Welcome to PDP Theater!
Our Mission:
Our mission is to provide quality theatre to the campus and community at large and to provide an outlet for original works by student playwrights. We work to involve all students (especially those who might not otherwise have these opportunities) in all aspects of theatrical production, whether that be writing, directing, acting, set or sound or lighting or costume design, publicity, fund-raising, etc. We believe in theater as a public art created by a community of people, arising from each of the various talents and skills of the participants. |
Our History:
A group of individuals brought together by an Illini Union Board production of "The Little Shop of Horrors" formed the Penny Dreadful Players in mid-November of 1992. Interested in branching out into non-musical theatre, they were frustrated by the lack of outlets for non-theatre majors. Luckily, this group possessed not only the desire to act, but also extensive experience in nearly every area of the performing arts. They registered the Penny Dreadful Players as a Registered Student Organization at the University of Illinois and put on their first show, Arthur Miller’s "All My Sons" in February of 1993. The term "Penny Dreadful" originally referred to inexpensive collections of stories popular in England during the late 19th century. As the name implies, most of these stories were of poor quality, but occasionally a masterpiece would emerge from among them. As a student theatre company, our aim is to uncover potential masterpieces and bring them to the stage. All it takes is a good story. |