Rice Theatre to present ‘Tartuffe’ Nov. 9-17

Rice University Theatre will present Moliere’s most famous comic masterpiece, “Tartuffe, or the Imposter” at the university’s Hamman Hall, 6100 Main St. Performances are at 8 p.m. Nov. 9-10 and Nov. 15-17. A 3 p.m. matinee is scheduled for Nov. 11.

Rice students John Paul Peng, Hayley Jones (standing) and Tasneem Islam (from left to right) play leading roles in "Tartuffe."

The play’s plot revolves around a pompous head of household taken in by a cunning charlatan, under the religious cloak of piety. Tartuffe seeks to marry his benefactor’s daughter, seduce his wife and gain the family fortune. “Moliere gives us a farce with a scathing wit as he roasts religion, hypocrisy and sexual deceit,” said Christina Keefe, director of Rice’s Theatre Program.

Guest Director Samuel Sparks will be at the helm of the production. Sparks’ varied directing credits include “Metamorphoses,” “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” the American Folk musical “Sing Out, Sweet Land” and “Das Barbecü,” among others. His work has been seen at New Stage Theatre, the University of Houston, Mill Mountain Theatre, William Carey University and soon at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he will direct “Blood Wedding.” He is the two-time recipient of the Ballew Directing Award from the Southeastern Theatre Conference.

Matt Schlief is the production manager and lecturer oftheatre at Rice and most recently won the Houston Press Theatre Award for Best Lighting Design for Generations Theatre Company’s “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” which was performed at Hamman Hall.  Schlief is also resident designer for Classical Theatre Company, most recently designing sets for Strindberg’s “Miss Julie.” Schlief will team with costume designer Macy Perrone, whose work was last seen in Rice Theatre’s “Macbeth.” Perrone has recently designed for Main Street Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre and Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Tickets are $5 for students; $8 for Rice alumni, faculty and staff and senior citizens; and $10 for general admission. Tickets are available in advance by calling 713-348-PLAY.

For more information on the performances, visit arts.rice.edu. For a Rice University map and parking information, visit rice.edu/parking.