The Associated Students of the Performing Arts is currently displaying feminism in more ways than one through the student-run production of “A Feminine Ending,” directed by senior Bailey Patterson tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre at the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.
“A Feminine Ending” is the story of Amanda Blue, a young woman fresh out of graduate school with dreams of becoming a famous composer. However, an up-and-coming rock star boyfriend, troubles with her parents’ marriage and a long-lost love showing up at the wrong time bring Blue to a standstill.
“This show is very much centered around language, music, and the millennial female experience in a male-dominated world,” Public Relations representative Amanda Dinsmore said in an email to the Branding Iron.
Being a play about balancing relationships, fear of failure and learning to take the noise of life and turning it into beautiful music, “A Feminine Ending” reinforces societal gender norms through the play’s understanding of the language system. Stars Alexandria Soto, Jared Mohr-Leiva, Kyle Harbour, Marley Doakes and Luke Ferrell have made the production a breeze, according to Patterson.
“They convey the themes of the show beautifully,” Patterson said. “It is very easy to make some of the characters in the show villains, but my actors have provided just the right amount of empathy and nuance to ensure that we are watching everyday people on stage, as opposed to stereotypes.”
This humanistic play came to the UW stage after Patterson pitched it last April to the student association board for the annual student-directed show and was chosen to direct it. The student run show is a great opportunity for student performers and it gives UW the opportunity to support a female playwright. According to Patterson, roughly 16 percent of professional playwrights are women.
“The University of Wyoming itself has only produced three shows written by women in the last five years,” Patterson said. “This production not only supports a woman’s voice, but sheds light on the plight of women trying to become successful in the arts and life itself.”
With so many seniors in the cast, the show serves as their grand finale at the University, including Patterson, tying in with some of the themes of the performance. “A Feminine Ending” focuses on the confusion of becoming an adult and finding voice in the larger world, a familiar feeling for individuals taking the next step out of college.
“With graduation becoming more of a reality by the day, it is my hope that ‘A Feminine Ending’ will serve as a kind of love letter to my generation of women and the most sincere thank you to the ones who came before,” Patterson said.
Tickets are available at the Performing Arts box office and the Wyoming Union information desk. Tickets can be purchased by calling 307-766-6666 or going online at UWyo.edu/FineArts. All proceeds of the show will go toward the Associated Students of the Performing Arts, which helps fund students participation in conferences and competitions.
