Fall performance of "Cloud Nine" opens November 8

"Cloud Nine" by Caryl Churchill is an inventive, surrealistic and entertaining look at sexual repression and role conditioning. Set in Victorian Africa as well as modern London, "Cloud Nine" explores the parallels between colonial and sexual repression and the changing, often confusing sexuality of our own relatively modern times. With this play - considered one of her best - Churchill exposes, in distinctly theatrical ways, identities warped by conforming to "unnatural norms."

"Cloud Nine" originally premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London, England, and received its American premiere Off-Broadway in New York City. Frank Rich of The New York Times said, "Miss Churchill has found a theatrical method that is easily as dizzying as her theme. Not only does she examine a cornucopia of sexual permutations - from heterosexual adultery right up to bisexual incest - but she does so with a wild array of dramatic styles and tricks. Miss Churchill, as you might gather, is one deft writer."

"Cloud Nine" opens at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, at Metropolitan State University’s Minneapolis Campus in the Whitney Mainstage Theater.

Additional performances are on Nov. 9, 10 and 16 at 7 p.m. There will be matinees on Nov. 10 and 17 at 1 p.m. The Whitney Mainstage Theater is located in the Whitney Fine Arts Center on the Metropolitan State and Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) campus off Loring Park, at 1424 Yale Place. The parking ramp is at 15th Street and Hennepin Avenue.

Metropolitan State and MCTC students are admitted free of charge. Family members will also be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a student. General admission is $5. "Cloud Nine" contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for younger children.

"Cloud Nine" is produced by Theater Underground and the Metropolitan State theater program, Gail Smogard is the theater program director. Scott M. Rubsam directs. Scenery design is by Kirby Moore, costumes by Ellin Anderson and lighting design by Michael Wangen.

Persons with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event call Disability Services at 651-793-1525 or 651-772-7687 (TTY).