The School of Theatre and Dance will present “Nice & Slow” by Lojo Simon at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, in the Black Box Theatre, Griffith Fine Arts Building, on the SFA campus.
Directed by Denton senior Connor Molen, “Nice & Slow” is the story of Sam, who is slow getting dressed on a particular morning. The grown-ups in the house expect their kid to share their hurried lifestyle, and they’re not pleased. Just as Sam prepares to hop to it, the sloth living in Sam’s upper bunk tickles the child’s nose and triggers a sneeze. Sam goes from rushing to get ready for school to having the day off … and going on fantastical adventures with sloth! As the pair zip from adventure to adventure inside Sam’s bedroom, Sam learns that there is indeed a time to go fast, but even more important in our fast-paced, hurried world, a time to go “Nice & Slow,” according to a synopsis at https://www.youthplays.com.
“This play is intended for young audiences,” Molen said. “All performances will be presented as sensory friendly theatre.”
The cast includes Magnolia sophomore Earial Paul as Sam; Portland sophomore Riley Spencer as Goo; Santa Fe junior Sarah Birkmeyer as Sloth; Keller junior Zoie Dorn as First Cheetah; Texarkana junior Deontae Whaley as Second Cheetah; and Dallas senior Sami Hurley as Nonni.
The crew includes Ali Maxey, Houston junior, stage manager; Robin Villarreal, Houston senior, assistant stage manager; Jesus Duarte, Galena Park junior, scenic designer; Dylan Mosera, Plano junior, costume coordinator; Lee Geiger, Texarkana senior, lighting designer; AJ Warden, Brownsboro freshman, sound designer; and Josiah Richardson, Wylie senior, props designer.
Molen is pursuing a BFA in acting/directing. In his time at SFA he has performed on the mainstage in “Ride Share/Overshare,” “The Maids,” “Ajax in Iraq,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Everybody” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” Molen is a member of Alpha Psi Omega and On Display: Devised Theatre. He also served as assistant director for “Women Who Weave” and “The Moors.” Last year, Molen directed “30 Neo-Futurist plays from Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” and “Sagittarius Ponderosa.”
Faculty advisor for this student-directed play is School of Theatre Director Cleo House-Keller.
Tickets are $5 for SFA students and faculty/staff and $8 for adults and youth not affiliated with SFA. To purchase tickets, visit the SFA Fine Arts Box Office online at sfasu.edu/boxoffice or call (936) 468-6407. Available tickets may be purchased at the door. Griffith Fine Arts Building is located at 2222 Alumni Drive. For more information about the play, call the School of Theatre and Dance at (936) 468-4003 or visit sfasu.edu/theatre-dance.
