Fordham Theatre Presents: Three Penny Opera

Don’t miss the treasure that is George Drance, S.J. The esteemed professor has been teaching at Fordham University for over 25 years, and Three Penny Opera is his fourth directorial production. “The quality of the engagement, excitement, and spirit of the Fordham students makes this show special,” he said.

Set in Victorian London, Three Penny Opera tells the story of the notorious criminal Macheath, also known as “Mack the Knife,” and his exploits in the city’s underworld. When Macheath decides to marry Polly Peachum, Mr. Peachum, the King of the Beggars, hatches a plan to have him arrested and hanged. Through its dark humor and satirical commentary on capitalism, corruption, and morality, Three Penny Opera exposes the contradictions and inequalities of society while challenging traditional notions of morality and justice.

Performances:

February 27 – 8 p.m.
February 28 – 8 p.m.
March 1 – 8 p.m.
March 6 – 8 p.m. (Young Alumni Night)
March 7 – 8 p.m.
March 8 – 2 p.m. (Director George Drance, S.J. and students will participate in a talkback at 4:30 p.m.)
March 8 – 8 p.m.

Pope Auditorium
Fordham University – Lincoln Center
113 West 60th Street | Map
Tickets: $5 for students and seniors; $15 for faculty, staff, and alumni; $20 general admission

George Drance, S.J., has performed and directed in more than 25 countries on five continents, serving such companies as Teatro la Fragua in Honduras, and Theatre YETU in Kenya. He is currently the artistic director of the critically acclaimed Magis Theatre Company, praised by the New York Times for its artistic skill and daring.

Acting credits include La MaMa, ETC, The Metropolitan Opera, The Public Theatre/New York Shakespeare Festival, The American Repertory Theater, Ping Chong & Co., and the Yara Arts Group. He has appeared on NBC’s The Blacklist and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Film credits include The Light of Eons, Solidarity, and Chinoiserie.

As a resident artist in La MaMa’s Great Jones Repertory Company, he has toured throughout Europe and Asia with the Andrei Serban/ Elizabeth Swados collaboration, Fragments of a Greek Trilogy, and as a key collaborator with Ellen Stewart on many of her original pieces. He is a team member and director of training for the Trojan Women Project.

He has been on the faculty of the Marist International Center (Nairobi, Kenya,) and at Red Cloud High School (Oglala Lakota Nation.) He had held prestigious fellowships at Marquette University, Loyola University Chicago, Santa Clara University, and Marshall University.

His next show, Angel in the Ashes, premieres at La MaMa on March 27.