Southern Utah University’s student-run theatre company, Second Studio, will open its 2025-2026 season with “The Mad Ones.”
The show will debut in the Black Box Theatre on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
“The Mad Ones” tells the story of a young woman named Sam who finds herself at a crossroads that will determine her future. She must decide whether to follow in her mother’s footsteps or start down her own path. As she reflects on her senior year of high school, Sam revisits the people and moments that shaped her into who she is today.
“People are often influenced by other people or pushed to do things by parents,” stated director Aspen Davis. “I want people to leave and think, ‘what do I want my life from here on out to look like?’ and ‘can I have my life as my own?’”
The show focuses heavily on grief, but chooses to approach the subject with a lighthearted tone as the characters choose to find the humor in their lives.
“Life’s not always sad, and sometimes we use humor to cope,” said Archer Hancock, who plays Sam. “Especially when grieving someone, you still want to remember the good times you had with them.”
Second Studio produces four shows each season and has monthly variety shows called “SUU Live” to provide multiple opportunities for students to get involved.
“It’s been a great experience,” said lighting designer Rome Troester. “I got to experiment a lot and had a lot of creative freedom, which was really nice.”
“The Mad Ones” will be performed Oct. 23–25 at 7:30 p.m., with an additional showing Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at bard.org/tdaa/ or in person at the box office, which opens at 7 p.m.
Author: Austyn Clark
