Theater Emory brings “MUD,” a groundbreaking and emotionally charged play by celebrated Cuban-American playwright María Irene Fornés, to the Mary Gray Munroe Theater in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts from Thursday, Oct. 3, through Thursday, Oct. 12.
With its stark realism and compellingly raw dialogue, “MUD” is a visceral exploration of poverty, illiteracy and the human struggle for meaning and connection. It tells the story of Mae, Lloyd and Henry, three characters trapped by circumstance in a rural setting. Through Mae's pursuit of education and self-improvement, she begins to unravel the power dynamics between her and the two men.
“The world of ‘MUD’ is spare, stripped down and brutal. The walls of the ramshackle house are bone white and gaping and the house is isolated, sitting atop a mass of red mud,” says Mary Lynn Owen, director and instructor of theater studies at Emory. “Even the language of the characters is a kind of harsh, simple poetry. Yet Mae, the young woman trapped in this world, is afire with longing. ‘MUD’ is a relentless look at hope.”
The cast includes a mix of Emory College students Kailey Albus and Ethan Cohen, and Atlanta actor Joshua Williams. The creative team includes Emory alumnus Josh Oberlander working with set design, director of undergraduate studies in theater studies Brent Glenn working with light and sound design and Jordan Carrier working on costume design.
To accompany the performances, Theater Emory will host “Fornés in Pieces” on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m. in the Schwartz Center Theater Lab. The event will feature a staged reading of Fornés’ one-act play “The Successful Life of 3” and song selections from her musical “Promenade,” along with a reception. This event is free and open to the public, with reservations recommended.
Following the Saturday, Oct. 5, performance of “MUD,” there will be a post-show panel discussion at the Mary Gray Munroe Theater featuring director Mary Lynn Owen and playwrighting faculty member Kimberly Belflower.
Tickets are available on the Schwartz Center website or at the Schwartz Center box office. Directions and additional information can be found online or by calling the box office staff at 404-727-5050, Monday-Friday, 12-6 p.m.
Emory University students can book up to two free tickets for this production by providing their Emory email during the check-out process. Students who book free tickets must present their student ID with their tickets at the performance. General admission tickets are $20.
About Theater at Emory
Theater at Emory unites faculty and student research, integrating classroom and laboratory, to entertain and engage multiple communities. Theater at Emory encompasses the Theater Studies Program, Theater Emory, the Playwriting Center and Student Theater.
