UW-Stevens Point drama 'As We Climb' confronts gender inequities and sexism
3/2/2022

A drama that examines gender inequities and sexist ideologies will be performed March 4-6 and 10-12 by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Department of Theatre and Dance.

"As We Climb" will be staged in the Studio Theatre of the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St., Stevens Point, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 4-5; and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 10-12. Matinees will be offered at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 6; and Saturday, March 12. Face coverings will be required at each performance.

In "As We Climb," a young woman has run away. As her grieving father and community are left behind, they must face their own experiences of systemic sexism and oppression and consider the ways in which they perpetuate these broken systems.

"The characters in the story are offered the opportunity to stand with feminist ideals and honor the full humanity of others," said the show director, Elizabeth Parks, a visiting assistant professor of acting. "They have to ultimately decide whether to rebuild their lives and their world or keep perpetuating a world in which systemic oppression rules."

The show is an original devised theatre production, created through collaboration and improvisation by the student actors and director.

"Over the weeks of rehearsal, we divided readings, conceived characters, created physical and vocal scores, wrote and rewrote and organized our thoughts into a moldable, fledging story," said Parks. "Devising theatre is like earning a Ph.D. in collaboration and adaptability. It gives students the chance to use their own skills, creatively contribute to theatre making and then create their own work in the professional world."

The inspiration for the show came from feminist revolutionaries of the past and present: Olympe de Gouges, one of the world's first published feminists, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a renowned author. Parks also researched histories, speeches, interviews and manifestoes as well as the more recent writings of social activists Gloria Steinem, bell hooks and Justin Baldoni.      

"I feel we've found a healthy balance of speaking truth to patriarchal power that oppresses us all and sharing a story of people searching to have their full humanity recognized and accepted," she said.

Tickets are $27 for adults, $24 for seniors, faculty and staff members and $16 for youth. UW-Stevens Point students with I.D. may get tickets for $10 in advance or $7 day of show. Purchase tickets online at tickets.uwsp.edu, by calling 715-346-4100, or by visiting the Information and Tickets Office in Dreyfus University Center in Stevens Point. Tickets will also be available at each venue starting one hour prior to each performance.


Article Tags