Playwright Sarah Ruhl visiting March 29-30

Playwright, professor and essayist Sarah Ruhl will visit Augustana the last weekend in March. Her residency will include class visits, readings, a workshop and “An Evening with Sarah Ruhl” on Saturday.

Ruhl has been the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award for a distinguished American playwright in mid-career. Two of her plays have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and she received a nomination for Tony Award for Best Play.

Last year Augustana presented Ruhl’s Pulitzer finalist play, “In the Next Room, or the vibrator play.” 

In 2018, she published “Letters from Max: A Book of Friendship,” co-authored with poet Max Ritvo, who died in 2016.

Originally from Chicago, Ruhl has a local connection: Her parents were both from Davenport and she still has family here. Ruhl currently serves on the faculty of the Yale School of Drama.

Schedule

Friday, March 29, Brunner Theatre Center

1-2:15 p.m. Visit to Dr. Jennifer Popple’s Modern and Contemporary Theatre class. This session will be a Q&A format moderated by Dr. Popple and open to additional students as space allows.

5-6 p.m. Sarah Ruhl will read selections from some of her essays and answer questions. Free and open to the public.

Saturday, March 30

Wilson Center, 1-3 p.m. Playwrights’ workshop. Sarah Ruhl will lead a session for community and college playwrights. This free event is open to the public, but registration is required and enrollment is limited. To register, contact Christina Myatt, 309-794-7611.

Brunner Theatre Center, 7:30-9 p.m. An Evening with Sarah Ruhl. Selections from Ruhl’s plays will be presented, and there will be a Q&A session. After the performances, audience members are invited to a dessert reception. Admission is free but tickets are limited. Tickets are available through the Augustana Ticket Office, 309-794-7306 or online.

Sarah Ruhl’s residency is funded by the Ruth Allison and “Lefty” Anderson Playwriting Fund, the Office of Academic Affairs, the Institute for Leadership and Service and the English department.