Something brand new is coming to Fayetteville State University. On April 24-26, the Theatre Department of FSU will preview the world premiere production of Be a Wolf, an original play written by Merlyn Q. Sell.
"Be A Wolf is a darkly comedic, unsettlingly playful exploration of the stories we tell ourselves to feel safe—and what happens when we stop believing them,” according to uncfsu.edu.
Be a Wolf is an original play that was written especially for the theatre students at Fayetteville State University. Taking inspiration from the classic tale of Beowulf, it tells the story of a group of people who are facing the threat of a monster at the door, with victims of the monster becoming part of the monster. According to Theatre Professor and producer of Be a Wolf, Jeremy Fiebig, it is dramatic and suspenseful, but with comedic, even irreverent elements, as well. He says it is a commentary on what the monsters in our lives are and how we can sometimes become part of the very monsters that we fear.
The production involves students in every role: from actor to assistant director, from prop and costume design to stage management; students have their hands in every facet of the production. They receive leadership and support from Theatre faculty, Fiebig as well as Dave Griffie, but the intention is for the production to be almost entirely in the hands of the students.
This production has a few unique elements compared to other productions presented by FSU Theatre. One is that the three performances in April will each take place at a different venue: April 24, the show will be on FSU’s campus in Butler Theatre; at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on April 25; and at Capitol Encore Academy High School on April 26.
Their entire set-up has to be mobile, and they have to be able to set everything up in 15 minutes or less, then take it all down in the same timeframe. Why is that, one may ask? Because FSU is taking this show on the road, or more accurately, “across the pond.”
The three performances in Fayetteville are preview performances of the play that FSU Theatre will perform in the summer of 2025 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. The Fringe Festival is a celebration of all things art and culture. For almost 80 years, the Fringe Festival has invited the world to come share its art: “From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival spans every genre of live performance, including theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events.” (from edfringe.com)
From the end of July through mid-August, 12 FSU Theatre students-10 actors, plus 2 crew- will travel to Scotland and perform Be a Wolf all throughout Edinburgh. This is a first for FSU Theatre, “an opportunity for FSU and the Fayetteville community to export something to the international stage,” explains Fiebig.
It is a unique experience and a tremendous opportunity for these budding artists to see and be seen by international creatives, as they perform at one of the biggest and most prominent performance festivals in the world.
As one might imagine, this is a costly venture; not only for a group of college students to travel internationally, but also to take all the elements for a play with them. While the overall travel costs have been arranged through other forms of fundraising, proceeds from the April performances will help to defray the cost of food, events, and other experiences while in Scotland. Admission to all three performances is “pay-what-you-can” and will be paid at the door (no advance ticket sales); any and all money paid will go to help the FSU Theatre group have an incredible experience at the Fringe Festival.
For many of the students, it will be their first time travelling outside of the US, and outside of North Carolina for some. International travel is an invaluable experience for anyone, but for a student learning their craft in theatre, the value of performing at a prestigious international festival cannot be overstated.
It is not every day that we in Fayetteville have the opportunity to see the world premiere of a play, while at the same time lending support to emerging artists. But that is exactly what the Fayetteville State University Theatre production of Be a Wolf represents. Don’t miss this unique opportunity on April 24 at Butler Theatre, April 25 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and April 26 at Capitol Encore Academy High School.