Faculty members of the Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts department have selected four comedies to provide fun and engaging experiences that both students and audiences can look forward to for the department’s 2024-2025 season.
James Newman, SRJC Theatre Arts department chair, expressed the importance of knowing the difference between different kinds of comedies.
“What you want is to find a season that works well together and that provides opportunities for as many students as possible,” he said. “We want people to be able to experience and [for] students to experience different kinds of shows. Making people laugh is one of the best things in the world and it’s also very difficult.”
The season will begin with “All in the Timing.” This show, written by David Ives and directed by Leslie McCauley consists of six smaller one-act shows.
“It’s delightful and they’re real quick, which is really fun for an audience,” Newman said.
“All in the Timing” runs Oct. 4-13 as the only show taking place in the Burbank Studio Theatre this season.
Directed by Justin Smith, “The Rocky Horror Show” needs very little introduction.
“It’s going to be a little bit wild. We’re going to have some audience participation, especially closer to the stage,” Newman said. “We’ve developed some things where they can sing along at certain points, dance along with certain points, yell back some things when we give them permission to. So it’s going to be a great time.”
“The Rocky Horror Show” opens Oct. 31 and runs until Nov. 17 at the Burbank Main Theatre with a special midnight performance Nov. 8.
The Spring 2025 season will open with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Much like “The Rocky Horror Show,” this is a musical that will involve the audience.
“It’s literally a spelling bee [that] has audience participation. People can get up and try their hand at spelling and it’s actually part of the show,” Newman said.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” opens Feb. 28 and runs until March 9 in the Burbank Main Theatre.
Directed by Elizabeth Dale, “Rumors” is the most straightforward comedy this season. Written by Neil Simon, this show is a period piece taking place in the ‘60s.
“It’s about fitting into society and what it means to be one of these waspy New York educated families,” Newman said.
“Rumors” runs April 18-27 in the Burbank Main Theatre.
Tickets are available now at the Box Office webpage.
More information about the 2024-2025 season can be found on the SRJC Theatre Arts webpage.
