UtahPresents is bringing the global theatre sensation, “White Rabbit Red Rabbit,” to Kingsbury Hall, playing on select dates through Dec. 2. This “theatre entertainment meets social experiment” is the work of Nassim Soleimanpour, who penned the play while confined to his native Iran and silenced as a conscientious objector.
A new reader must perform “White Rabbit Red Rabbit” every time, and the reader has never seen the script or the play before. The audience and performers alike take an artistic leap together in this unique experience.
A diverse slate of University of Utah administrators, students and community personalities will read the play each night.
Nov. 4: Bill Allred, host of X96’s “Radio From Hell”
Nov. 9: Mckayli Abbe, U psychology major
Nov. 10: Sylvia Torti, dean of the Honors College
Nov. 11: Jorge Rojas, director of education and engagement for Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Nov. 16: Mark Macey, U theatre studies major
Nov. 17: Deena Marie Manzanares, actress
Dec. 1: Theresa Martinez, associate professor of sociology
Dec. 2: Derek Kitchen, Salt Lake City Council
“I like challenges and I was drawn to the idea of doing a staged reading of a play for which I would not receive the script in advance,” said Torti. “I believe that my willingness to blindly take on a challenge might provide a good role for all honors students. To me, a good life is about taking risks and allowing ourselves to inhabit uncomfortable spaces so that we might grow.”
On the heels of a long off-Broadway run, “White Rabbit Red Rabbit” has received critical praise and has been read by Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg and Martin Short. Entertainment Weekly called the play “a dazzling and transcendent piece of alive-and-kicking theatre.”
“I’m looking forward to just jumping on stage,” said Macey. “You’re not going to see something like this again any time soon. I think it’s going to be a blast.”
“I’m impressed by their willingness to participate in this rather madcap, and possibly foolhardy, adventure,” said Brooke Horejsi, executive director of UtahPresents. “I’m really looking forward to how each of them will navigate the audience through this script, which they’ve never seen before.”
A reception will follow each performance of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit.” Tickets are just $5 for U students and 10 percent off for faculty, staff and alumni.
