NMSU Theatre returns with ‘Letters to the Future’

“Letters to the Future,” an original work created by NMSU Theatre Department Head Wil Kilroy and the members of the production’s cast, will be performed and recorded online for viewing Sept. 23-27.

The show is “based on research and personal experiences,” Kilroy said.

The cast includes Aliyah “Jet” Parnell, Lucio Orduno, Peyton Womble, Dominique Gomez, Elijah Reyes, Aidan Miller, Reagan Szulc, Imani Caldwell, Alex Shannon and Edward Goldstein.

“The letters are about all sorts of topical issues,” Kilroy said. “Here are some of the starters: Dear Black Friend, Dear White Friend, Dear Christian Friend, Hey Gorgeous, Hey Beautiful, Dear ‘Karen,’ City Slicker, Rancher, Dear Colleague, Dear Mom. We also plan to include an original song or two. 

Kilroy said letters and even poetry were submitted by community members, and he and the cast tried to work some of it into the production.

“The piece is meant to be provocative, with information taken from recent news stories and interpreted via a variety of characters that convey different viewpoints,” he said. “The hope is the audience will see all of these various characters and viewpoints and think about how they feel, perhaps discuss the ideas with friends and family, so that this work is a catalyst for those exchanges, and maybe even change itself.” 

In addition to being in the cast, Parnell is Kilroy’s assistant director for “Letters to the Future.”

Parnell, who performed in last year’s “The Wolves” at NMSU, is a theatre and film major coordinating the filming of the production, along with Gus Sanchez and Peyton Womble, Kilroy said.

 “That's really the only crew we have,” he said. “We will be doing this quite simply so as to allow everyone to remain healthy – handling very few props, often filming only one person at a time with crew masked, some filming outdoors for airflow, all scenes done at a social distance, etc.”

“We plan to record the piece and then have it available at the audience's convenience Sept. 23-27,” Kilroy said. “Once a ticket is purchased, we will email a private link to view at any time during those dates. Season access is $50. Individual tickets are $10.

Contact Yoli Bacon at 575-646-5122 or email ybacon@nmsu.edu to purchase access.

NMSU Theatre season going forward safely, online and, hopefully, live in 2021

Here are the productions for the 2020-21 New Mexico State University theatre season:

• “Letters to the Future,” directed by NMSU Theatre Arts Department Head Wil Kilroy with the projected availability for viewing Sept. 23-27.
• “The Land Where We Stand,” directed by NMSU Theatre Associate Professor Larissa Lury, with projected availability of Nov. 4-7. This will be an original, devised piece, centered around various aspects of NMSU and the land it stands on – what has taken place here, is here now and might come to be. The idea is to create a site-specific performance, with the audience traveling on the campus for viewings.
• “Original Work!” directed by NMSU Theatre Assistant Professor Nichole Hamilton, with a preview on Nov. 18. The finalist of the NMSU Theatre Department’s High Desert Playwriting Workshop, Hannah Benitez, will create an original play especially crafted for NMSU theatre students. This will be “digital theatre,” available “live,” on-line, including an invitation for audience members to engage directly with the actors to solve the mystery.
• “Holiday Cabaret!” directed by NMSU Theatre visiting professor Lisa Hermanson and adjunct faculty member Christa Fredrickson, Dec. 2-6 virtual presentation including holiday songs and stories.

For spring 2021, Kilroy said, NMSU Theatre will present its annual fundraising favorite, “Broadway Onstage,” followed by the production originally planned for last spring, “The Tempest.”

The hope is to produce these shows live on the NMSU stage, Kilroy said, if state public health orders allow. If not, he said, “we will creatively bring these to you in a virtual format.” 

NMSU Theatre is offering season tickets that provide access to all productions, which will be streaming online, as well as general admission for in-person events when available. The cost is $50 for six productions, including “Broadway Onstage.”

For season tickets, contact Yoli Bacon at ybacon@nmsu.edu. Call 575-646-5122 to purchase tickets via check or credit card. Individual show passes will be available for $10 for each production. Retirees will continue to receive one pass to view productions. 

Join NMSU Theatre’s Center Stage Society with a donation of $500 or more. That includes two passes to all of this season’s events, an American Southwest Theatre Company (ASTC, the nonprofit that benefits NMSU theatre) an ASTC license plate and an ASCT mask. There are also other levels of giving.   

Contact Kilroy at wkilroy@nmsu.edu.