“ ‘The End of History’ is about love and revolution,” said co-director Shea King, a senior theatre major. “That’s essentially what’s been driving the show from the beginning.”
Starting last spring in a class taught by co-director Mark Swetz, professor in Theatre, Film & Dance at HSU, students researched landmark 1989 events including the fall of the Berlin Wall, revolution in eastern Europe, the first same-sex civil union, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, rebellion and repression in China’s Tiananmen Square and the damaging Loma Prieta earthquake in the Bay Area.
Such events became inspirations for a production that includes film, projections, music and dance, as well as live action in a variety of theatrical styles.
Students devised the script and creative elements. “With the exception of my involvement,” Swetz said, “this is an entirely student created, performed, staffed and designed show.”
“On our team we have historians, we have science people, we have other people from other majors,” King said, “so it’s ultimately just this big collage of arts and people from different parts of the university, because that was really important to us from the beginning, getting different student partners involved.”
Performing onstage are Thsnat Berhe, Isabella Ceja, Aurora Commeree, Ambar Cuevas, Tossa Hayward, Kyle Lassen and Cory Stewart.
The production also features video by Samantha Boyd and choreography by Fiona Meila. Lighting is by Ethan Ng, sound by Rilo Wade and Connor Spurr, and costumes by Kayden O’Keefe. Production manager is Jillian Park.
“The End of History” is performed in Gist Hall Theatre, Thursdays through Saturdays, December 4-6 and 11-13 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday December 14. Tickets are $10 general/$8 students & seniors, with a limited number of free tickets for HSU students at each performance, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. For more information, visit HSUStage.blogspot.com.