Tony Shalhoub’s Impact on the USM Theatre Department
The University of Southern Maine (USM) Department of Theatre is thrilled to announce the grand opening of the newly-renovated Tony Shalhoub Black Box Theatre. This exciting development is thanks to the incredible generosity of award-winning actor and USM Theatre alumnus, Tony Shalhoub (’77). His significant donation enabled a complete redesign of an underutilized space in Russell Hall on the USM Gorham campus, equipping it with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, risers, and comfortable seating.
A New Space for Intimate Performances
The Tony Shalhoub Black Box Theatre, with its intimate 40-seat capacity, will serve as a vital hub for smaller productions and student-directed work. It provides a unique platform for emerging talent to hone their craft and explore innovative theatrical concepts. The inaugural production, “All in the Timing, Six One-Act Plays” by David Ives and directed by Jared Mongeau, is the perfect fit for this dynamic new space.
“All in the Timing”: A Hilarious Exploration of the Human Condition
David Ives’ critically-acclaimed comedy, winner of the John Gassner Playwriting Award, is a collection of witty and absurd short plays. Performed by talented USM Theatre students, the production delves into the complexities of human connection and the often-hilarious realities of life. Director Jared Mongeau emphasizes the universal themes woven throughout the seemingly stylized world of the plays.
“While all of the short plays are in a heightened and extremely stylized world, the seeds at the heart of each of the pieces are quite simple and play with issues we have all experienced and can relate to,” Mongeau explains. He describes the process as “treating it as a puzzle to be deciphered, untangled, and turned into something that exists in a three-dimensional world.” One particularly challenging piece, “Universal Language,” is almost entirely performed in a made-up language, adding a unique layer of complexity.
Mongeau hopes the audience will leave with “…a new curiosity about how they view the world and how they interact with it, and with grace toward themselves and others.”
Content Advisory: Brief mention of suicide; themes of death and dying.
Tony Shalhoub: A Distinguished Career
Tony Shalhoub is renowned for his versatile acting career, spanning stage, television, and film. He is perhaps best known for his Emmy Award-winning role as Adrian Monk in the television series Monk, and his Tony Award-winning performance in the Broadway production of Big River. His dedication to the arts and his commitment to supporting future generations of theatre artists are truly inspiring. You can learn more about his career on his official website.
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