UW-Madison University Theatre presents a bold take on a timely subject with Naomi Iizuka’s Good Kids as part of the Big Ten New Play Initiative.

“There’s what you believe…and then there’s what you know.” Everyone knows that something happened at the party – but they all believe something different about how and why. Speculation and blame about a possible rape force high school students to rethink their responsibilities to each other, both online and in real life. Playwright Naomi Iizuka tackles the difficult issue of youth culture in the digital age in a story of a brutal assault and its controversial aftermath. Iizuka challenges her audience to consider sexual assault from a variety of complex perspectives, making Good Kids a vital contribution to conversations about rape culture both on and off campus.

Good Kids was commissioned by the Big Ten New Play Consortium in an effort to bring thought-provoking new works to collegiate theatres. Good Kids will be presented at each of the Big Ten universities throughout the 2014-2015 school year. UW-Madison is honored to be part of this remarkable event.

We welcome back MFA alumna Olivia Dawson as director. Performers include Isabel Cuddihy (Chloe), Yasmine Traore (Daphne), Cambria Gerdmann (Kylie), Kenzie Luce (Amber), Kelsey Knepler (Madison), Francesca Atian (Brianna), Ethan Larsen (Connor), Daniel Millhouse (Ty), Christian Inouye (Tanner), Michael Costanzo (Landon), Megan Hofschulte (Skyler) and Kate Mann (Deirdre). The production team includes costume designer Erin Levy, set designer Shannon Heibler, lighting designer Ben Golden and sound designer James Wagner.

Good Kids opens Friday, February 27^th and runs through Sunday, March 8^th. Matinees will be held on Saturday, February 28^th, Sunday, March 1^st, Saturday, March 7^th and Sunday, March 8^th. Performances will take place in the Hemsley Theatre, 821 University Avenue. Evening performances begin at 7:30 PM and matinees begin at 2PM. A talkback with the cast will be held immediately following the performance on Sunday, March 1^st. ASL translation will be provided at the Thursday, March 5^th performance.  A panel discussion will be held at 10am on Saturday, February 28^th in the Hemsley Theatre.  Members of the panel are TBD.

Individual tickets for all performances are $23 (general public) or $16 (UW students). Discounts are available for senior citizens and Friends of University Theatre. Purchase tickets by phone at (608) 265-ARTS (2787), in person at the Memorial Union Box Office and Vilas Hall Box Office, or order on-line at ww.theatre.wisc.edu.

#  #  #

Performance Calendar:

Thursday, February 26^th                      7:30 pm                     preview

Friday, February 27^th                          7:30 pm                     opening

Saturday, February 28^th                      2:00 pm

Saturday, February 28^th                      7:30 pm

Sunday, March 1^st                               2:00 pm                       talkback

Thursday, March 5^th                            7:30 pm                       American Sign Language translation

Friday, March 6^th                                7:30 pm

Saturday, March 7^th                            2:00 pm

Saturday, March 7^th                            7:30 pm

Sunday, March 8^th                               2:00 pm