As the year closes, so does this season of theater. This means, though, that Theatre NDSU’S 2016 – 2017 season is just a summer away. Here are some highlights of the imaginative productions that will be produced on campus next year.

Peter Pan

Directed by Jess Jung

October 20-22

This musical is based on the play by Sir James M. Barrie with music by Morris Charlap, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Gree.

NDSU will be doing a special abridged version of Peter Pan that premiered at Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis under Artistic Director Peter Brosius.

“The original golden age musical is three hours long, so (the Theatre Company) cut it down so that they could keep people in the seats. They also modernized some of the language,” said Jess Jung, Artistic Director of Theatre NDSU.

In addition to these changes, they also made modifications to the character of Tiger Lily in order to update the musical into a more culturally appropriate production.

“Peter Pan has been a play that a lot of people don’t know is controversial among First Nation peoples because the original characters called Indians, as written, fulfill savage stereotypes. Instead, this abridged version features Tiger Lily and her gang of girls, called the Pounce. They are a gang of rough and double cats that even the pirates are afraid of,” Jung said.

Another exciting, new aspect of this production is that Theatre NDSU has been given permission to fly actors in this show.

According to Jung, “A flying company will be coming in, and Wendy, John, Michael and Peter will be flying.”

Goldilocks Zone

December 1-3 and 7-10

Goldilocks zone will be a brand new, devised piece by NDSU Theatre Students and Chelsea Pace. A dedicated group is currently collaborating to creating an immersive, innovative and educational experience for audience members.

Songs for a New World

Directed by Hardy Koenig

February 25-27 and March 1-4, 2017

With music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, this contemporary musical is described by the composer as being “about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back.”

The Odyssey

Directed by Chelsea Pace and Kara Jeffers

April 27-29 and May 3-6, 2017

Written by Mary Zimmerman, this production is part of a special Tri-College collaboration with MSUM and Concordia College. While NDSU performs “The Odyssey,” MSUM will produce “Metamorphosis,” Mary Zimmerman’s most famous work and Concordia is doing “Secret in the Wings.”

“Mary Zimmerman is one of the leading female playwrights in the nation. She is so important because she is a writer that starts with a group of actors, and she collaborates with the actors to create the script,” Jung said. “They break apart myths together in the room through movement and experimental workshops with props and research, and then she creates all of her writing from the visual impulses that have been created in the room.

“A lot of her work is visual based. For example, the ship in ‘The Odyssey’ is called to be built by all of the soldiers bodies. The directors, Chelsea Pace and Kara Jeffers, will work with actors on how to create these effect.”

All Theatre NDSU shows are free with a student ID.