University Theatre presents 'The Great Gatsby'

One of the blog's favorite American novels and fictional protagonists comes to the Fine Arts Theatre beginning November 6:

University Theatre at the University of Georgia will present "The Great Gatsby," adapted for the stage by Simon Levy from F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel and directed by T. Anthony Marotta, on Nov. 6-8 and 12-14 at 8 p.m. with matinee performances Nov. 9 and 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre.

Additional events surrounding this Spotlight on the Arts feature include a small opening night reception Nov. 6, "A Party with Gatsby" Nov. 7 and a special matinee for area high school groups Nov. 11.

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When Fitzgerald published the novel in 1925, "it was written about and gifted to a generation that, for the first time in America's history, was under the spell of the media," Marotta explained. "Americans were suddenly being supplied with a stream of images depicting how the ‘haves' look and live. We, mostly the ‘have-nots', have been watching closely ever since.

"While the era may look different and seem far away, we have much in common with people in this play, and the expectations they project onto the American Dream."

To make the connection between the past and the present, Marotta's team is creating an immersive experience in which audience members will be offered the option to receive text messages that supplement the action onstage during the performance. There will be a "phone-free" area for patrons that wish to opt out of this supplementary feature of the production.

Spotlight on the Arts, and how. This wonderfully ambitious production will be one of the great highlights not just of this year's festival but of the academic year. Good luck to our students and faculty. Let's come out and enjoy this great effort. Tickets here.

Image: Emerald Toller is Daisy Buchanan and Jeofry Wages is Jay Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby" presented by University Theatre at UGA. (Credit: Adron Farris/UGA)