'The Fever' Spreads to New Theater Space
Mitchell Thomas, Westmont theatre arts professor and department chair, performs a one-man show, “The Fever,” written by Wallace Shawn and winner of the 1991 Obie award for best play, April 26-28 all at 8 p.m. in Westmont’s new black-box theater, the Space, adjacent to Porter Theatre. General admission tickets may be purchased for $10 at the box office or by calling (805) 565-7140. Additional performances are Sunday, April 29, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1500 State Street, and Wednesday, May 2, at 8 p.m. at Municipal Winemakers, 22 Anacapa Street, in downtown Santa Barbara.
Thomas, who recently played Gustav in “Creditors” at the Ensemble Theatre Company, first performed “The Fever” last spring in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Spokane and London. “It is an extremely well-written and provocative piece of theater that is challenging to me as both an actor and as a person,” he says.
“The Fever,” directed by Maurie Lord, asks in a highly original way if it’s possible or even right for a sensitive person to be happy in today’s world. “‘The Fever’ gets under your skin, posing important questions about what it means to be human and what it means to live with privilege,” Thomas says.
Thomas’ one-man, tour-de-force performance inaugurates Westmont’s new intimate theater space. “I have been more than thrilled with the spirited debates and lively discussions we’ve had following our first round of performances,” Thomas says. “The Space is a fantastic addition to the theater facilities at Westmont with an intimate environment that is perfect for a one-person show like ‘The Fever.’”
In October, Thomas starred in the Westmont College Festival Theatre/Lit Moon Theatre Company co-production of “Peer Gynt.” In November, he produced Tim Crouch’s “ENGLAND” at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. He has won many awards, including the 2008 Arlin G. Meyer Prize, awarded biennially to a full-time faculty member from a college or university in the Lilly Fellows Program National Network.