Newsroom

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University Theatre will present George Orwell’s “1984,” at 7:30 p.m. May 10-12 and May 18-19 and 2 p.m. May 20 in the Withycombe Hall main stage theatre, 2901 S.W. Campus Way, Corvallis.

The adaptation of Orwell’s classic dystopian novel, by Robert Owens, Wilton E. Hall, Jr., and William A. Miles, Jr., tells the story of Winston Smith, an Outer Party member who works for Oceania’s Ministry of Truth. Winston begins to have doubts about the tyranny of the party after meeting the witty and spirited Julia.

The rebellious lovers are under constant threat of the Thought Police in a world where war, paranoia and the looming presence of Big Brother have made passion and human connection all but impossible. The play is a timely exploration of resistance and the tactics of oppressive regimes to manipulate the masses.

“I hope we spark lively conversations about the parallels between Orwell’s world and our own contemporary issues regarding nationalism, constant surveillance, disputes over fact and truth, the threat of fascism and propaganda,” said the play’s director, Elizabeth Helman, who also is a theatre arts faculty member. “This is a rich and disturbing narrative and one I hope audiences approach ready to engage with fully.”

The cast features OSU students Daniel Barber as Loudspeaker; Cheyenne Dickey as Landlady/Party Member; Lindsey Esch as Syme; Srimanyu Ganapathineedi as Coffee Vendor; Cole Haenggi as Martin; Genesis Hansen as Messenger/Gladys; Nate Pereira as Winston Smith; Robert Reeder as Guard; Bria Love Robertson as Julia; Mike Stephens as Parsons; and Kyle Stockdall as O’Brien. Community members Nathan Bush and Rick Wallace lend their voices as Goldstein and Big Brother, respectively.

Tickets are $12 for general admission; $10 for seniors; $8 for youth/students; and $5 for OSU students. They are available through the OSU Theatre Box Office at 541-737-2784 or online at http://bit.ly/1wgmTkJ. Contact the box office for accommodations relating to a disability or group ticket sales.