The Department of Film & Theatre presents The Hunchback of Seville, directed by Kinan Valdez, at the beautiful Hammer Theatre.

The story:  At the turn of the 16th century, Christopher Columbus has just returned from the New World with gold in his pockets and blood on his hands. Maxima Terriblé Segunda, the brilliant adopted sister of dying Her Royal Highness Queen Isabella, is living out her life locked away in a tower…until it is decided that the future of the country is in her nerdy, reclusive hands. In a bitingly funny and madcap take on Spanish history and colonialism, Maxima weaves her way through mountains of prejudice, politics, religion, and the horrors of history.

“THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE is like 16th-century Spanish history as written by Quentin Tarantino…big, careening fun…” —The Stranger (Seattle). “…an incredibly clever look at colonialism and religion…a bawdy funfest…a fun, frothy romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and isn’t afraid of blue language and skewering history with some modern twists.” —BroadwayWorld.com. “…[a] mashup of historical critique and rambunctious snark…[a] gleefully revisionist riff on rampaging colonialism…” —Seattle Times. “The representative background event behind THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE…pulsing like a diseased heartbeat, is Spain’s slaughter of millions of Arawak Indians at the turn of the 16th century. With that madness established as ordinary, the rest of this madcap play can proceed with logical absurdity, the excesses of imperialistic mindsets roaring forward full-throttle.” —The Phoenix (Providence, RI).

Performances are:

     Friday, April 28, 2023, at 7:30 pm
     Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 7:30 pm
     Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 11:00 am
     Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 7:30 pm
     Friday, May 5, 2023, at 7:30 pm
     Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 7:30 pm

Don't miss this madcap re-telling of Spanish history and the evils of colonialism!

Supported by the College of Humanities & the Arts Artistic Excellence Programming Grant.