UW Theatre and Dance to Present ‘Life/AFTER\Dark’ Nov. 15-18

The University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance’s fall season continues with an original and immersive dance-theater work.

“Life/AFTER\Dark” will run Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 15-18, at 7:30 p.m. as well as Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Studio Theater.

Tickets are $14 for the public, $11 for senior citizens and $7 for students. A nominal processing fee will be charged for each ticket. To purchase tickets, visit the Performing Arts box office, call (307) 766-6666 or go online at www.tix.com/ticket-sales/uwyo/6984.

Conceived, directed and choreographed by Aaron Wood, a UW assistant professor of dance, “Life/AFTER\Dark” explores and safely shares universal themes of adversity, survival and perseverance. UW Department of Theatre and Dance design faculty members Scott Tedmon-Jones, Erin Reed and Jason Banks, as well as company members, collaborated on the piece.

Coming 25 years after the murder of UW student Matthew Shepard, “Life/AFTER\Dark” is inspired by “October Mourning,” Lesléa Newman’s poetic exploration of the impact of Shepard’s death.

The piece was abstracted and derived from personal interpretations and experiences of collaborators from diverse life perspectives. It explores the way in which language, both verbal and physical, expresses individual and communal identity.

“In all forms of language, there is a powerful opportunity to unite, there is a gift of seeing each other in one another, if the chance is permitted,” Wood says.

“Life/AFTER\Dark” provides audiences and collaborators a space to experience their shared humanity by exploring how the human body functions as a repository of lived knowledge that serves as the basis for the interpretation of spoken language.

“The language offered in this production, both through movement and spoken, I hope will serve as a catalyst in bringing forward truthful, empathetic and civil discourse,” Wood says. “Now, more than ever, I believe it is imperative to see oneself in another, to see each other in light and with grace, and to know there is life after dark.”

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.