Audiences will have five chances to experience the powerful theater performances that showcase the talent and passion of Slippery Rock University students, as the SRU Theatre Department presents Caridad Svich’s “Red Bike.” The play is a poetic journey through the American dream through the lens of an 11-year-old child’s world-expanding experience of riding their very own, bright red bike. Shows will be hosted Oct. 17-22 in the Stoner Black Box Theater.
Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17, 18, 21 and 22 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 19. Tickets are available for $12 for students and $14 for general admission. Tickets can be ordered at sru.edu/tickets or in-person at the ticket counter up to one hour before each performance.
“Red Bike” is directed by Laura, Smiley, SRU associate professor of theatre, with Heath Chase, a senior acting major from Monroeville (Gateway HS), serving as associate director/movement consultant.
“This show is about being a kid and seeing that red bike in a shop window and thinking, ‘Oh gosh, I want that red bike! And I want everyone to see me on that red bike!’” Smiley said. “The red bike is one of those material things that we all aspire to. In that way, the bike represents the American dream. This show is about the realities of the American dream, especially in a time like ours when that dream seems overwhelming and almost unattainable.”
While the play comments on materialism and the precarity of the great American dream, it also centers the importance of interpersonal relationships that one experiences throughout their life. These relationships, the show’s message contends, anchors people, gives them hope and make life truly worth living.
The cast includes:
- Daniel Haubenreich, a senior acting major from Lindhurst, New York (Lindenhurst HS), as #1 Kid/Businessman.
- Maria Squyres, a senior secondary English education major from Butler (Knoch HS), as #2 Kid/Mom.
- David McGrogan, a senior acting major from Carnegie (Chartiers Valley HS), as #3 Kid/Dad.
- Mikayla Keyes, a senior acting major from Pittsburgh (Oakland Catholic HS), as #4 Kid/Old Guy.
- Jake Taylor, a junior acting major from Collegeville (Perkiomen Valley HS), as #5 Kid/Dude/Girl with Braids.
- Care Caldwell, a junior acting major from Lexington, Kentucky (Trinity Christian Academy), as #6 Kid.
- Andrew Meche, a freshman acting major from Hickory Creek, Texas (Texas Connections Houston HS), as an understudy.
- Michael Rodriguez, a sophomore acting major from Phillipsburg (Phillipsburg-Osceola HS), as an understudy.
- Cole Trieste, a freshman acting major from Pittsburgh (Thomas Jefferson HS), as an understudy.
- Hermes Johns, a sophomore acting major from Lusby, Maryland (Patuxent HS), as an understudy.
- Joy Charbonneau-Lovaas, a freshman acting major from College Park, Maryland (Saint Vincent Pallotti HS), as an understudy.
- Claire Daugherty, a sophomore acting major from Huron, Ohio (Huron HS), as an understudy.
The creative team includes:
- Laura Smiley, director.
- Heath Chase, a senior acting major from Monroeville (Gateway HS), associate director/movement consultant.
- Sam Kuchta, scenic designer/projections designer
- Ryan Mullen, a senior theatre major from Pittsburgh (North Hills HS), lighting designer.
- Andy Hasenpflug, soundscape artist.
- Maggie Mitchell, a junior theatre major from Ambridge (Staunton River HS), stage manager.
- Michael Boone, technical director.
- Alex Barnhart, assistant technical director.
- Rebecca Morrice, costume designer.
- Mary Hodson, costume coordinator.
- Ryan Mounteer, a senior theatre major from Sewickley (North Allegheny HS), sound designer.
- Chloe Miller, a freshman theatre major from Pittsburgh (Westinghouse Arts Academy HS), assistant stage manager.
- Lucy Cramer, a freshman theatre major from Latrobe (Westinghouse Arts Academy HS), assistant stage manager.
- Ryan Eggert, a junior theatre major from Albion (Northwestern HS), rehearsal stage manager/lighting board operator.
- Lee Spark, a senior theatre major from Cranberry Township, as propmaster.
- Mary Narvett, a sophomore strategic communications and media major from Baden (North Catholic HS), stage/props crew.
- Piper Roth, a senior theatre major from Pittsburgh (Thomas Jefferson HS), wardrobe crew.
- Akira Newman, a junior theatre major from Cranberry Township (Seneca Valley HS), wardrobe crew
- Kari-Anne Innes, box office coordinator.
- Cordelia Jenkins, a freshman acting major from Glen Rock (Susquehannock HS), box office student staff.
- Adam Fox, a senior acting major from Jersey Shore (Jersey Shore HS), box office student staff.
- Lily Connor, a junior secondary social studies and history education major from Canonsburg (Lincoln Park Performing Arts HS), box office student staff.
- Kat Larrick, a junior acting major from Ewa Beach, Hawaii (Wakefield HS), ox office student staff.
- Julia Nurenberg, a sophomore acting major from Granger, Indiana (Penn HS), public relations staff.
- Sydney Korpusik, a sophomore acting major from Dayton, Ohio (Centerville HS), public relations staff.
More information about theatre programs at SRU is available on the department’s webpage.
