College of Fine and Applied Arts

By Anna Rhodes

Alpha Psi Omega (APO), the theatre honor society associated with the Department Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University, will present “Constellations,” the newest work by playwright Nick Payne, at 7 p.m. on April 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. on April 29. The play will be presented in the I. G. Greer Studio Theatre on the university campus. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults and will be sold in Appalachian’s Plemmons Student Union from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 23–27, and at the door one hour prior to curtain. 

Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service in New York City, “Constellations” follows two people on their journey through love and life. The publishers note that the play is more than your average show, promoting thought and a mindfulness to the concept that there could be multiple endings to every story inside a universe of infinite options. Carefully intertwining free will and friendship along with quantum multiverse theory, love and honey, “Constellations” is meant to leave the audience member wondering “what if?” to the very last line.

“When I first read ‘Constellations,’ I was deeply moved by the thought of love transcending universes. It was absolutely beautiful,” stated director Emily Kubera, a senior political science major from Mooresville. “It’s definitely been a challenge creating the different multiverses that Marianne and Roland find themselves in, but Virginia Riggsbee (who plays Marianne) and Parker Stone (who plays Roland) have taken the script and made it their own brilliantly. It’s been a wonderful collaborative experience with the actors and creative team working together closely.”

“Being in this show has been a rewarding process,” shared Stone, a junior theatre performance major from Charlotte. “The play allows the actors an abundance of creative freedom when developing their characters and the relationship between the two. It’s also required complete emotional availability from us [the actors] from beginning to end. Playing Roland has been an absolute treat. He’s such a genuine individual who’s always trying to help, even when he doesn’t know how. This play questions whether or not our actions ultimately change the results of our lives, and audiences should expect to be taken on an emotional ride.” 

Sophomore theatre education major Tabitha Wallace of Concord, who is the stage manager for the show, agreed. “If you have any interest in the universe, science, love, or bees…this show is for you.”

The show has been highly praised both in England and the United States. In a New York Times review of the play, the critic quips, “At one point, Marianne explains to Roland that in ‘the quantum multiverse,’ one of her areas of study, ‘every decision you’ve ever and never made exists in an unimaginably vast ensemble of parallel universes.’ That’s the template for ‘Constellations’… Who among us hasn’t tried to reconstruct a moment from our lives that had further reaching consequences than we ever expected?” 

Riggsbee, a junior general theatre major from Mooresville, mentioned this line when talking about her character and added, “The characters are every bit as complex as the plot structure. Audiences can expect to laugh, cry and develop strong connections to Roland and Marianne over the course of the play. The relationship between the two of them is especially unique. All the elements of a relationship that’s real and raw are present with the fun twist of sharing fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics.”

“Constellations”will be presented at I. G. Greer Studio Theatre located on 401 Academy Street on the Appalachian State campus. The front entrance of I. G. Greer faces the side of Sanford Hall also located on 401 Academy Street. Parking is available after 5 p.m. on campus in faculty/staff lots and after 5:30 p.m. in the College Street parking deck near Belk Library and Information Commons. Showings will be on April 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. and on April 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults and will be sold in the Plemmons Student Union on Appalachian’s campus April 23–27. 

About Appalachian

Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors. 

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Media Contact
Elizabeth Mason Moore
masonmooreeg@appstate.edu

 

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• Theatre and Dance