The WVU University Arts Series presents “The Great Gatsby,” an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic work as a solo show with actor Simon Rabatin, on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
“The Great Gatsby” takes place on Long Island and in New York City in the early 20th century, at the height of the Jazz Age and the Prohibition Era. The novel touches on the treatment of different social classes, “old money” vs. “new money” ideology, gender, race, environmentalism, and the price of the American Dream.
In this one-man show, Rabatin embodies multiple characters, conveying the lengths each will go to attain their desires. Rabatin is a New York based actor and visual artist. His other recent productions include Tom in “These Shining Lives” with Poor Mouth Theatre Company and a supporting role in Aiden Cronin’s film “The Birds Tell Me All There Is To Know.”
This version of “The Great Gatsby” was adapted by Literature to Life (LTL), a performance-based literacy program that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics. LTL’s mission is to perform great books that inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives. LTL was founded more than three decades ago as the educational program of the American Place Theatre. Now an independent organization, this mighty collective of artists and educators brings the voices of diverse authors to thousands of students and audiences nationwide, giving them the tools to become the empowered “voices worth hearing” of our future.
Tickets can be purchased online at go.wvu.edu/greatgatsby, by phone at 304-293-SHOW or in person at the box office located in the main lobby of the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The University Arts Series brings nationally touring Broadway shows, renowned musicians, family favorites and elite dance troupes to Morgantown each year. This season features 15 events, including “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE” and “The Wiz” later this month, and “Bluey’s Big Play” and “Hadestown” in the spring, among others. See the full schedule and buy tickets at go.wvu.edu/uas.