4, 2011) — The Monmouth College Department of Theatre will present Bert V. Royal’s dark comedy, ‘Dog Sees God: Confessions for a Teenage Blockhead’, at the W.I.T. Studio Theatre on October 27^th-29^th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday the 30^th at 2:00 p.m. 

In 2004 this production was one of the breakout hits at the New York International Fringe Festival, winning the Excellence Award for Best Overall Production.  Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead pulls the audience through a world of drug use, suicide, underage drinking, pyromania, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion, love and the search for of one’s sexual identity.  These difficult topics stream through characters that show surprising similarities to members of our beloved Peanuts Gang.

When CB, played by Mike Bennett, has to put down his beloved dog he starts to question the existence of an afterlife. He asks his best friends what they think awaits us after death but he receives no real comfort. Van, played by Chase Mowery, is to burnt out to provide any coherent speculation. Matt, played by Nicholas Munson, is too oversexed and horny to give a true response. His sister, played by Allyson Frazier, cannot even find her own identity. His ex-girlfriend, played by Kady Patterson, has been institutionalized. The girls, Marcy and Tricia, played by Ivy Bekker and Colleen Sinclair, are too inebriated to give him any sort of comfort. But a chance reconnection with his old friend Beethoven, played by Marcus Bailey, gives him peace of mind.  Though Beethoven becomes the target of this group’s bullying, Beethoven and CB’s friendship eventually turns into something more.

Monmouth College’s Theatre Repertory Company is mounting this production, which means that every aspect of the production is completely student generated.  Every student in the course is a Theatre Major or Minor and is assigned a major responsibility in the production process. This show was chosen because it combines dark issues that speak to your soul with moments of hilarity that will have you rolling in the aisles. The characters “have passed puberty with a vengeance, and have to cope with the issues of becoming adults: acting on our identity; integrating death into life; discrimination and understanding the incomprehensible genesis of violence.” (Francis Kuzler of the Fringe NYC Festival) This intimate mood makes the show a perfect fit for the intimate space that is the WIT Studio Theatre.

In partnership with the production will be a series of discussions and events hosted by a variety of student organizations.  All are invited to come to Journeys, a night of coming-out stories told by professors and students, co- hosted by S.O.U.P.  This event will be held on campus at The Underground on Wed. Oct. 19 from 7-9p.m. There will also be a preshow discussion/ workshop on the topic of teen-suicide, Friday Oct. 28 at 6:30 in the WIT Studio Theater hosted by Cindy Beadles. Audiences are also invited to stay for a post-show Q and A with the cast and crew after the Thursday production.

Tickets are $6 for adults; $5 for students and seniors and $4 with an MC ID and can be purchased in Stockdale the week of the production.  Due to adult language and situations, viewer discretion is advised.  For ticket reservations call 309-457-2104 or e-mail theater@monm.edu.  Monmouth College Theatre; Expect Excellence!