Dreamwell Announces Controversial Bush Administration Play, STUFF HAPPENS

STUFF HAPPENS and it’s untidy, and freedom’s untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things.

– Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

Iowa City—Dreamwell Theatre continues its “Season of War and Consequences” with David Hare’s controversial play, Stuff Happens, which chronicles the convoluted diplomatic strategies that preceded the war in Iraq. Ryan Foizey directs.

Performances are 7:30 p.m., April 8, 9, 15, and 16 at 10 S. Gilbert Street in Iowa City. Reservations can be made at www.dreamwell.com. $12 general, $10 seniors, $8 students.

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Stuff Happens—whose title comes from a remark made by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld when asked about looting in Iraq following the fall of Baghdad—draws from dozens of interviews with individuals involved in the events portrayed in the play.

With characters like Bush, Cheney and the like, it would be easy to approach the piece with a “Saturday Night Live-esque” sense of mockery. Director Ryan Foizey believes the play’s power and its true satire comes in understanding and interpreting the true intentions of these characters, devoid of caricature.

“It would be so easy to make these characters monsters,” says Foizey, “We’ve  humanized these political figures, making them people instead of objects, to aid in a better understanding of the humanistic qualities motivating the war.”

“I have listened, learned, left and still laughed at this show time and time again through the rehearsal process and discovering its truths. It brings light to controversial issue while keeping the integrity of a good and entertaining theatre piece.”

The New York Times calls Stuff Happens “A collective work of imagination that attempts to grasp how and why an unnecessary and unwinnable war was allowed to happen.”

The Cast:
The “Actor(s)” – Justin Mangrich* and Tracy Schoenle*
George W. Bush – Justin Braden
Colin Powell – Kevin Moore
Tony Blair – Rob Merritt
Condoleezza Rice (Condi) – Nicole Reedy
Dick Cheney – Brian Tanner
Donald Rumsfeld (Rummy) – Scott Strode
Paul Wolfowitz (Wolfie) – Mark Nidey*
Hans Blix – Alex Schulte*
Kofi Annan – Kobi E. Reese Sr.*
Dominique de Villepin – Kenneth Van Egdon

The Company:
Meg Dobbs
Beverly Mead
Ariane Parkes-Perret
Jordan Running
Roxy Running
Paul Freese
Name*= Also a member of the company.