Dead Man's Cell Phone

The Bloomsburg University Players, in cooperation with the Division of Theatre and Dance and sponsored by the Community Government Association, is in final rehearsals for Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl, MacArthur “Genius” grant winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Associate Professor Ethan Krupp, lighting designer for the production, describes the premise:  “You’re in a café.  Someone’s phone is ringing and ringing.  Do you answer it?  What happens when you do?  What sort of adventure can just answering someone else’s phone take you on? ”  That sets up a story that stage manager Rachel DelVecchio, a sophomore Theatre Arts major, says “combines the world we live in and an alternate place. It really gets people's minds going. It is abstract in its nature, and is going to be simply pleasing to the eye.”

According to members of the production team, the play asks important questions: “When does the technology stop being something used just to make a job easier/faster/better and take on a life of its own?” and “When do we stop and just look up at each other and communicate?”  And it asks those questions in a way that is both wacky and fun.  Director David Dannenfelser, Assistant Professor of Theatre, describes the play as “funny, relevant and beautiful.”

Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl opens February 22 and plays for 5 performances though February 26.  Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3:00pm.  All performances at the Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St, Downtown Bloomsburg.  Adults $6, Seniors and Non-BU Students $4, BU Students Free with Student ID.  Tickets on sale at the Haas Center for the Arts Box Office.

Friday night is faculty/staff night – Faculty/staff and guest get in free at the door (Please bring your BU ID -- no advanced sale).  Saturday night is BTE subscriber night – BTE subscribers get in free at the door, dependent on available seating (no advanced sale).

Directed by David Dannenfelser, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre
Set design by Josh Curren (senior, Computer Science)
Costume design by Emma Scholl, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre
Lighting Design by Ethan Krupp, Associate Professor of Theatre
Stage Managed by Courtney Costello, (sophomore, Theatre Arts)

Student cast includes Gabriella Russo, senior, Theatre Arts; Robert Pellechio, senior, Theatre Arts & Mass Communications; Megan Young, sophomore, Theatre Arts; Jaryn Wilcox, junior, Theatre Arts; Ben Deivert, senior, Theatre Arts; Lauren Shover, Junior, Theatre Arts; Phil Czekner, junior, Theatre Arts; Donovan Krebs, junior, Theatre Arts; Sydney Hare, sophomore, Theatre Arts; Michelle Boyce, freshman, Theatre Arts.