In this 50-minute musical, set in sunny Spain, pigs can sing, bullfighters want to dance and Ferdinand the Bull passes his days happily picking flowers. When a certain combative Duke forces his son to become a bullfighter, everyone is in for a surprise as the sweetest bull in Spain steps into the ring.

"The Barter Theatre is the official state theater of Virginia, and its children’s shows are a rare and always rewarding treat, said Patrick R.K. Reynolds, visiting assistant professor of theater at 91短视频. "This is a clever and fun production, complete with Spanish music and dancing, that is especially appropriate for ages kindergarten through sixth grade."

Admission is $4 a person at the door.

For more information, contact 91短视频 Theater at rachel.schrock@emu.edu or 540-432-4168.

The 91短视频 department will present an award-winning contemporary comedy, "Fuddy Meers," in the mainstage theater of the University Commons.

The two-act play, by David Lindsay-Abaire, will run Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 16-18. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m.

Claire (Rachel Swartzendruber) has a rare form of amnesia that erases her memory whenever she goes to sleep. This morning, like all mornings, she wakes up a blank slate. Today, however, she finds herself confronted with a strange assortment of new faces: a limping, lisping, half-blind, half-deaf man in a ski mask; an upbeat husband who goes into the shower and never returns; a dimwitted thug with a beloved hand puppet; and a claustrophobic lady-cop.

Every twist and turn in this funhouse plot bring Claire closer to revealing her past life and everything she thought she’d forgotten. It’s one harrowing and hilarious turn after another on this roller-coaster ride through one woman’s attempt to regain her memory while surrounded by a curio-cabinet of alarmingly bizarre characters.

, visiting assistant professor of theater, is directing the seven-member cast. The play features original music by Jerry Holsopple, professor of , and lighting, scenic and sound designs by award-winning student designer Davi Soesilo. Some language and subject matter are intended for mature audiences.

Tickets are available in advance by calling the 91短视频 box office, 540-432-4582, and will also be on sale at the door.

A delay in final inspection of electrical conduit work in the new Mainstage Theater at 91短视频 has changed the play dates for the 91短视频 Theater production of "Proof," originally scheduled to open this Thursday, Sept. 1.

Theater at 91短视频 will perform the critically-acclaimed play 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7-8, and 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 10, in the Mainstage Theater in what was the old 91短视频 gymnasium on the south end of the University Commons. The intimate 161-seat theater space was constructed in part with considerable volunteer labor from faculty, students and community persons.

"Proof," by David Auburn, and directed by Patrick R.K. Reynolds, visiting assistant professor of theater at 91短视频, won the 2001 Pulitzer Price and Tony Award for "Best Play."

"I regret the unexpected delay, but it’ll be worth the wait," Reynolds said. "This is a powerful play, and even though the cast was ready for opening night, we’ll be able to do several additional rehearsals."

Auburn’s masterpiece revolves around Catherine, a troubled young woman who has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. On the eve of her 25th birthday, following his death, she must confront her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father’s who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind.

Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father’s madness – or genius

Commencement Sunday, May 1, at 91短视频 marked the end of a 14-year journey for Bonnie W. Bowser – or perhaps more accurately, a major milepost along her career path.

Bowser, the circulation and office manager at 91短视频’s Hartzler Library, walked the platform and received a bachelor of science degree in liberal arts with minors in and . Not only that, but she graduated with honors, magna cum laude.

The clincher: she took her first course in 1991 and chipped away one class per semester to obtain her diploma this spring. She was also able to transfer some academic credits from another school.

“Bonnie stuck right with it, sheer perseverance,” said long-time 91短视频 registrar David A. Detrow. “Hers is one of the longest, continuous transcripts I’ve ever worked with.”

“We moved here for my husband Henry to finish his undergraduate program,” Bowser said. “I started taking classes because the opportunity was there, not initially planning to go all the way to a degree.”

Along the way, she decided to scale the academic summit “because it was there.”

The highlight of her long pilgrimage – “without a doubt, the cross-cultural study program to Hawaii in 2003 led by Joyce C. Hedrick,” she said.

“My studies have been invaluable to my work in the library, helping students find the resources they need for their courses and projects,” Bowser said.

Bowser joined several other members of the class of 2005 who might deserve the “high achiever” label, or at least extra credit for determination.

Rachel E. Medley, Harrisonburg; Jason D. Garber, Hutchinson, Kan., and Davi R. Soesilo, Malang, Indonesia, all completed three majors, and are graduating with academic honors to boot.

Medley earned bachelor of arts degrees in , environmental science and international agriculture; Garber completed BA degrees in business administration and economics and a bachelor of science in computer information systems; and Soesilo received BA degrees in and and a BS degree in . Soesilo also was one of 10 seniors to be awarded the “Cords of Distinction” honor for his contributions to the campus and broader community.

“Students graduating with a double major is fairly common,” said Dawn E. Kreider, assistant to the 91短视频 provost, “but completing three majors is rather unusual, a major accomplishment.”

Garber, a computer “whiz kid” who by age 15 was president of his own company, Next Step Systems, handled two lines of computer hardware, installed and configured networks and did web design. He came to 91短视频 wanting to broaden his world view and gain more experience in business. 91短视频 professor Chris D. Gingrich encouraged him to “go the economics route,” which he did.

Later, Garber felt the need for more accounting and management courses, so he added business administration to his portfolio, then a computer information systems major, noting that “all three complimented each other.”

He has accepted a position as a web designer with Fairfield Language Technologies in Harrisonburg.

Soesilo started his college career in law school in Australia, but, in his words, “wanted to find a place where I could explore more options,” which eventually brought him to 91短视频.

His acting role the fall of 2002 in the play, “12 Angry Jurors,” got him hooked on theater, where he went on to use his gifts in sound, set design and other technical aspects of stage work. “Theater at 91短视频 is like a family,” Soesilo said.

“Davi has given of himself endless across this campus,” said Patrick R. K. Reynolds, assistant professor of theater at 91短视频. “He volunteered for Teatro Chirmol, a Latino youth theater troupe, assisted with chapel and mentored younger students. His work ethnic is legendary, and he has set a sterling, enduring example of the dedication and breath of skills demanded of the best of artists. Wherever Davi went, he built community through his cheer, wit and caring,” Reynolds added.

After graduation, Soesilo plans to spend at least a year “exploring different areas,” but hopes to wind up with a career in theater or film.

Medley started her 91短视频 academic journey as an environmental science and biology major. A cross-cultural study program in Costa Rica her sophomore year prompted her to add a third major in international agriculture.

“It was a lot of hard work, but I got through,” she said.

Medley will work this summer with the botany staff in the Shenandoah National Park system. After that, she has applied for an agricultural internship with a Florida-based missions organization.