Howard Payne University’s Department of Theatre opened their production of “Dancing at Lughnasa” Thursday night at the HPU Theatre, and performances will continue Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 28, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and free for all HPU faculty, staff and students.

Written by Brian Friel and first performed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1990, the play received a 1991 Olivier Award for best play of the year in Great Britain and a 1992 Tony award for best play on Broadway.

“As if echoing the uncertainty of spring weather, especially in central Texas,” said Nicholas Ewen, assistant professor of theatre, “this play is a mixture of unexpected humor, romance, turmoil, grief, loss and, ultimately, the sublime appreciation of finding your moment, however elusive or transitory, to abandon all worries and all reason simply to dance.”

HPU cast members include Katie Dobson, a senior from Rowlett; Gabi Guest, a sophomore from Midlothian; Tucker Hull, a junior from Brownwood; Brittany Martin, a sophomore from Goldthwaite; Jared Russell, a junior from Hillsboro; Audrey Smith, a junior from Brownwood; Alex Taliaferro, a sophomore from Haslet; and Jarrod White, a junior from Ben Wheeler. Crewmembers include Ewen, Ben Palmer, a senior from Van; and Dorie Walton, a sophomore from Lolita.

For more information, contact the School of Music and Fine Arts at (325) 649-8500.

Click the photo gallery below for photos from the Thursday night performance.  Photos by Ray Tipton.

{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=432|

limitstart=0|limitcount=1|detail=1|displayname=1|

displaydetail=1|imageshadow=shadow1}