Just Do It

Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

by Dianca Potts

Jan. 14-17, various show times, $10, Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St.; Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; 215-717-6499, kcactf2.org

Forget the recession. With productions at 10 bucks a pop, we can all afford a little drama. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is stirring things up with nine applause-able student shows. Hosting duties this year go to the University of the Arts, bringing together the best student thespians from the mid-Atlantic region. Chosen from more than 200 productions from 83 schools, next week's theatrics include Shakespearean flirt fests, brides vs. grooms, Vanderbilt breakdowns and Lindbergh's missing baby.

Anton Dudly's Honor and the River (Jan. 14, 5 p.m.; Jan. 15, 9:30 a.m.; Arts Bank) hits the stage Wednesday night, directed by fellow SUNY-Oswegoan Kevin Hollenbeck. This prep school bildungsroman is all about swimming lessons and schoolboy crushes, sort of like A Separate Peace but less like junior high. If you're more of a sucker for brides and grooms, check out Charles L. Mee's Big Love (Jan. 14, 8:30 p.m.; Merriam), presented by Penn State-Altoona. A tragicomedy revamp of Aeschylus' The Suppliant Women, Mee's play is a wedding-day battle more ridiculous than anything you've ever seen on Bridezilla. Thursday's rundown of dramatics include Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost (Jan. 15, 12:30 p.m.; Merriam), the Français La Bete (Jan. 15, 5 p.m.; Jan. 16, 9:30 a.m.; Arts Bank) and the once-banned Spring Awakening (Jan. 15, 8:30 p.m., Merriam) by the late Frank Wedekind, which was recently updated for the Broadway blockbuster. Friday, expect Stephen Adly Guirgis' Jesus Hops the A Train (Jan. 16, 5 p.m.; Jan. 17, 9:30 a.m.; Arts Bank) and IUP's performance of the new Violet Sharp (Jan. 16, 8:30 p.m., Merriam). Saturday is all about KT Peterson's 7:32 (Jan. 17, 12:30 p.m., Merriam) about a world of railroads, wealth and the full collapse of a man.

Forget what Mary J. says, 'cause it's time for some drama.