Swine Palace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swine Palace is a non-profit professional theatre company associated with the Louisiana State University Department of Theatre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
Through the presentation of celebrated works of Southern literature and the innovative exploration of classic and contemporary theatre, Swine Palace strives to have a significant impact on the cultural and economic landscape of Louisiana.
[edit] History
Under the leadership of Artistic Director/LSU Theatre Chair Michael Tick, Associate Artistic Director John Dennis and Managing Director Kristin Sosnowsky, Swine Palace is a leading voice in Louisiana arts and an important center for theatre education. Swine Palace was founded in 1992 by Barry Kyle (former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre) in association with LSU Department of Theatre with the goal to become Louisiana's premier professional theatre.
In 1992, an historic livestock judging pavilion on the campus of LSU was identified as the future home of the company, and a capital campaign to raise $3.5 million for the renovation of the structure was undertaken. The offspring of a public/private partnership, the 500-seat flexible theatre opened during the 1999-2000 Season, funded by the State of Louisiana and a generous grant from the Reilly Family of Baton Rouge, for whom it was named The Reilly Theatre. The Reilly has been designed to maintain the architectural integrity of its earthy origins as one of the oldest buildings on LSU’s campus.
Artistically the company made immediate impact with important world premiere adaptations of A Confederacy of Dunces and All the King's Men. In recent years, Swine Palace has become recognized for community outreach as well as its artistic excellence and was awarded the Baton Rouge YWCA's 2006 Racial Justice Award for its many programs. These program initiatives have been produced in conjunction with socially relevant works like Fences, The Laramie Project, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and The Exonerated.
During the spring of 2007, Swine Palace (in conjunction with the LSU Performing Arts Series and Ping Chong and Company) produced the world premiere of renowned theatre director Ping Chong's Cocktail written by Vince LiCata and Ping Chong. Based on the true struggles of Thai scientist Krisana Kraisintu, this play follows the struggle to create an affordable version of the anti-HIV drug AZT for the thousands of Thai AIDS patients.
In June 2007, LSU Theatre and Swine Palace embarked on the first-ever international tour performing Wendy Wasserstein's "The Heidi Chronicles" directed by Michael Tick at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and the Beijing Central Academy of Drama. As such, they were the first theatre company to perform Ms. Wassersteins's work in China, and one of only a handful of U.S. companies to perform at either of these prestigious institutions.
The China tour was conceived as part of LSU's University-wide China initiative and included five performances at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, the largest performing arts institution in Shanghai, and three performances at the Beijing Central Academy of Drama, one of the finest academies in Asia. The play was originally performed as part of Swine Palace's 2006-2007 season. In total, 31 people made the month-long trip, including 15 undergraduates and graduate students; six faculty members and a number of friends and family.
In recognition of Swine Palace's many accomplishments, it was recently awarded the 2006 Governor's Arts Award for Large Arts Organizations.
[edit] Production History
| Season | Play | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-2008 | Hair | Steve Young |
| Speak Truth to Power | Michael Tick | |
| King Hedley II | Joy Vandervort-Cobb | |
| 2006-2007 | Cocktail | Ping Chong |
| The Heidi Chronicles | Michael Tick | |
| Metamorphoses | Steve Young | |
| 2005-2006 | Always...Patsy Cline | Jennifer Jones-Cavenaugh |
| She Stoops to Conquer | Jane Page | |
| Tennessee Williams in QUARTER Time | John Dennis | |
| Arms and the Man | Jane Brody | |
| 2004-2005 | Pump Boys and Dinettes | Jennifer Jones-Cavenaugh |
| You Can't Take It With You | John Dennis | |
| The Exonerated | Michael Tick | |
| Macbeth | Leon Ingulsrud | |
| 2003-2004 | Always...Patsy Cline | Jennifer Jones-Cavenaugh |
| The Laramie Project | Leon Ingulsrud | |
| Shiloh Rules | John Dennis | |
| "Ma" Rainey's Black Bottom | Joy Vandevort-Cobb | |
| 2002-2003 | The Louisiana Purchase | Dom Ruggiero |
| The Two Gentlemen of Verona | John Dennis | |
| Fences | Joy Vandevort-Cobb | |
| 2001-2002 | Death of a Salesman | Leon Ingulsrud |
| A Christmas Carol | John Dennis | |
| The Tavern | Edward Morgan | |
| 2000-2001 | To Kill A Mockingbird | Vastine Stabler |
| Jesus Christ Superstar | Barry Kyle | |
| Romeo and Juliet | Tina Packer | |
| 1999-2000 | Waiting for Godot | Barry Kyle |
| Three Sisters | Barry Kyle | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Barry Kyle | |
| Gumbo Ya-Ya | Barry Kyle | |
| Four Joans and a Fire-eater | Barry Kyle | |
| 1998-1999 | Angels in America, Part II: Perestroika | Barry Kyle |
| Gloria Duplex | Barry Kyle | |
| As I lay Dying | Edward Kemp | |
| 1997-1998 | Pump Boys and Dinettes | Barry Kyle |
| Angels in America, Part I: The Millennium Approaches | Barry Kyle | |
| Skylight | Barry Kyle | |
| The Merchant of Venice | Barry Kyle | |
| 1996-1997 | A Confederacy of Dunces | Barry Kyle |
| Flesh & Blood | Barry Kyle | |
| The Rocky Horror Show | Barry Kyle | |
| Suburbia | Barry Kyle | |
| Geniuses | Steven Soderbergh | |
| 1995-1996 | The Kingfish | Andrew Dickey |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Barry Kyle | |
| The Cure at Troy | Barry Kyle | |
| The Rocky Horror Show | Barry Kyle & Lisa McEwan | |
| From the Mississippi Delta | Trellis Steptor | |
| 1994-1995 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Barry Kyle |
| Keely & Du | Barry Kyle & Lucy Maycock | |
| Tent Meeting | Barry Kyle & C.C. Courtney | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Barry Kyle | |
| A Child's Christmas in Wales | Barry Kyle & Lisa McEwen | |
| 1993-1994 | A Confederacy of Dunces | Barry Kyle |
| Good | Barry Kyle | |
| 1992-1993 | All the King's Men | Barry Kyle |
| The Hypocrite | Barry Kyle |
