The play focuses on Penelope and her friends, Tabitha and Addy, who are hosting a birthday party for Penelope. An unwelcome guest upsets Penelope so much that she does not want to attend the party, but her friends and Penelope’s childhood doll, Ms. Melanie-tonin, “all confide in her, trying to get her to join them. That is until, Tabitha provides a solution: a little candy, but not a sweet treat, but rather a substance to better relax Penelope.”

“Through dream sequences, Penelope’s mind is revealed as she experiences her trip from bizarre nightmare encounters to a past spelling bee and even a breakup that continues to replay in her mind,” Ms. Ellis, the playwright, said. “The mirages of Penelope’s reality are portrayed all in her mind, but only in her mind. The question is: What is reality versus her own perception, as Penelope is actually schizophrenic.”

Having the play performed on the Moe Theater’s black box setting “is a dream,” Ellis said.

“One of my favorite performance spaces is a black box due to the intimate close setup,” she said.

“Part of my inspiration while writing my play is working with perception shifts and blurring the line between reality and imagination,” Ellis said. “Many plays have happy endings or are wrapped up with a nice bow, but I did not want that. I want the audience to question where the line lies between Penelope’s reality and her hallucinations.”

Ellis’ play is directed by Olusegun A Ojewuyi, professor in theater. 

The Theater program stages a 4-6 season of fully-produced, exciting plays and musicals every academic year. These complete our rigorous but fun-filled academic program. In redefining the traditional classroom, we have become the cultural heartbeat of the University and region. When in season, the McLeod Summer Playhouse is our producing platform for a number of events throughout the summer months, thus providing an extended opportunity for students as performers, Dramaturges or technicians.

We also host an array of workshop productions, play readings, special events, master classes with guest artists, and other production/viewing opportunities. Browse our current and past seasons to see what we've been working on. Non-theater majors are also invited to audition for roles in productions or purchase tickets to see our live performances.