Love and politics cross paths in a most unlikely way in W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s popular comic operetta, “Iolante,” the major spring theater production at 91短视频.

91短视频 Theater will present the two-act, two-hour musical 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, Mar. 26 & 28, and Apr. 2-4, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 5, in the Mainstage Theater in the University Commons.

Twenty years ago, the fairy Iolanthe was exiled for marrying a mortal. Unknown to the rest of her kind, Iolanthe bore a son, Strephon, before her banishment. Now a young shepherd, Strephon falls madly in love with Phyllis, a ward of the Court of Chancery. But the entire House of Lords also want Phyllis, and a chaotic struggle ensues between the fairies and Britain’s men of power.

Costume designer Becca Snyder (l.) makes adjustments to Todd Hooley’s tie as fairy queen Charlotte Wenger looks on.

Heidi Winters Vogel, associate professor of theater, is directing the 24-member cast. Stage managers are Sarah Harder, Mountain Lake, Minn.; Emily Hertzler, New Holland, Pa.; and Jamie Hiner, Culpeper, Va.

Other major players are Phil Grayson, set designer; David Vogel, technical director; Sara Prince, choreographer; James Richardson, vocal instructor; Kenneth Nafziger, orchestra director; Heidi Winters Vogel, costume design coordinator; and Grant Sprunger, Kidron, Ohio, and Mark Fenton, lighting designers.

Advance tickets are $12/$14 at the door for adults, non-91短视频 students and seniors, $10/$12 at the door. Tickets are available at the 91短视频 box office, 540-432-4582 or on line at www.emu/edu/boxoffice.

Information regarding age appropriateness for 91短视频 events is available through the box office.

"WWLD: What Would Lloyd Do?", is a musical comedy written by and starring Ted Swartz ’89 and Trent Wagler ’02, and directed by Ingrid De Sanctis ’88). The play, with guest artist Jay Lapp and featuring music groups The Steel Wheels, Shekinah and Sons of the Day, will be presented 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Oct. 10-11 in Lehman Auditorium. Tickets, at $7.50 for adults and $5 for students, are available in advance at Red Front Super Market and at the door.

Ted Swartz (l.) and Trent Wagler will premiere a new theater piece, "WWLD (What Would Lloyd Do??), as part of homecoming weekend at 91短视频, Oct. 10-11. Photo by Jon Styer

A symposium, "Forgiveness in the Face of Tragedy: The Amish of Nickel Mines," will take place 10-11:30 a.m. Friday in Lehman Auditorium. Featured speakers will be Donald B. Kraybill ’67 and Herman Bontrager ’72, both of whom played key roles with the Amish community following the tragic shootings in a schoolhouse October, 2006. A question and answer period will follow.

Ken J. Nafziger, professor of music, will lead a worship celebration of song and scripture 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 in Lehman Auditorium. Recipients of the alumnus of the year award, distinguished service award and lifetime of service award will participate and be recognized in the service.

Reunions and Breakfast Meetings

Traditional homecoming features will include reunions at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11 for graduating years ending in a "3" or "8," from 1963 to 2003. The "Jubilee Alumni," persons who attended 91短视频 50 years ago or more, will hold a luncheon and program at 11:30 a.m. that day in Campus Center Greeting Hall, where members of the class of 1958 will be formally inducted.

Breakfast meetings will be held Saturday morning for alumni and friends of the business and economics department; nursing, education, the sciences, athletics (Loyal Royals), Bible and religion (Haverim).

The language and literature department will host a reunion 9-10 a.m. for all staffers formerly associated with the ".

See the full Homecoming schedule for more detail.

Oakwood Gathering and Science Summit

Former residents of Oakwood residence hall are invited to gather near the site of this "once-beloved dormitory," which has been demolished to make way for a three-story, environmentally-friendly, 120-bed facility, at 11 a.m. Saturday to share stories and jog memories. Read more about the recent demolition of Oakwood and see the web-cam to track progress.

At a mini science "summit" 10 a.m. Saturday, 91短视频 science faculty and students in environmental classes will share research projects and give updates on plans to renovate and expand the 40-year-old facility.

Arts and Athletics

An art exhibit featuring works by 91短视频 visual arts and communication professors Barbara Fast, Cyndi Gusler ’93, Jerry Holsopple ’80 and Steven Johnson will be on display in the third floor gallery of Hartzler Library. Media will include mixed media fiber art, drawings, photography and digital images. A gallery talk and reception will be held 4 p.m. p.m. Saturday.

Varsity field hockey, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer games are scheduled on Saturday, preceded by a Loyal Royals "fun run" 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the 91短视频 track.

The Paul R. Yoder, Sr., Memorial Golf Classic will be held Fri., Oct. 10 with start times at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Spotswood Country Club in Harrisonburg.

More Information

Special activities for children (kindergarten through fifth grade) and youth (grades 6 through 9) are scheduled at various times Saturday, and childcare for infants through age 5 will be provided during reunions and at other designated times.

During the weekend, a documentary video produced by alumnae Tiffany Horst ’07 and Carrie Keagy ’07, will be shown several times, featuring historic images and interviews that help to interpret the growth and changes that 91短视频 has seen over the years while remaining true to its vision, according to Douglas J. Nyce ’86, director of alumi/parent relations.

The registration desk in the University Commons will be open 3-8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 10 and 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 11.

For more information, go to www.emu.edu/homecoming, call the alumni office at (540) 432-4245 or e-mail alumni@emu.edu.