Bellingham TheatreWorks to explore language in summer series featuring WWU students, faculty and alumni

This summer from June 24 to July 20, WWU Theatre’s Mark Kuntz, along with WWU students and alumni, will produce three award-winning plays in a series called “In Search of a Common Language.”

The three plays, “The Foreigner,” “The Language Archive,” and “Translations” explore how language can divide as well as unite people, with scenes where the characters desperately want to communicate, but are faced with a language barrier. Audience members will experience the intimacy of being in the round at the Firehouse Arts and Events Center, sitting with the actors.

“In Search of a Common Language” promises to explore how language is aligned with culture and identity, and how barriers in communication can lead to unexpected interpersonal challenges.

Bellingham TheatreWorks is a collaboration of many members of the community: students and educators, parents and children, as well as guest artists from far beyond Bellingham Bay, all working together to bring these three plays to life.

“The Foreigner” by Larry Shue, directed by Mark Kuntz

In a fishing lodge in rural Georgia, a tragically shy proofreader for a science fiction magazine tries to hide from life, only to put himself in the middle of a family squabble over money and power. This hilarious comedy earned multiple Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards such as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production.

“The Language Archive” by Julia Cho, directed by Cara Phipps

George is consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of the world. At home, however, despite all the languages he speaks, words fail him in his marriage with his wife. This heartfelt bittersweet comedy won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for new plays.

“Translations” by Brian Freil, directed by Kayla Adams (’16)

A British soldier falls in love with an Irish peasant girl, with a backdrop of the British Army’s campaign to change the names of native Gaelic locations. This lyric play explores language as the soul of a nation, during a time of complicated social upheaval.

All plays run six nights a week for four weeks. The entire season schedule with ticketing and attendance information, as well as complete descriptions of the plays and information about all of the artists, can be found at www.BellinghamTheatreWorks.org

Frances Badgett covers communications for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Fine and Performing Arts. Reach out to her with story ideas at badgetf@wwu.edu.