July 11, 2006 > Theatre Productions at Cal State East Bay

by Diane Daniel

Two theatre productions are on tap this summer by the Department of Theatre and Dance at California State University, East Bay, located at 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward. Both "Scapin, The Cheat" and "Once Upon a Mattress" will take place on the university's Hayward campus.

"Scapin, The Cheat" opens the Highlands Summer Theatre season Fridays and Saturdays, July 14-15 and July 21-22, at 8 p.m., and concludes with a performance on Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m. Each performance will take place in the Studio Theatre.

Dawn Monique Williams and Ulises Alcala will direct Moliere's commedia dell'arte based on a family farce. Fathers, sons, abduction, love, money, and then there's Scapin, the servant who weaves a hilarious web of mistaken identities, double talk, and deceit.

Tickets are $7 for general admission, $6 for youth and seniors, $5 for CSUEB students, $3 for children and $16 for a family of up to two adults and two children.

"Once Upon a Mattress," directed by Darryl V. Jones, will be presented Fridays and Saturday, Aug. 4 and 5 and Aug. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. at the University Theatre.

The show is musical mayhem set in a fairy tale world, according to Jones, who also says it is more than "The Princess and the Pea" put to music.

Tickets are $14 for general admission, $10 for youth and seniors, $8 CSUEB students, and $40 for a family.

Tickets may be reserved by calling (510) 885-3261. Information is available online at http://class.csueastbay.edu/theatre/Summer_Theatre_Calendar.php.