ASU Theatre Arts Presents ‘Rabbit Hole,’ Feb. 20-22

By ASU News Services

Alabama State University’s Department of Theatre Arts presents “Rabbit Hole,” by David Lindsay-Abaire, from February 20 to 22. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. at the Leila Barlow Theatre, located in ASU’s Tullibody Fine Arts Building.

“Rabbit Hole” delves into the complexity of a family navigating deep grief and learning what it means to live a fruitful life when things fall apart.

In the play, Becca and Howie Corbett have a picture-perfect family life in the suburbs of New York until a random, tragic accident takes the life of their four-year old son. Soon after, Becca’s younger, irresponsible sister, Izzy, announces that she is pregnant; there will now be a new child in the family.

As Becca and Howie grow apart, Becca’s mother, Nat, badgers Becca about her grieving process, and Jason, the young driver who killed their son, continually shows up to ask forgiveness.  The family is on a bumpy road to healing with no road map in sight.

Nathan Jacobs, Rabbit Hole’s director and assistant professor of Theatre at ASU, said he is excited about introducing this play the ASU community, and the extended “CommUniversity.”

“Our Theatre students are always willing to be challenged with new work, new concepts, as well as the classics,” Jacobs said. “This is a contemporary work that should be accessible to today’s audiences. The other thing that will make this play interesting is that we’ve all experienced and wrestled with grief. It’s really about learning to cope with tremendous loss and still move forward in life.”

The play is double-casted with a more advanced cast of senior Theatre majors and an understudy cast of freshmen and sophomores. A tradition established by retired dean Dr. Tommie Stewart to give more students the opportunity to experience the main stage, casting at least two actors for each role challenges both the students and the director.

“You have to make sure you develop chemistry between all the actors – not just between certain casts. There’s definitely a level of safety in it – just in case a student leaves the cast for example,” Jacobs said. “But it can also be very tenuous to do this type of directing well.”

For tickets or more information about “Rabbit Hole,” call (334) 229-6929, (334) 229-6739, or email wrcoleman@alasu.edu.