The university theater arts program is back. This year, they are preparing for their show “Head Over Heels,” a jukebox comedy musical with music and lyrics by legendary rock band, The Go-Go’s. The show will premiere at Bucknall Theater from Nov. 10 through 13.

Auditions for the show came on Aug. 31 with callbacks on Sep. 1.

Last semester, on-campus programs and activities were few and far between amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the theater arts program was just one organization that took a hit. Through it all, the program still managed to hold a two-performance showing of William Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale,” which required audience members to show a cleared CoVerified status, wear a mask, and socially distance. For those who could not attend, there was a live stream on Facebook where viewers could comment live during the performance.

With live theater returning to the New Haven area, it comes as no surprise that the university’s theater program is back in full force, as well, with the first performance just a couple of months away.

This will be the first live musical production since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With increased safety precautions, in addition to the university’s widespread vaccine and mask mandate, productions are still able to be held with an audience with less concern for transmission.

In the spring, the biennial Student New Works Festival, a student-created short play festival, will be held in-person from April 20 through 23 in Bucknall Theater.

For more information on how to get involved with the Theater Program, contact Prof. Margaret Savilonis at [email protected] and Jonathan Yukich at [email protected].