The Giver to Play at UD’s Babka Theatre
Feb 6, 2019
DUBUQUE, Iowa – University of Dubuque Heritage Center continues second season of its B.I.T.E. Size Series with The Giver on Sunday, March 3, at 2:00 p.m. and Monday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Babka Theatre.
Performed by Literature to Life, Lois Lowry’s Newbery Award-winning book for young readers has become the gold standard for the genre. The story was also adapted into a 2014 movie of the same name starring Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep. Told with deceptive simplicity, this is the provocative story of a boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible. In the telling, audiences question every value they have taken for granted and reexamine their most deeply held beliefs.
B.I.T.E. stands for Babka Intimate Theatre Experiences. The series showcases one-person or small-cast performances in the intimate setting of Heritage Center’s black box venue. With maximum capacity of about 200, Babka Theatre offers general admission and stadium-style seating.
WHAT: Live at Heritage B.I.T.E. Size Series – Lois Lowry’s The Giver
WHEN: Sunday, March 3 – 2:00 p.m.
Monday, March 4 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Babka Theatre, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque
TICKETS: Adult $19 advance/$24 day of show; UD Alumni/Military $15 advance/$20 day of show; Child/Student $9 advance/$14 day of show.
Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly utopian, futuristic world, is singled out at the age of 12 to receive special training from The Giver, who alone holds the memories of the true joys and pain of life. In the process, Jonas is forced to question everything in his ideal world: a world without conflict, poverty, unemployment, divorce, injustice, or inequality.
This Literature to Life Award winner marked the first young adult novel on the Literature to Life roster. Adapted by Elise Thoron, this piece features 60 minutes of solo-performance focusing on the relationship between the young Jonas and his mentor, The Giver. As Jonas trains to become the Receiver of Memories, the buried truth about the world that he was born into becomes hauntingly clear to both Jonas and the audience.
Literature to Life presents vibrant adaptations of award-winning works of contemporary American literature, each performed by a single actor. These adaptations tell a complete story by drawing directly on key dramatic moments from the author's text. These works encourage conversation and self-discovery. After a Literature to Life performance, audiences of all ages leave inspired to explore the story's meaning in their own lives. This performance of The Giver will feature actress Aurea Tomeski who has been captivating national audiences with her performance of this work since the spring of 2017.
A Q&A discussion with the actress follows the performance.
Tickets for The Giver can be purchased Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by phone at 563.585.SHOW; or online at www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter.
Other upcoming 2018-2019 B.I.T.E. Size Series events:
April 5 – 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. An Afternoon/Evening with Mark Twain, starring Dr. Michael Mauldin
