Theatre UCF will present Diana Son’s play Stop Kiss on Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 10, 12, and 14. The play tells the story of the evolution of the relationship between two young women.
“This is a play about two women who fall in love, but it’s less controversial, and more human,” said director Be Boyd. “It’s a beautiful piece. Whether you are straight, or whether you are gay, and whatever your age, you are going to be able to relate to the themes of Stop Kiss…restlessness, finding true love, fulfillment, and the loss of a loved one.”
Gracie Winchester plays one of the lead roles of the play. A junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program, Winchester has had a busy year on the UCF stages. Her first role at UCF was in last fall’s production of The Pajama Game, and since that time she has also acted in Bury the Dead, No Sex Please, We’re British, and Spike Heels.
“The past year has been a lesson in balance and in learning how to juggle school, learning lines, and extracurricular activities. Plus, it’s been an emotional journey, especially with Bury the Dead [where the character commits suicide]. In that show, I learned to leave my personal drama at the door and pick up my character’s when I enter rehearsal. But then I have to leave the character’s emotions on the stage and not take them home with me,” said Winchester.
“In Stop Kiss, I draw an emotion from my past and picture someone that I love in my mind hurt and bruised. Once the scene ends, I try to shake it off, laugh, and it is over.”
The other lead will be performed by Shanel Sparr. Sparr is a newcomer to the UCF stage, and a sophomore in the BFA acting program.
Stop Kiss will be presented in repertory with Good Boys and True by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Where Stop Kiss examines the friendship between two women, Good Boys and True focuses on two young men.
“Both shows encompass a variety and scope of areas including themes of gender, sexuality, entitlement, and the morality of society,” said Theatre UCF chair and artistic director Christopher Niess. “We are living in a time of growing acceptance, but these plays, set in the 1980s and 90s, offer a look at relevant issues that just a couple of decades ago were suppressed, and even taboo.”
To address questions and concerns that may arise from the content of the plays, Theatre UCF has invited departments and organizations on the UCF campus to participate in pre-show discussion panels and to have information available to patrons in the lobby. The preshow panels will take place on Oct. 5 (before Good Boys and True) and Oct. 10 (before Stop Kiss) at 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre. The panels are free and open to the public.
Theatre UCF is on the campus near the intersection of University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail in east Orlando. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays.
To purchase tickets or for ticket information call the box office at 407-823-1500. Standard tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors; $10 for students) and group rates are available. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance, available through the Theatre UCF box office. UCF offers accommodations to make the theatre more accessible to patrons with disabilities; for assistance, call the box office in advance.
Production at a glance:
Stop Kiss
By Diana Son
Directed by Be Boyd
Sept. 27, 28, 29, Oct. 10, 12 at 8 p.m.
Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.
Black Box Theatre
Price: Standard $20, Senior $18, Student $10; Group discounts available
Address: 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando FL 32816
Box Office Phone: 407-823-1500
Box Office Hours: Monday through Friday: noon to 6 p.m. and 2 hours before performances
For more information about Theatre UCF, visit http://theatre.ucf.edu.