BROWNWOOD – February 29, 2024 – Howard Payne University students will perform Poor Clare by Chiara Atik this Friday through Monday, March 1-4. This play will be their entrance in the Christian University Theatre Festival (CUTF), hosted by HPU’s Department of Theatre. The festival will be held March 4-5. All performances will take place at the HPU Theatre.
Showtimes for Poor Clare are Friday and Saturday, March 1-2 (7:30 p.m.), Sunday, March 3 (2:30 p.m.), and Monday, March 4 (1 p.m.). Tickets will be available at the theatre for all HPU and CUTF performances. Regular ticket price is $10. Tickets are $5 for students, HPU personnel and all U.S. military service members and first responders.
On Monday, March 4, Hardin-Simmons University will perform The Ballad of Maria Marten by Beth Flintoff (7 p.m.) and Woyzeck by Georg Büchner (10 p.m.). On Tuesday, March 5, Lubbock Christian University will perform Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley (1 p.m.).
Poor Clare follows one of Saint Francis of Assisi’s first pupils, Saint Clare, who struggles to understand the actions of Saint Francis as he gives up his wealth for the sake of the impoverished. While the story is based in the 13th century, the language in the play is completely modernized, making for a humorous and engaging retelling of these historical events.
Dr. Nicholas Ewen, chair of HPU’s Department of Theatre, associate professor of theatre and director and designer for Poor Clare, sees this play as an opportunity for self-reflection.
“On the surface, Poor Clare is about Clare of Assisi, her family, and how she responds to the message of Francis of Assisi,” said Dr. Ewen. “But underneath, it’s really about us – me and you, right here and now. It’s a very fun play to watch, and also very challenging. After enjoying the play, you will find yourself thinking about the message, surprised to notice things that maybe you hadn’t noticed before. That’s what great art, and great stories can do – draw us in through our imaginations, and then reveal something to us about ourselves, our relationship to God and our relationship to others.”
Cast and crew members in Poor Clare include Rachel Baergen, junior education major from Rockport; Laira Card, senior theatre major from Belton; CJ Chaney, freshman theatre major from Eastland; Allison Diaz, freshman theatre education major from Brownwood; Erin Montgomery, junior education major from Wall; Aniyah O’Neal, sophomore social work major from Houston; Abigail Poling, senior theatre education major from Bangs; Nathan Weems, freshman computer information systems major from Abilene; and Millicent Williams, junior theatre major from Garland.
For more information, contact Dr. Nicholas Ewen at newen@hputx.edu or call the HPU School of Music and Fine Arts at 325-649-8500.
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Cutline: HPU students rehearse for upcoming performances of Poor Clare. Pictured are, from left, Laira Card, Millicent Williams and Allison Diaz.