Capital University Theatre is devoting the 2025-26 season to the land of croissants, Chanel, and la Tour Eiffel. This year’s productions are all set in France or written by French authors, starting with a “A Very Long Engagement” on October 2, 2025.
For this first piece, advisor Dr. Dan Heaton, professor of Communication and Theatre Studies, drew from a 1991 novel and a 2004 screenplay to create an adapted script set in France during World War I. The production also includes World War I era poems, images from early 20th century France, and an acoustic cover of “Zombie” by the Cranberries.
“It seems like a strange song to sing to tell the story of WWI in France, but we perform it while cleaning up an amalgamation of chairs, depicting ruins of war.” said Evie Swick ’28, a theatre studies and communications studies double major. “We limp and crawl and stumble across stage, depicting survivors of a brutal war picking the pieces of what's left.”
“The story is set in World War I, but the themes are relevant today,” Heaton said. “We still have war. We still have loss. We still have love. And we still have hope.”
This year’s cast includes first year students, returning students, and alumni. To make the piece work, they had to learn to properly pronounce French names and places and become adept at the story’s twists and turns.
“This is the first piece that we have done in my four years where it feels like you are being led through a serious mystery,” said Meg Garcia ’26, an exercise science pre-athletic training major. “There are multiple storylines happening that, in the end, are all connected. Keeping track of what is real or what is a lie or cover up is the hardest part.”
They also had to learn to navigate the changing sets created by students working in the scene shop.
“Chairs are the main props of the show, and we use them to build different scenes and set pieces,” Swick said. “Trenches, barbed wire, houses, a bar, all sorts of things. Seeing the chairs move flawlessly from one scene to another is satisfying to a level I wasn’t aware was possible.”
Several students took on leadership roles during rehearsal to ensure the success of the production. Garcia designed the costumes, and Ella Willet and Abby Prucha assisted with the music. Theatre studies major Quinn Shaw ’29, is acting as stage manager, assisted by first year Abigail Cutugno.
“My experience in crew before this was simply making sure props and set pieces made it on and off stage smoothly,” Shaw said. “Understanding the actual responsibilities of a stage manager has been fun but also a lot, especially as a freshman having very little experience. But noting blocking, cues, and entrances, and getting to see it all come together has been so satisfying.”
“I enjoy seeing the students interact and learn from each other,” Heaton said, “and I’ve enjoyed seeing the new students get excited to be involved in a university theatre department.”
“I love how Dr. Dan structures these productions,” Swick said. “He’s got a clear vision in mind for what he wants the show to be, and I’m happy to help him put that together.”
“A Very Long Engagement” runs October 2-5 in the Cabaret Theatre. The rest of the Vive la France season will include “Rhinoceros” by absurdist playwright Eugene Ionesco, “Amelie the Musical,” and “Tartuffe” by Moliere.
The Theatre Studies Program in the Media, Communication, Art, and Theatre Department also includes the Fat Tuesday Debutantes Improvisational Comedy Group and the Masquers Outreach Ensemble. All activities and classes are open to students of all majors.