Page 5 - School For Lies Program

From the Director
My first encounter with Molière was when I was a junior in the B.F.A. program at the University of Minnesota. I was cast in The Doctor in Spite of Himself in Milwaukee, and I had to take off the spring semester to do it, much to my advisor’s displeasure. But I’m glad I did because I immediately fell in love with Molière and his plays.
Although his plots can be a bit ramshackle, his characters are authentically human, deeply flawed, incredibly articulate and, above all, marvelously funny. How could we not love them? If you love Italian comedy and commedia dell’arte (who doesn’t?), then you’ll love Molière, as he was the playwright most influenced by that brilliant style in his time. Le Misanthrope, which our show is based on, is one of his triumphs.
That brings us to David Ives, the playwright for The School for Lies. David is one
of the funniest contemporary American playwrights with the ability to capture our current cultural moment in his work. He does so brilliantly in The School for Lies, which is set in 1666 but gives a sharp, candid and startling commentary on modern times. It is a play for Instagram, TikTok and Twitter disguised as a period comedy. Molière would be pleased.
It has been an honor and a delight to work with these immensely talented senior B.F.A. students, who have approached this play with the seriousness it deserves and a courageous sense of risk-taking that has been inspiring to watch. They made us laugh in rehearsal every day. It’s also been a heartwarming experience to direct these students as a program alumnus. It brought back many fond memories and feels like coming home again. So sit back and enjoy the delicious soufflé (and canapés) these young actors have cooked up for you. Bon appétit!
Stephen DiMenna
Director
Theatre Arts & Dance Support
The Department of Theatre Arts & Dance gratefully acknowledges our many alumni, parents and community friends who generously support our programs and students. We extend special thanks to those who passionately believe in the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Acting Program.
To learn more about supporting the next generation of artists, contact Robyn Rost at rerost@umn.edu or 612.625.5092. To support the B.F.A. program directly, go to z.umn.edu/supportbfa or scan the QR code.
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