UNM’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents the New Mexico premiere of Off-Broadway hit “Zanna, Don’t!,” a musical fairy tale about a matchmaking teen who turns relationships upside-down, challenges our point of view and changes the world forever. The play comes to Rodey Theatre in the UNM Center for the Arts Nov. 16-Dec. 2.
“Zanna, Don’t!” takes place in Heartsville, U.S.A., a town where the normal social structure is reversed – the captain of the chess team is the coolest guy in school, the football quarterback can’t seem to fit in, and homosexuality is the prevailing norm.
It’s a new school year at Heartsville High, and the school’s magical matchmaker Zanna is doing what he does best – matching up couples to make sure that no one suffers from extra love, but things go tragically wrong when the school’s two closeted heterosexuals realize their feelings for each other. Knowing that their forbidden love will make them outcasts, they turn to Zanna for help, and Zanna is forced to put his own happiness on the line to make the world safe for those he loves.
Directed by Kathleen Clawson, “Zanna, Don’t!” includes a dynamic cast of UNM students Daniel Garcia as Zanna, Dani Lenski as Kate, John Byrom as Steve, Nicole Larsen as Roberta, Chris Gallegos as Mike, Leonard Hughes as Tank, Rachael Shapiro as Candi and Nathan Simpson as Buck.
The creative team includes musical direction by Barbara Murray, choreography and assistant director Wendy Leverenz-Barker, scenic design by Michael Schwalm, costume design by Stacia Smith, lighting design by Josh Bien, and sound design by Mike Gerdes.
Tim Acito, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for “Zanna, Don’t!” will attend opening night on Nov. 16, and David Geist, the music director of the original production, will play and conduct opening weekend performances.
Show times are Nov. 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30 and Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 18, 25 and Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 general, $15 faculty and seniors and $10 staff and students, and are available at UNM ticket offices, 925-5858 or UNM Tickets.
Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1593; e-mail: michal@unm.edu