WARRENSBURG — “VOUCHer; Or, That PTA Play” by Benjamin Gonzales is on the lighter side of a dark comedy and follows the comings and goings of a group of dedicated parents as they work to hold their dwindling PTA group together.
Presented by the University of Central Missouri Theatre and Dance, the play performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-26 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.
ASL Interpreters will be available at the Thursday, Feb. 24 show, and the Sunday matinee is pay-what-you-can.
This play is for mature audiences only.
As the production opens, it is the beginning of a new school year, and the Prairie Valley Creek Elementary Parent Teacher Association is short on parents because they were all lured away by The Happy Bridges Charter Academy on State Street.
The audience then follows this small group of parents left at the P.V.C.E.P.T.A. as they struggle to re-level the playing field.
“It's a play about a lot of things, socio-economic issues, race relations, public education, etc., but at its heart, it is about these people and how they continue to come together to try to do what’s right for their children,” Director Aaron Scully said. “These are all very different characters and just getting to watch them interact and make decisions — some good, some not so much — is what really makes this play such a fun experience. Benjamin Gonzales has crafted a wonderful story that I think will keep the audience on their toes, shock them at times, but ultimately make us feel like there are still good people out there doing good things for the right reasons.”
For this performance, UCM Theatre and Dance was able to welcome a professional hair and makeup artist from New York City, Joe Drobezko, to work with UCM students on hair and makeup for the show as well as the special effects.
Additionally, professional costumer Victoria Soechting has been brought in to work with students as a Guest Costume Shop Manager for “VOUCHer” and the upcoming production of “Fun Home.”
The visit of both Drobezko and Soechting to campus is made possible through the generosity of the Meredith Harmon Guest Artist Series.
Tickets are available at the box office from noon to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Highlander Theater. If the Box Office is unstaffed, visit Martin 113, call 660-543-8811, visit ucmboxoffice.universitytickets.com or email boxoffice@ucmo.edu.
