麻豆淫院

The madcap jukebox musical 鈥�,鈥� set in a rock 鈥榥鈥� roll Shakespearean spaceship, comes to the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 University Theatre this March. CU-Boulder Associate Professor听听directs the听, which promises nonstop laughs, infectious tunes and a generous nod to the Bard.

First seen in 1989 on London鈥檚 West End, 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet鈥� places the plot and dialogue of Shakespeare鈥檚 play 鈥淭he Tempest鈥� in a futuristic space setting with performances of classic songs from the 1950s and 1960s. This particular production features flying, light saber fights and a shaking, stage-sized spaceship.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so tongue in cheek that the tongue鈥檚 not even in the cheek anymore.鈥�

When he wrote the script, librettist Bob Carlton took his inspiration from campy, low-budget science fiction films from the 1950s and 1960s. So did CU-Boulder doctoral candidate Jenn Calvano, the show鈥檚 choreographer, when she started planning dance routines.

鈥淚 was watching a clip of 鈥楤atman鈥� from the 1960s [starring Adam West], and there鈥檚 a moment where he鈥檚 under some kind of spell and听,鈥� Calvano says. 鈥淪o I鈥檝e been focusing on the kind of dance that was popular when all these songs were written鈥�1950s sock-hop swing, East Coast swing, a little bit of Lindy Hop鈥攂ut with a lot of humor thrown in there.鈥�

The performance showcases a cast of CU-Boulder students who take turns acting, singing, dancing and playing instruments. The onstage band members are also actors in the show, and almost all the lead actors get the opportunity to show off their instrumental chops.

鈥淚f we found out that, say, someone was proficient at guitar, we asked that person to play a guitar solo,鈥� said the play鈥檚 music director,听. 鈥淚t might not always fit with the character the person is playing, but I think that鈥檚 part of the fun.鈥�

If it鈥檚 not entirely clear what 鈥渇its鈥� into 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet鈥� and what doesn鈥檛, it鈥檚 because Carlton left many of the play鈥檚 elements open to interpretation. His nebulous instructions inspired Pang to get creative and add a few more fantastical elements to the production, including beat boxing, punk, puppet dancers and a gender swap.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so tongue in cheek that the tongue鈥檚 not even in the cheek anymore,鈥� says actor Melanie Iris Schultz, who has a list of about a hundred reasons why the musical is a must-see.

鈥淭his whole theater will become a spaceship that moves,鈥� Schultz says. 鈥淧eople will fly. There鈥檚 fire. There are roller skates. There鈥檚 a giant octopus. There are screens everywhere projecting giant asteroids. And, seriously, how many times do you get to see 鈥楾he Tempest鈥� in space?鈥�

Showtimes for 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet鈥�

Friday, March 4, 听7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 6, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 12, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 13, 2 p.m.

Tickets for 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet鈥� are $14 with student, senior and youth discounts available.听To purchase tickets, visit the CU Presents box office in person (972 Broadway), call 303-492-8008 during business hours, or. Note: All online and phone orders are subject to a service fee. For press tickets, interviews or more information, contact Jill Kimball at听jill.kimball@colorado.edu.

Coming up later in CU-Boulder鈥檚 2015-16 theater season is 鈥淩abbit Hole,鈥� the Pulitzer Prize-winning play about finding hope in the midst of darkness.听, including free shows featuring the work of talented undergraduate dancers, choreographers, directors, designers and actors.