University of Alaska Fairbanks stages live play about art and writing

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Theatre Department is preparing to premiere its second show of the 2021-2022 season on Friday, March 25.

The play, “Seminar” by Theresa Rebeck, is being performed at the Lee H. Salisbury Lab Theatre.

Sarah Williams, who plays Kate said, “What this play means to me is what it means to be an artist, what it means to connect to other artists.”

Charles Wolgemuth, playing Martin, explained, “For me, it is about taking that big leap as an artist and to trust in your abilities as an artist, and to not be afraid, and to not be your worst enemy as an artist.”

The play focuses on a group of aspiring writers taking a course from a sometimes blunt teacher. “It’s a very funny play. The dialogue is sharp like a knife,” Wolgemuth said.

The play, like any theater production, involves a heavy amount of collaboration between the cast and crew. According to Williams, “Everybody has been so nice, and we have such a talented crew of actors, and the crew has just been so patient with all of us.”

Bruce Hanson, who plays the teacher Leonard, explained that as a cast member who’s been doing theater longer, “When I saw these young people, I was just completely on board. They were smart, sharp, good actors.”

The production will be performed live, the second time the department has been able to do so since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“Everybody is really excited to be performing live again, and we are really excited to have an audience here,” Williams said.

Hanson added about live theater, “I love the anxiety. I love the anxiety of it.”

The play runs for three weekends, with evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays, and matinees on Sundays.

More information can be found here.