‘The Dinner Party’ at TAMIU this Weekend

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) theatre production class presents “The Dinner Party,” a one-act comedy by Neil Simon, Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m. in TAMIU’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre.

General admission is $5 and free for students with a current student ID.

“The Dinner Party” is Simon’s 31st play and contains suggestive themes that may not be suitable for young audiences.

Explaining the play, the playwright Simon has said, “I had the concept of creating a farce up to a certain point, and then instead of continuing the farce, to make a turn to where it becomes quite serious. I wanted to break the concept that farces can never get real, even for a minute."

The performance is by TAMIU's Department of Fine and Performing Arts theatre production class and is directed by Dr. Gilberto Martínez Jr., instructor, communication and theatre, and Rene Chapa, a TAMIU student with a minor in theatre arts.

Dr. Martínez said the effort combines two drama forms.

"We are combining two things here: the Farce and the One-Act Play. Simon's ‘Dinner Party’ also gets a bit serious with themes ranging from regretting life's choices to accepting them as life-long learning opportunities. And he does it in a fun and entertaining way," Martínez explained.

Showered with more Academy and Tony nominations than any other writer, it has been argued that Neil Simon is the world’s most successful playwright. His plays have been translated into a variety of languages and have been global hits.

For more information, contact the College of Arts and Science, department of Fine and Performing Arts, at 956-326-ARTS (2787) or email gilberto.martinez@tamiu.edu

For a calendar of upcoming arts events with reminder capabilities, visit http://www.tamiu.edu/coas/fpa/coe.shtml

Additional information is also available online @txamiu on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.   –This Story by Student Intern David De la Garza.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu