Tiny Beautiful Things

Adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos/ Directed by Rachel Blackwell

Tiny Beautiful Things, based on Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling book and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, brings to life the questions that struggling writer Strayed tackled when she was asked to take on the anonymous and unpaid role of advice columnist ‘Sugar.’ We see Sugar’s evolution and development as she starts handing out her own brand of advice for topics that range from heartwarming to heart wrenching. Sugar always answers with unadulterated vulnerability and realness that is undeniably effective.

Hannah Greene stars as Sugar, the lead character who doesn’t leave the stage for the entire show.  Greene is a senior in the  Film and Performing Arts BA who played Jenny in UAF’s The Shape of Things which was also directed by Blackwell.  She also starred in Strange Embrace, an original film written by UAF alumni Nolan Earnest, and in Dance Nation by Clare Barron. Hannah directs UAF’s Ground Squirrel Improv.  Greene leads an ensemble cast of Letter Writers who portray multiple characters writing in to Sugar for advice.  Letter Writer #1, played by David Valentine, recently performed as Frank Butley in Native Gardens and was a stagehand for The Play that Goes Wrong at the Fairbanks Drama Association.   Letter Writer #2 is played by UAF first year Film Major Fatima Conde, who moved to Fairbanks from Washington, D.C. in 2014.  Finally, Letter Writer #3 is portrayed by Clark Milstead who is also a first year majoring in Film and Performing Arts at UAF, though he’s been acting in musicals for a decade. The Lighting and Sound are being designed by Seamus Knight.  Knight recently designed lighting for Something in the Living Room and composed the film score for Strange Embrace (Film UAF) among others.

Critics say: "Emphasizes the best in what theatre can do! Take a room full of strangers and help them connect to this personal and powerful show. For someone to connect and listen is a potent thing.” —BroadwayWorld

 

Ticket prices:
free for currently enrolled UAF students with Polar Express Card
$20 seniors/ military/ UAF
$25 adults

Cast & Crew Headshots