Theatre & Fine Arts

Kathleen Denecke, '14, performs during a N.U.R.T. show last summer. The repertory group is back this year for several performances at NU and within the surrounding communities.

Here comes Lily with her purple plastic purse! And Alexander, as usual, is having a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day…” and Pierre just doesn’t care! Yes, N.U.R.T. is back and better than ever. Our fast, furious and fantastically funny children’s tales brought to life by trained actors will delight audiences of all ages.

In fact, a grand tradition of family-friendly entertainment is about to be revived. Niagara University Theatre’s repertory troupe, N.U.R.T., will present a rotating repertoire of free children’s stories outdoors in the Village of Lewiston at Artpark, where it has not performed since the 1990s.

The N.U.R.T. troupe will also perform in the air-conditioned comfort of the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center, Clet Hall, on the NU campus. Also, N.U.R.T. will perform at Western New York daycare centers, YMCAs and healthcare facilities.

In addition, the N.U.R.T. actors will perform in a family theater production this summer, Duck for President, presented by The Friends of Niagara University Theatre. This musical will be directed by Terri Filips Vaughan, associate professor of dance/choreographer for Niagara University’s department of theatre and fine arts. The free musical will be on stage at the Leary Theatre from July 26 through August 5 and is appropriate for all ages.

Duck for President will be on stage at the Leary Theatre at 7 p.m. July 26-28, and Aug. 2-3. The musical will also be presented at 2 p.m. on July 29 and Aug. 1, 4 and 5. Also, a 10 a.m. performance will be presented on Aug. 4.

Members of the N.U.R.T. troupe include the following NU theater studies students: Sean Craig of Buffalo, N.Y., Kathleen Denecke of Hamburg, N.Y., Matt Gilbert of Berea, Ohio, Nathanial W.C. Higgins of Springville, N.Y., Josie Lazusky of Cochranton, Pa., Amy Mings of Buffalo, N.Y., Jennel Pruneda of San Antonio, Texas, Steph Schmidt of Rochester, N.Y., and Michael Sheridan of Amherst, N.Y. Director of the troupe is Amanda Lytle Sharpe, adjunct speech professor with Niagara University’s department of theatre and fine arts.

For more information, please contact the NU Theatre Box Office at 716.286.8685.