CofC Stages at the College of Charleston’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues its season with its first November offering: a staged reading of In Love and Warcraft by Madhuri Shekar. This season features eight compelling productions that each highlight the theme of “Expectations and Explorations”—challenging what we think we know as we discover the world around us, as well as ourselves.
In Love and Warcraft tells the story of Evie Malone – gamer girl, college senior, and confirmed virgin – who has it all figured out. Not only does she command a top-ranked guild in Warcraft with her online boyfriend; she also makes a little cash on the side writing love letters for people who’ve screwed up their relationships. Love is like a video game, after all: it’s all about strategies, game plans, and not taking stupid risks. Well, that’s what she thinks… until she actually falls for a guy. In real life. No amount of gaming expertise will help her out when she finds herself with a non-virtual, totally real and incredibly cute boyfriend, who wants more from her than she’s willing to give.
Written by Madhuri Shekur, In Love and Warcraft premiered at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in 2014 and won the 2013-2014 Alliance/Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Award. An award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Madhuri Shekar was born in California and grew up in India, and is currently based in Jersey City, New Jersey. She is an alumna of the Juilliard Playwriting program, a fellow at New Dramatists, and the 2020 winner of the Lanford Wilson Playwriting award. Her other works include the audio play Evil Eye, which debuted on the Audible bestseller list in May 2019, and won the 2020 Audie Award for Best Original Work. Her play House of Joy received its world premiere at Cal Shakes in August 2019.
The staged reading is directed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Dr. Peter Spearman, whose previous directorial work includes last season’s staged reading of The Late Wedding. Later this season, Dr. Spearman will also direct the department’s co-production with CofC Opera, Die Fledermaus. Senior theatre major Bea Lemaster serves as the Assistant Director. The cast, comprised of theatre majors and minors, includes Madelein Hanson as Evie, Jenna Bush as Kitty, Brandon Alston as Raul, Chris Warzynski as Ryan, and Phoenix Brown and Delaney Faile portraying a variety of ensemble characters.
DETAILS: Performances of In Love and Warcraft at the Chapel Theatre (172 Calhoun St.) are November 3-6. Curtain times are 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 3rd, 4th, and 6th, with a 4:00 p.m. matinee on Nov. 5th. Discounted season ticket packages are available for all eight CofC Stages productions. Individual tickets are $10 adults; $8 seniors (60+), military/veteran, and youth under 18; tickets are free for CofC students, faculty, and staff.
Purchase individual tickets online or contact the George Street Box Office by emailing gsbo@cofc.edu or calling (843) 953-4726.
2023-2024 CofC Stages Season
Visit go.cofc.edu/cofcstages to learn about all eight productions that center on the theme “Expectations and Explorations” :
Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus
After the Rain (faculty-choreographed dance concert)
In Love and Warcraft by Madhuri Shekar (staged reading)
Pippin by Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson
The Pages Festival: Staged Readings of Student-Written Works
Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II (co-production with Department of Music/CofC Opera)
Pathways (student-choreographed dance concert)
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
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