ACU’s latest theater production, 100 Saints You Should Know, is sure to bring a crowd to Culp Theater on Thursday with its dramatic and compelling story.
The play will take you through a journey while meeting a struggling priest, a young, spiritually troubled woman and a young boy confused with his sexuality. These diverse individuals find common ground and oddly guide each other through their troubles. The play was written by Kate Fodor, named a Guggenheim Fellow in 2013 and placed on the New York Times’ “Eight to Watch” theater list.
“I am excited about this show because it is not an easy subject,” said Jonathan Tlapek, sophomore theater major from Huntley, Ill., who plays Garrett in the play. “I think it’s important for a lot of people to hear because there are a lot of barriers between people, and also between people and God. At times we don’t know how to get past such barriers or talk about them sometimes.”
The show stars five ACU theater majors, all who have worked an average of five nights a week since the first week of January to prefect the show.
“In theater, we always talk about wanting to do theater for a bigger purpose than just satisfying the needs of entertainment,” Tlapek said. “We want people to stop and look at art and the art that we’re doing. I feel that this is the perfect piece to talk about hard subjects, because it’s more of a gritty show and it talks about important things like communication and relationships.”
The production is recommended for ages 16 and older due to the use of mature language and situations. However, Taylor Hunt, junior musical theater major from Overland Park, Kan., who plays Theresa in the play, suggests otherwise.
“I think it’s honestly good for everyone to come, even though the flyer says otherwise, because the show applies to all generations,” Hunt said.
For Hunt, this production was her first pick because of the student director Matthew Jonathan Silar, senior theater major from Algonquin, Ill.
“I am personal friends with the student director and he is phenomenal, just as a person and all the work he has done. Especially after reading this play, I was in love with the show,” Hunt said.
The production premiers Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Culp Theatre. Tickets are available at the box office from 1-5 p.m. or online at acu.edu/theatre.
