Media Relations

News Releases

For Release Upon Receipt - April 10, 2008
Contact: Jean Connaughton, 617-353-7293, jeanconn@bu.edu
Ellen Carr, 617-353-8783, emcarr@bu.edu

BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE PRESENTS DAVID HARE’S STUFF HAPPENS
April 30-May 4 at the Boston University Theatre

(Boston) – With an ensemble cast featuring characters such as George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and Colin Powell, David Hare’s Stuff Happens hits the Boston University Theatre at a time that could be considered a turning point in American politics. The Boston University School of Theatre presents this political satire about the road to war in Iraq as its final production of the 2007/08 season. Directed by Jim Petosa, Stuff Happens will run April 30 through May 4 on the mainstage at the BU Theatre.

British playwright David Hare uses a combination of actual quotes from press conferences and television interviews, and conversations he imagines to have occurred behind closed doors, to recreate the events and discussions leading up to the United States invasion of Iraq:

“Politicians start wars; soldiers fight and die in them.” – Colin Powell

“I don’t feel like I owe anybody an explanation.” – George W. Bush

“A war on terror. That’s good. That’s vague.” – Donald Rumsfeld

This controversial play depicts both the camaraderie and turmoil within the inner circle of the world’s politicians and decision makers, and is sure to stir debate among audience members of all backgrounds and affiliations. Petosa explains, “Stuff Happens is the best kind of challenge. Like all of Hare's work it poses powerful questions for theatre artists and audiences. This is no mere documentary, but rather a theatrical journey through the confounding events that led to the current Iraq War. In this time of decision, it dares the best in critical thinking as it poses characters and events of tragic proportion.”

The Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre, founded in 1954, is one of the country’s leading institutions for the study of acting, stage management, design and production, and all aspects of the theatrical profession. Since 1982, the School of Theatre has enjoyed an educational and artistic collaboration with the Huntington Theatre Company, the professional theatre in residence at Boston University. Other professional theatre affiliations include Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Actors' Shakespeare Project, Guthrie Theater, Olney Theatre Center, Pendragon Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre. Notable School of Theatre alumni include Jason Alexander, Michael Chiklis, Geena Davis, Faye Dunaway, Andrew Lack, Stewart Lane, Craig Lucas, Julianne Moore, Wynn Thomas, and Alfre Woodard.

The Boston University College of Fine Arts was created in 1954 to bring together the School of Music, the School of Theatre, and the School of Visual Arts. The University’s vision was to create a community of artists in a conservatory-style school offering professional training in the arts to both undergraduate and graduate students, complemented by a liberal arts curriculum for undergraduate students. Since those early days, education at the College of Fine Arts has begun on the BU campus and extended into the city of Boston, a rich center of cultural, artistic and intellectual activity.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Stuff Happens

Wednesday, April 30, 7:30pm
Thursday, May 1, 10:00am (Student Matinee)
Thursday, May 1, 7:30pm
Friday, May 2, 8:00pm
Saturday, May 3, 8:00pm
Sunday, May 4, 2:00pm

By David Hare
Directed by Jim Petosa

The political satire about the road to war in Iraq.

Boston University Theatre, Mainstage

TICKET AND VENUE INFORMATION

Boston University Theatre
264 Huntington Avenue, Boston

Tickets:

$12 general public; $10 BU alumni, students, and senior citizens; members of the BU community receive one free ticket per BU ID at the door on the day of the performance, subject to availability.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.BostonTheatreScene.com, by phone at 617-933-8600, or in person at the Calderwood Pavilion box office at 527 Tremont Street.

Student Matinee:

$5 includes admission to the performance and a study guide. Contact Elizabeth Mazar at mazar@bu.edu or 617-353-3384 for more information.

MEDIA ONLY

For additional information, to request photos, or to reserve press tickets, please contact either:
Jean Connaughton at 617-353-7293 or jeanconn@bu.edu
Ellen Carr at 617-353-8783 or emcarr@bu.edu

All programming is subject to change. Please visit us online at www.bu.edu/cfa for the most current event information.

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