Taylor Theatre Presents Everybody

Taylor Theatre is presenting Everybody by acclaimed playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins from September 14-17 in Mitchell Theatre in Rupp Communication Arts Center. This modern interpretation of the medieval morality play "Everyman" promises to captivate audiences with its thought-provoking exploration of life, mortality, and the human experience.

The play follows the journey of "Everybody," who faces Death and must account for their life's deeds and relationships before embarking on the ultimate voyage into the unknown. The production utilizes a lottery system of roles, meaning each actor is randomly assigned a role during the production each night. The random role assignment is meant to thematize the randomness of death. Taylor’s production has over 120 possible variations of casts, with no performance being like the other.

Performance Schedule:

September 14th: 7:30 pm
September 15th: 7:30 pm & 11:30 pm
September 16th: 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
September 17th: 2:00 pm

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for Taylor employees, $8 for senior citizens, $10 for students, and $7 for Taylor students. Purchase tickets by calling 765-998-5289 or email boxoffice@taylor.edu. This play includes light use of language that might not be suitable for younger audiences.

Taylor Theatre's production of Everybody boasts a talented cast of actors from Taylor’s campus and the surrounding community, each bringing depth, authenticity, and unique perspectives on their roles. Under the direction of Tracy Manning, the ensemble promises to deliver a captivating and emotionally charged performance perfect for audiences who love to laugh while they contemplate life.

“Everybody delves into what truly matters in life,” said Manning. “It makes the audience question how they allot their time: if they are investing their time and energy where it really matters, the eternal, or in the present and material, where moths and rust destroy and relations are fickle and self-serving. Our goal is to prompt viewers to contemplate life's meaning, the value of relationships, and the legacy we leave behind.”

Everybody is the 2023 Jason Francis Scholarship Production. A portion of the proceeds from this yearly production contribute to a scholarship for incoming Theatre majors. Other plays that have been produced for this scholarship include The Birds in 2022 and Borrowed Babies in 2021.

Taylor Theatre provides an immersive experience for audiences and participants by pursuing excellence on and off the stage, embracing difficulty and asking questions in pursuit of truth.