UF presents production of 'Roberto Zucco'

February 3, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida College of Fine Arts and the School of Theatre and Dance continues the 2011-2012 season with a thrilling and twisted production of “Roberto Zucco” through Feb. 12.

Written by Bernard-Marie Koltès and translated by Martin Crimp, the production runs this weekend and next in the Nadine McGuire Black Box Theatre, part of the McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavillion on the UF campus.

Directed by Ralf Remshardt, “Roberto Zucco” is loosely based on the tale of a notorious criminal who broke out of prison after murdering his parents and briefly became the most wanted man in Europe in the 1980s. He went on a crime spree through several countries before being apprehended and finally falling off the roof of a prison.

In the hands of French playwright Koltès, “Zucco” evolves from a merely homicidal character to a figure of mythic proportions, like a Greek hero who holds the fate of others in his hands. “I crush other living creatures not because I’m evil,” he says, “but because I step on them without seeing them.” In several rapidly moving scenes, the play portrays a world as much defined by its own internal violence as hounded by the monstrous nature of Zucco’s actions.

The production features designs from Molly Ilten (scenic), Brian Lussier (lighting), Becki Stafford (costumes), and highlights the graduate thesis performances of Carlos Alejandro, Amelia Harris and Alaina Manchester.

“Roberto Zucco” runs at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, and again Feb. 7-11. Matinees are at 2 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 12.

Tickets are available through the University of Florida Box Office located at the end of the Reitz Student Union Colonnade. Tickets are $13 for UF students, UF faculty and staff, senior citizens and $17 for the general public.

For more ticket information, please call 352-392-1653 or visit the University Box Office website. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. On-campus parking is available at the Reitz Student Union parking garage and the Museum Road parking lot.