College of Fine and Applied Arts

A Life Well Lived is Well Remembered

BOONE, N.C. - The Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 35th anniversary season celebration by producing a comedy/drama by award-winning playwright Lauren Gunderson, "Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight." The five performance run takes place in the Valborg Theatre on the university campus at 7 p.m. from October 2 through 5 with a 2 p.m. matinee curtain on Sunday, October 6, 2024. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for faculty and staff, and $10 for students. They are available online through the department website at theatreanddance.appstate.edu, as well by phone at 800-841-ARTS(2787) or in person at the Schaefer Center for the Arts box office.

Playwright Gunderson was recently honored with the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in Theatre Award and was named a "Woman to Watch on Broadway." She is, for the second year in a row, the most produced playwright in the country according to American Theatre Magazine. In explaining her craft, Gunderson said, "Stories change us, within and without. They ask us to question our world, our history, and ourselves."

Photo by laurengunderson.com

The play begins in the 18th century with the untimely death of one of history's greatest yet forgotten minds. From her deathbed, Emilie du Châtelet, a genius in physics and astronomy, and early advocate for calculus reflects on her life and the relationships that shaped it. These include her lovers, family, and newborn son. Audience members may recognize the first lover, the esteemed Age of Enlightenment writer Voltaire. As the story continues, the ghosts of her past gain more and more agency, leading to a retelling of her life not just by Emilie but by all who knew, fought with, and loved her.

Our title character is determined to answer the question - love or philosophy? In this highly theatrical, fast, funny, sexy rediscovery of one of history's most intriguing women, Emilie defends her life and loves, leaving a legacy that echoes its way into our hearts and minds today. The Los Angeles Examiner hailed the play by writing, "This ambitious, non-linear experiment is a highly theatrical romp that literally crackles with electricity."

The App State production is under the direction of Professor Ray Miller, a faculty member in both theatre and dance studies. He extensive credits include over 200 musicals, operas, plays and/or dance concerts, and he recently published a book on the history of musical theatre dance from the Colonial Period to today titled "Dance on the American Musical Theatre Stage: A History" published in 2023 by Routledge.


Dr. Miller said, "Essentially, this is a play that is not so much a historical retelling of the life of Emilie Du Châtelet but rather a play about living life to the fullest and to do so with commitment and with grace. It calls for people to lift themselves out of the complacency of just 'accepting things as they are' in order to reach towards the stars; that is, to explore what we do not know about ourselves, nor about the world beyond ourselves." When asked why he is excited to bring this challenging work to the High Country, Miller replied, "Resurrecting important female figures is really critical for filling in our understanding of the past. I think on the surface people will see this as a feminist play, but it's actually more of a humanist play."

Dr. Miller is joined on the creative team by several of his department faculty colleagues with dialect and movement work by Assistant Professor Elizabeth Parks, intimacy chorepgraphy by Professor Paulette Marty, scenic design by Professor Mike Helms, costume design by Assistant Professor Saloni Mahajan, and lighting design by Professor John Marty. Theatre and Dance staff members Matt Tyson and Kristin Grieneisen serve as technical director and costume shop supervisor respectively.

As always, App State students are at the forefront of this production. Miller notes he was looking for "magnetism" from actors during auditions to bring this story to life and selected a five member cast to take on several different parts, sometimes changing right before the eyes of the audience. These actors are students Lauren Harris, Josh Hurd, Anabel Merriam, Caelan Mulleady, and Kirin Smith. Production positions filled by students include stage manager Echo McArthur, assistant paint charge Savannah Carter, props master Lucy Lloyd, assistant props master Baker Ledford, assistant costume designer Avery Edwards, and makeup designer Jess Fields.

The Department of Theatre and Dance production of "Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight" is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. For parking information and directions to the Valborg Theatre, see Visitor Parking.

This media release authored by THR 3445 students Casey Choiniere, Marshall Hadsall, Ella Powell, and Sarah Stone.

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About the Department of Theatre and Dance
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Theatre and Dance’s mission is to facilitate transformative experiences for students and the public, which cultivate compassionate, creative, and collaborative communities through theatre and dance. The department also offers coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Its dynamic co-curricular production program provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community, and the region. www.theatreanddance.appstate.edu

About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://cfaa.appstate.edu 

About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The 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 to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,570 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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