College Performing Arts Series

By Philip Dawkins

Performances will be held in the Theatre Arts Arena on the Montgomery College Rockville campus.

By the end of 1928, all three Fail sisters will be dead -- expiring in reverse order, youngest to oldest, from blunt object to the head, disappearance, and finally consumption. Tuneful songs, and a whimsical chorus follow the story of Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty as they live out their lives above the family clock repair shop near the Chicago River, before their time unexpectedly runs out. A magical, musical fable where, in the end, the power of love is far greater than any individual's successes or failures.

Failure: A Love Story is presented by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. 

Written by Karl Capek and Josef Capek.

Translation by Paul Selver

"And So Ad Infinitum" (The Life of the Insects) by Karel Čapek and Josef Čapek is a theatrical work presented in a unique format that blends elements of drama and entomological review. The narrative takes an insightful yet whimsical look into the lives of insects, personifying them in a way that reflects the broader themes of existence, nature, and the human condition. The opening of this play introduces a tramp who is roused from sleep by a lepidopterist eagerly trying to catch butterflies. Their dialogue reveals the contrast between the simplistic joys of nature that the tramp embodies and the analytical, often obsessive pursuit of the scientist. As the tramper philosophizes about love and happiness, various butterfly characters are introduced, engaging in playful and romantic interactions, which set the stage for exploring deeper themes of desire, beauty, and the cyclical nature of life, all against the backdrop of the natural world. This engaging introduction creates a rich tapestry of characters and ideas, inviting the audience to reflect on both the whimsical and the serious aspects of life through the lens of entomology. 

And So Ad Infinitum is in the public domain.

Book by Joe Tracz | Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki

As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can't control, a destiny he doesn't want, and a mythology textbook's worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus's master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action-packed mythical adventure "worthy of the gods" (Time Out New York).

THE LIGHTNING THIEF is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Company.