Student-Directed Dead Man’s Cell Phone Rings in an Evening of Dark Comedy

Dead Man’s Cell Phone—a dark comedy exploring connection, loss, and the role of technology in our lives—will be presented March 7-16 in UW-Parkside’s Black Box Theatre.

Dead Man’s Cell Phone is a dark comedy centering around a woman named Jean who picks up the ringing phone of a man who died just minutes earlier at his table in a café. This simple act of sympathy towards a stranger results in her entanglement into his mysterious past. Confronting lies, falling in love, and uncovering secrets are just some of the many things Jean undertakes throughout the story.

For Alyssa Ritacca, a junior theatre arts major playing Jean, the role has been both a challenge and a revelation. “Jean is such an observant character,” Ritacca said. “She notices little things about people and really tries to understand them. I think my favorite part about her is how deeply she wants to connect with others.”

Bringing this production to life is student director Amy Bates. Although the two main stage productions that occur each semester are usually directed by a theatre arts faculty member, Amy has had many years of professional directing experience and was therefore given the opportunity to direct this production.

“I want audiences to really take away a sense of the importance of connecting with loved ones; how much we rely on our technology, the use of cell phones to act as connectors, when really it’s about taking the time to sit down, talk, to be present, physically present with each other,” she said. “Another important thing is how we miss out on people in our lives because we don’t connect while we have them and how important it is to really value the time we get together. I hope audiences leave going, ‘You know what? Tomorrow night when I have dinner with my family, I’m going to put my phone down and have a conversation.’”

Written by award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl, Dead Man’s Cell Phone premiered in 2007 and won the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play.  Some of her most popular plays include Eurydice, The Clean House, and In the Next Room.

The show will be performed at the following times:

• March 7 and 8 at 7 p.m.
• March 9 at 2 p.m.
• March 14 and 15 at 7 p.m.
• March 16 at 2 p.m.

Performances take place in the Blackbox Theatre at the Rita Tallent Picken Center for the Arts and Humanities. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the box office: $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (60+), and $10 for students.

More information about the UW-Parkside Theatre Arts program and its opportunities can be found at www.uwp.edu/learn/programs/theatrearts.cfm.