The New Mexico State University Theatre Department opens its 2022-23 season with an early evening preview performance of “Big Frog,” by Dylan Guerra at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29.
Opening night is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Additional performances are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and Friday-Saturday, Oct. 7-8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9.
Performances are in the Mark and Stephanie Medoff Theatre in the ASNMSU Center for the Arts, 1000 E. University Ave.
Tickets for the Sept. 29 preview performance only are $10 general admission, with no charge for students. Tickets for the other shows are $20 general admission, $18 for students, $16 for military and senior citizens and $10 for under age 18.
The cast is comprised of Alycia Herrera as Maya, Jonathan Cordova as Will, Yocelin Torres as Mel, Isaac Goldstein as Nick and Elia Vasquez as Cody.
“In high school, five close friends used to meet on a Miami golf course to drink, smoke pot, and … lick a frog?” the NMSU Theatre Department said in a synopsis of the play, “10 years later, four of them return to get their story straight, because a well-known crime podcast host has come to town to investigate an unsolved mystery. Oh, yeah, and the frog is still there too – just bigger.”
“I'd say, on the surface, there is a tone reminiscent of the series favorite, ‘Stranger Things’ – loveable characters in unnatural circumstances, and the audience is along for the ride,” said NMSU Theatre Department assistant professor Nichole Hamilton, who is directing the play. “With a closer lens, the play explores mental health, addiction, loss, cultural and generational trauma and making peace with this existence. It is bizarre, funny and full of humanity.”
Guerra is a Latinx playwright based in New York City whose mission is “to create diverse and challenging new works that promote cross sectional conversation,” according to https://dylangguerra.wixsite.com/. Guerra, who has a bachelor of fine arts degree from Southern Methodist University, will visit NMSU during the production.
The show contains adult themes and language. Viewer discretion is advised.
