PEMBROKE, NC – The production of The Three Musketeers at Givens Performing Arts Center on the campus of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke has been rescheduled for three performances Nov. 15-17 at 7:30 p.m.
“I hope the campus comes out to support the piece,” said director Jonathan Drahos, University Theatre director and associate professor of Theatre. “It is very funny, with the right balance of heart, romance, and adventure that is great for the entire family. And the sword fighting is fantastic!”
Tickets are $26 and $21 for adults and $5 for children. UNCP students get in free with their ID but are required to get tickets at the box office. The show is presented by the UNCP University Theatre program and GPAC.
Originally scheduled for September 20 and 21, the play was postponed due to Hurricane Florence.
“In the spirit of resilience and perseverance, the show must go on,” said James Bass, GPAC director. “Dr. Drahos and I felt that too much passion had been invested in the show, and while some changes had to be made, the show has a renewed vision that everyone feels excited about.”
Drahos calls the work and commitment that will bring the play to GPAC’s stage despite Hurricane Florence “a fantastic journey in itself—a journey of overcoming odds and contesting with villainous entities.”
The original production was to be part of GPAC’s artist-in-residence program, which brings performers from New York and Los Angeles to create an original production using UNCP student actors and musicians. The delays caused by the hurricane forced Drahos to re-cast the play from the performance of a professional artist-in-residence to a mostly student production.
It’s thanks to an outpouring of community support that the show will go on. “We put out audition notices to our campus community, and we are proud to announce that we have an example of our community coming together to beat the odds,” Drahos said. “We have cast member students from a myriad of different majors, as well as faculty, administration, and campus police in major roles.
“I am so proud to lead this cast and crew,” Drahos said.
The Three Musketeers follows D’Artagnan, who travels to Paris in hopes of becoming a musketeer, one of the French king’s elite bodyguards. Upon his arrival he discovers that the corps has been disbanded by conniving Cardinal Richelieu, who secretly hopes to seize the throne. Fortunately, Athos, Porthos and Aramis have refused to lay down their weapons and continue to protect their king. D’Artagnan joins with the rogues to expose Richelieu’s plot against the crown.
Last year, GPAC introduced an artist-in-residence program to its season, presenting Romeo & Juliet as its first production, and hiring professional actors to spend a month at UNCP working on the production.
Other season performances at GPAC include Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles on Oct. 19, The Great DuBois on Oct. 27, the UNCP Holiday Extravaganza on Nov. 30, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer On Dec. 2.
The Three Musketeers is one of several performances that is being held in conjunction with the Act I Diner’s Club. The dinner for this show is available for Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. The cost is $35 per person. Call the GPAC Box Office at (910) 521-6361 to make reservations or for information.
Visit https://www.uncp.edu/resources/givens-performing-arts-center to see the full list of shows for this season.