CCCC Theatre Department presenting Tartuffe

Cloud County Community College’s theatre department will present the comedy “Tartuffe” Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13 in Cook Theatre on the Concordia campus. The show will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and conclude with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

“Tartuffe” was first performed in 1664, and is one of the most famous theatrical comedies by Moliére, a French playwright, actor and poet. Blinded by admiration, Orgon, a property-owning French man, brings the poor and insincere Tartuffe into his home and arranges for his daughter to marry him. Various members of the family attempt to have Tartuffe thrown out. Orgon is a man of property, duped by the false piety of the penniless Tartuffe.

First performed before King Louis XIV in 1664, “Tartuffe” is a piercing commentary on hypocrisy and impiety. After its first performance, it immediately attracted criticism for its perceived attacks on the Catholic Church, and was censored.

The cast includes Makayla Hollerich, Beloit, as Orgon; Allison Bishop, Clay Center, as Cleanthes; Chloe Springfield, Ness City, as Dorina; Belle Chavey, Concordia, as Mariana; Rusti Bassett, Jansen, Neb., as Valere (Mariana); Grace Beikman, Linn, as Tartuffe; Jessica Pendleton, Manhattan, as Elmira; Ryah Klima, Concordia, as Damis (Valere); Dylan Bray, Concordia, as M. Loyal; and Phillip Shirkey, Concordia, as Exempt.

The play is directed by Violette Kjeldgaard, CCCC Theatre and Communications instructor.

Tickets went on sale October 1, and are $7 for general admission and $3 for students, Cloud faculty and staff, seniors and military. Prices the day of the shows are $10 general admission and $5 for students, Cloud faculty and staff, seniors, and military.

Invitations for junior and senior high school students have been sent to attend the October 11 performance. Admission is free for high schools who book with Kjeldgaard in advance.

The production is participating in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, a national program for theatre education excellence. The performance will be adjudicated, and will have the opportunity to compete at the region’s festival in January. The festival includes workshops, productions, competitions, auditions, and an opportunity to network. This is the first year CCCC is participating in KCACTF.

For questions, or to secure a group ticket rate, contact Kjeldgaard at 785.243.1435, ext. 236, or by email at theatre@cloud.edu.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Jessica Pendleton, as Elmira, left, Chloe Springfield, as Dorina, middle, and Belle Chavey, as Mariana, right, rehearse a scene from Cloud County Community College Theatre Department’s fall play, “Tartuffe.” The play opens Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in Cook Theatre.