Faculty member Fred Curchack will direct Monkey: The Quest to the West, a play he adapted for the stage from the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West, at UT Dallas April 10-19.
Performances will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre.
The story follows the supernatural trickster Monkey, who makes war with heaven until he is imprisoned under a mountain by Buddha. After 500 years, he is released to protect a Buddhist monk on his perilous journey from China to India to bring back spiritual texts. On the way they encounter all manner of deities, demons, monsters and outrageous misadventures.
Curchack, an internationally acclaimed performer, director and playwright, has created more than 70 original theater works. His recent play, Noh: Angels, Demons and Dreamers, was selected as one of the Top 10 Theater Events of 2007 by The Dallas Morning News.
He has received the Gold Medal at the International Festival of Solo Theatre, the American Theatre Wing Award and Critics’ Awards in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Austin. His work has been included in “Best of the Week” in the L.A. Times, “Top 10 of the Year” in The New York Times, “Top 10 of the Decade” in the Austin Chronicle, and in the “Top 10 of All-time” in the Dallas Morning News.
He has received funding from Creative Capital, the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts International and the Henson Foundation. Curchack is a Guggenheim Fellow.
Mel Gussow of the New York Times called him a “theatrical virtuoso”and wrote, “It is clear that when Mr. Curchack is on stage, imagination knows no limitations.” Dallas Morning News critic Lawson Taitte has described Curchack as “Dallas’ resident theatrical wizard.”
More information about this concert may be found at http://ah.utdallas.edu/season0708/monkeyquestwest.htm.
Tickets for the play are $15 for general admission and free at the door to UT Dallas students with valid Comet Cards. UT Dallas ticket office hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the door one hour prior to concert time. For advance ticket purchases using Visa, MasterCard or Discover, please call 972-883-2552.
For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UT Dallas, please call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787) or e-mail utdarts@utdallas.edu. People with disabilities in need of special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator: 1-800-RELAYVV.
About the School of Arts & Humanities
The School of Arts & Humanities at UT Dallas offers a dynamic and integrated approach to education that fosters the critical, creative and communicative skills necessary for success in the culturally diverse, technologically rich and change-intensive environment of the 21st century. For more information about the School of Arts & Humanities, please visit the Web site at http://ah.utdallas.edu.
For Immediate Release Contact: Kristi Barrus, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2972, kristi.barrus@utdallas.edu
Media contacts:
Kristi Barrus, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2972, kristi.barrus@utdallas.edu
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu