Penn State Centre Stage’s ‘Rhinoceros’ blurs line between audience and 'herd'

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage, of the College of Arts and Architecture, will present "Rhinoceros," by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Sam Osheroff, Oct. 6-18, in the Pavilion Theatre.

What happens when everyone you know turns into a rhinoceros? In Ionesco’s razor-sharp absurdist comedy “Rhinoceros,” a sleepy town is suddenly overrun — literally — by a stampede of conformity. As neighbors, coworkers, and friends transform into horned beasts, one person must decide whether to follow the herd or stand alone.

"In our current cultural and social climate — where voices, choices, and beliefs are so often influenced by mass movements, online echo chambers and public opinion — 'Rhinoceros' feels both urgent and eerily familiar," said A. Kikora Franklin, artistic director, Centre Stage. "Ionesco’s allegory asks us not only to laugh at the absurdity of human behavior, but also to reflect on our own courage to resist becoming swept along by the herd.

Equal parts hilarious and haunting, “Rhinoceros” is a wildly imaginative exploration of identity, peer pressure, and the power of one voice in a crowd of chaos. Dare to resist — or join the stampede.

Evening performances at 7:30 p.m., matinees at 2 p.m. Evenings are $27; previews/matinees are $24; and tickets for students are $19. For additional show and ticket information, visit the Centre Stage website. 

Tickets are available online by calling 814-863-0255 or visiting the Arts Ticket Center. All prices include a $4 Ticketmaster fee. This fee will be waived if tickets are purchased in person at the Arts Ticket Center or by phone (814-863-0255). Non-Penn State Arts and Architecture students can see it for free by visiting the Arts Ticket Centre during the week of the production.

Penn State Centre Stage is the professional arm of the Penn State School of Theatre and serves as a training program for emerging theater professionals.