For 'Faustus," the show does go on

This fall, theatre faculty and students at Augustana College faced the same difficulty as other theatres worldwide: How to present their work under the limitations of a pandemic?

At Augustana, the answer is a limited run of live performances with widely spaced seating, and a recorded virtual show for anyone. The cast and crew were fortunate to have their own colleagues, Fresh Films, on hand to create a high quality video of a live performance.

"The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" will be performed live Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the Brunner Theatre Center on campus. Shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. These live in-person performances are open to Augustana students, faculty and staff only. Tickets are limited.

Like the audience, cast and crew will be masked.

The recorded virtual performance will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7. Tickets to this show are pay-what-you-can tax-deductible donations. Proceeds will be split with Argrow's House, a Davenport organization that provides free services to female survivors of domestic abuse or sexual violence.

(Ticket-holders will be sent a Zoom link to the performance.) 

Elizabethan tragedy

The original Elizabethan tragedy was written by Christopher Marlowe, based on German stories about the title character Faust. 

Doctor Faustus has mastered every scholarly subject, so what is left to explore? Magic? Necromancy? When offered everything she desires for 24 years and a demon at her command the temptation is too great to resist. Would you make a deal with the devil? 

The cast includes Lauren Larson as Faustus and Alyssa Frazier as Mephistopheles; also Haley Tromblee, Meghan Gove, Lauren Clarke, Roger Pavey, Titus Jilderda, Emily Keiner and Maxwell Johnson

The production staff includes SophiaRose Brown, director; Synthia Gonzalez, stage manager; Johann Roman, assistant stage manager; Cassandra Karn, dramaturg; Noah Hill, lighting designer; Roger Pavey, sound designer; Megan Hoppe and Jacqueline Isaacson, costume designers; Trinity Filut, props master; Eli Bates, board operator; Eli Bates and Miles Potje, backstage crew; Lauren Palmer, house manager; and Michael Tarchala, poster designer.

May not be suitable for children.