Riverland Theatre presents ‘Seven’
Published 8:34 am Monday, February 26, 2018
- Maria Cristina Aranda, playing Mu Sochua, gives a monolague during a rehearsal for the upcoming presentation of “Seven.” Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Riverland Community College Theatre will be performing “Seven” from Feb. 28-March 4.
A work of documentary theatre, “Seven” tells about the lives of a diverse group of women fighting for women and children’s rights around the world. A collaboration by seven award-winning female playwrights, the play is based on personal interviews with seven women who have triumphed over enormous obstacles to bring about major changes in their home countries of Nigeria, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Russia.
The cast of “Seven” comes together during a rehearsal Friday night at Riverland Community College.
“I came across these monologues that led to me finding the play and I was just blown away,” said Riverland Theatre instructor Susan Hansen, who is directing the show. She will also be performing one of the roles.
RCC Theatre originally planned to do a play based on the stories of immigrants in Austin. However, because there was not yet enough information gathered to create a viable show, Hansen said the immigration project has been postponed.
“There was not enough time to gather everything that I wanted to create a richer story,” Hansen said. “It’s on the backburner. We’re still collecting stories and working on it, but I did not feel it was ready.”
Claire Olson, playig Marina Pisklakova-Parker, shares a scene with Pamela Urick, during rehearsal of the Riverland presentation of “Seven.”
For Hansen, “Seven” was a logical story to perform instead.
“It has this international component,” she said. “But it’s also a universal story of discrimination, fighting corruption, and human rights. In that sense, it’s in the same line (as the immigration project).”
It was also chosen to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Hansen sees the story as an opportunity for people to learn about women who worked to change their communities.
Pamela Urick playing Farida Azizi, from left, Claire Olson playing Marina Pisklakova-Parker and Susan V. Hansen playing Inez McCormack rehearse a scene from the Riverland presentation of “Seven.”
“I think it’s so powerful and inspiring,” she said. “Everyday I learn something new about these women and I’m amazed by their courage and their strength and their ability to speak out and the organizations they’ve created.”
“Seven” will be performed at at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 1-3 and 2 p.m. March 4 at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College. Tickets are $13 and can be purchased online at www.riverland.edu/tickets or at the Riverland Box Office, located in room E107 in the East Building of the Austin campus. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one hour before performances.
Riverland students receive two free tickets to each performance with a valid student ID.
Paulina Aquirre Quijano tells a story from the life of Anabella De Leo during rehearsal of the Riverland presentation of “Seven.”
Cast
Farida Azizi – Pamela Urick
Anabella De Leon – Paulina Aguirre Quijano
Inez McCormack – Susan V. Hansen
Mukhtar Mai – Lia Culbert
Mu Sochua – Maria Cristina Aranda
Marina Pisklakova-Parker – Claire Olson
Hafsat Abiola – Adenike Ademola (note: due to scheduling conflicts, the performance of Hafsat Abiola was recorded and will be shown during the show)
Crew
Director – Susan V. Hanson
Set and Lighting Designer – John Deyo
Costumes – Susan V. Hansen
Pamela Urick tells the story fo Farida Azizi during rehearsal of the Riverland presentation of “Seven,” Friday night.
