UC CCM Presents Workshop Production of Gracie Gardner s Very Dumb Kids

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s Studio Series comes to a dramatic conclusion with a workshop production of

Very Dumb Kids

(formerly titled

The Great Majority

) by rising New York playwright

Gracie Gardner

. We invite you to join us

Thursday, April 21 – Saturday, April 23

in the Cohen Family Studio Theater for a sneak-peek at this developing drama, which is part of CCM’s new play commissioning initiative. Assistant Professor of Drama

Brant Russell

directs.

One of the perks of producing a work-in-progress play is observing it evolve over time. Since its genesis, the title of this play has changed from

The Great Majority

to

Very Dumb Kids

. According to Gardner, she referred to the production as “the play about the very dumb kids” for quite some time, so this title change was a natural result of the creative process.

This action-packed drama tells the tale of an adventurous woman named Sarah who is tragically murdered while working as a correspondent in New Delhi. While Sarah was busy confronting the world, her college friends sat calmly at home in the U.S., streaming TV shows on the internet and peddling their esoteric skill sets. One year after her funeral, Sarah’s friends meet for their annual Fourth of July reunion.

The play explores entitlement and its effects are on the disenfranchised as well as the privileged in the millennial era. How can we live responsibly in an irresponsible universe?

Very Dumb Kids

is the inaugural production of CCM Drama’s new play-commissioning initiative, which focuses on plays that speak to the unique experience of being young in America. The plays, written for and about our students, will enrapture a new generation of artists and audiences. They will go on to be produced by educational institutions and professional theatre companies all over the country to expand CCM’s reach and reputation as a preeminent institution for the performing arts. And you will be able to say you were there when it all started!

We invite you to join us April 21-23 for the workshop production of

Very Dumb Kids

and ask you to return next year for the fully staged performance!

Performance Times

• 8 p.m. Thursday, April 21
• 8 p.m. Friday, April 22
• 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 23

Location

Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village

University of Cincinnati

Reserving Tickets

Admission to Very Dumb Kids is free but reservations are required.

Tickets become available at noon on Monday, April 18. Visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Parking and Directions

Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit

uc.edu/park

for more information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit

uc.edu/visitors

. Additional parking is available off-campus at the new U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit

ccm.uc.edu/about/directions

.

_____

 CCM Season Presenting Sponsor & Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

 Community Partner: ArtsWave

 Drama Studio Series Sponsor: Neil Artman and Margaret Straub