Wednesday, April 9, 2008

UTD Theatre set to open MONKEY: The Quest to the West

By Pegasus News wire

MONKEY: The Quest to the West will run at The University of Texas at Dallas, Thursday through Saturday, April 10-19, at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre.

Faculty member Fred Curchack will direct the play, which he adapted for the stage from the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West. The story follows the supernatural trickster Monkey, who makes war with heaven until he is imprisoned under a mountain by Buddha. After 500 years, he is released to protect a Buddhist monk on his perilous journey from China to India to bring back spiritual texts. On the way they encounter all manner of deities, demons, monsters and outrageous misadventures.

This magical story has been adapted by the Beijing Opera, several kung fu movies (Jackie Chan and Jet Li are currently teaming up in a new version), plays, rock operas, cartoons, anime, manga, and cult TV series in China, Japan, England, and the U.S. (“Lost Empire”).

Curchack, an internationally acclaimed performer, director and playwright, has created more than 70 original theater works. His recent play, Noh: Angels, Demons and Dreamers, was selected as one of the Top Ten Theater Events of 2007 by The Dallas Morning News.

Curchack has received the Gold Medal at the International Festival of Solo Theatre, the American Theatre Wing Award and Critics’Awards in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Austin. His work has been included in “Best of the Week” in the L.A. Times, “Top Ten of the Year” in The New York Times, “Top Ten of the Decade” in the Austin Chronicle, and in the “Top Ten of All-time” in the Dallas Morning News. He has received funding from Creative Capital, the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts International and the Henson Foundation. Curchack is a Guggenheim Fellow.

Call 972-883-2552 for tickets.

Posted by Shawn

See more stories in:

• Colleges & Universities > University of Texas at Dallas
• Arts > Fine Arts > Theater > Plays