Nov. 9, 2006 -- Skewering the follies of love and war, the U.Va. Drama Department presents George Bernard Shaw's timeless comedy Arms and the Man. Directed by Guest Artist Edward Morgan, Arms and the Man runs Nov. 15-17 & 29-30 and Dec. 1-2 at 8 p.m. in the U.Va. Drama Building's Culbreth Theatre. 

The proud daughter of a military officer, Raina (Autumn Shiley) is startled when an exhausted enemy soldier sneaks into her room, fleeing a battle in which her fiancé Sergius (Joshua Rachford) has led his troops to glorious victory. When the soldier, Bluntschli (Joel Grothe), opens Raina's eyes to differences between her idealized picture of war and the grim realities of the battle just fought, her world is rocked.  In the play's best known example Raina is shocked to meet a soldier who values comforting chocolates more than bullets, earning Bluntschli the nickname "The Chocolate Crème Soldier."  In interactions with her candy-eating soldier Raina begins to question not only her romanticized notions of war and heroism but also of love.

First produced in 1894, Shaw dubbed this play an "anti-romantic comedy."  Director Morgan calls the play "a charming satire" and "surprisingly relevant to the world today." Morgan, an Associate Artistic Director at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, who has also directed at The Kennedy Center, Circle Rep, and Studio Theatre, is especially pleased to direct this play in the year of George Bernard Shaw's 150th birthday.

Tickets for Arms and the Man are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for students; full-time U.Va. students can use their ART$ Dollars to purchase tickets.  For more information, visit http://www.virginia.edu/drama or call the Drama Department Box Office at 434-924-3376. The box office is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Parking Update: Fences for the Ruffin Hall construction project will begin to be erected on or about November 15th.  Parking in the Drama Building's South lot will become inaccessible at some point during this process.   The Drama Building's North parking lot is expected to remain open throughout the run of Arms and the Man.  The parking lot across Rugby Road from the University Art Museum will also be available to patrons attending Arms and the Man.  In addition to the Ruffin Hall project, construction of a new 478-car garage will limit parking at the Drama Building during 2007, though it will greatly improve parking in 2008 and beyond!  Patrons are encouraged to allow ample time for parking and walking when attending performances at the Drama Building.  A map with some alternate parking suggestions is available at  http://www.virginia.edu/drama.