November 1, 2024
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Theatre program announces its 2024-2025
season, featuring four productions that blend timeless classics with daring contemporary
theatre. From Shakespeare's critique of moral hypocrisy to an inventive exploration
of love and information in the digital age, MCLA Theatre continues to push boundaries
and engage audiences with bold, imaginative storytelling.
The season opens November 8-10 with William Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” directed
by MCLA Professor of Theatre Laura Standley. In this bold re-telling, MCLA Theatre
explores a world where crime and punishment collide under the rule of a conservative
hard-liner. As moral lines blur and the city faces a draconian crackdown, one woman’s
plea for mercy sets off a harrowing battle between virtue, sacrifice, and power.
The second show of the fall semester is “The Method Gun,” running December 6-8. Created
by the renowned Rude Mechs theatre collective, it is an audacious exploration of theatre-making,
actor training, and the fine line between genius and absurdity. Re-devised by MCLA
Theatre students and directed by Professor Standley, this play-within-a-play delves
into the extreme techniques of the fictional Stella Burden and her troupe, offering
a darkly comic reflection on the meaning of art and truth in performance.
The spring 2025 semester begins with performances of “The Little Prince” from April
4-6.
Written by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, this heartwarming adaptation of Antoine
de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved tale invites audiences to embark on a journey through the
cosmos with a stranded aviator and an enigmatic little prince. Exploring the tension
between childhood innocence and adult disillusionment, the play offers a beautiful
allegory about love, loss, and the power of imagination. Directed by Professor Jeremy
Winchester, this production is sure to delight audiences of all ages.
“Love and Information,” directed by Professor Standley and MCLA Theatre’s directing
class, wraps up the season from May 2-4. Caryl Churchill’s play takes audiences on
a whirlwind journey through more than 50 short scenes, each examining the nature of
love, memory, and identity in the digital age.
Tickets for all performances will be available through MCLA’s community-serving cultural
events program, MOSAIC. For more information and ticket pricing, visit MOSAIC at mcla.edu/mcla-in-the-community/bcrc/music.php.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed
to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered
to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to
public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Colleges for
10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts
Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years.
The College’s focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in
additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for
liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility
for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools
graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
