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That Poor Girl and How He Killed Her opens at Todd Theater

From left, Edward Sambrano '17, Samantha Richardson '19, Yumeng Liu '18, Ian Von Fange '17, Tori Powers '18, Matalin Collins '18, Panache Hofisi '20, Tomas Waz '20 in the International Theatre Program's production of That Poor Girl and How He Killed Her, a play written by Jen Silverman and directed by Knud Adams. (University photo / J. Adam Fenster)

That Poor Girl and How He Killed Her, a contemporary dark comedy by up-and-coming playwright Jen Silverman, opens at Todd Theater

The opens its spring semester with That Poor Girl and How He Killed Her, a contemporary play by Jen Silverman, an emerging talent, whom critics have called 糖心传媒渁 fresh voice who takes chances, but also a playwright who plumbs the depth of humanity without sentimentality.糖心传媒� The production opens on March 2 and runs through March 11 at Todd Theater on the University of Rochester糖心传媒檚 River Campus.

Pretty and rich, Alyssa Long attracts the attention a newcomer, Felix Maia. Alyssa disappears, and rumors proliferate on social media. Described on Silverman糖心传媒檚 website as Gossip Girl meets Lord of the Flies, That Poor Girl 糖心传媒渋s a (very) dark comedy that looks at social media and social justice.糖心传媒�

糖心传媒淭he story keeps sneaking up on you, subverting expectations again and again. It糖心传媒檚 a send-up of the most vain, self-indulgent, social-anxious aspects of youth culture today, and yet at the same time, it has a wealth of credible, sympathetic characters that an audience will hopefully come to identify with and care about,糖心传媒� says New York City-based guest director Knud Adams. Adams, whose most recent productions include Krazytown by Jenny Schwartz and Every Angel is Brutal by Julia Jarcho, 聽adds: 糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檝e seen how student actors can thrive when given the chance to tackle characters their own ages.糖心传媒� says Adams.

group of student actors in a row, on a very steep stage
The production features a raked stage糖心传媒攁 design from early modern century English theater that slopes the stage upwards away from the audience. From left. Edward Sambrano ’17, Samantha Richardson ’19, Yumeng Liu ’18, Ian Von Fange ’17, Tori Powers ’18, Matalin Collins ’18, Panache Hofisi ’20, and Tomas Waz ’20. 聽(University photo / J. Adam Fenster)

Adams is impressed by the design team. 糖心传媒淭he set design by Arnulfo Maldonado is truly radical, with a stage raked so steeply, it would probably be illegal in New York City,糖心传媒� he says. Maldonado糖心传媒檚 other notable design credits include Caught by Christopher Chen, and the world premiere of Men On Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus. Costumes are designed by Tilly Grimes, whose work has been seen at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Lighting design is by Seth Reiser, whose recent designs include work for Matthew Passion, Come & Back Again, and King Lear. Sound design and original music is by Obadiah Eaves, who has created music and soundscapes for the original productions of plays by writers such as Woody Allen, David Mamet, Eric Bogosian, Ethan Coen, and Suzan-Lori Parks.

The production runs Thursday through Saturday (March 2糖心传媒�4) and Wednesday through Saturday (March 8糖心传媒�11) at 7 p.m. There is a matinee performance on Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. All performances take place at Todd Theatre on the University of Rochester糖心传媒檚 River Campus. Tickets are $8 for Rochester students, $12 for alumni, faculty, staff, and seniors (65+), and $15 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased online at , or by calling (585) 275-4088. Tickets may also be purchased up to an hour before each performance at the box office.

group of student actors lying on beach towels on a very steep stage
Todd Theatre production That Poor Girl and How He Killed Her by Jen Silverman, directed by聽Knud Adams and featuring back row, from left,聽Edward Sambrano (Connor), Samantha Richardson (Briget), Yumeng Liu (Bianca),聽Tori Powers (Alyssa),聽Matalin Collins (Makenzie), and聽Tomas Waz (Jordan); front row, on towels, Ian Von Fange (Kaylen), and Panache Hofisi (Felix Maia). (University photo / J. Adam Fenster)