N.C. A&T’S Theatre Arts Program Presents “A Doll’s House”

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 4, 2024) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Theatre Arts Program will present “A Doll’s House,” written by Henrik Ibsen. This adaptation addresses themes of female empowerment and male domination, making the play a controversial theatre classic. 

The play premiered in 1879 at The Royal Danish Theatre in Norway, telling the story of Nora Helmer, a married woman with limited opportunities for self-fulfillment in a male-dominated society. Despite Ibsen’s denial of writing a feminist play, “A Doll’s House” created a sensation, sparking widespread “storm of outraged controversy” and debate, that reached beyond the theater and into newspapers and public discourse. The play highlighted critical issues such as gender roles and societal expectations. 

Under the expert guidance of N.C. A&T’s theatre arts program alumna and guest director Asabi Howard ‘92, Ph.D. chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at North Carolina Central University, the play’s themes and impact are dissected with academic rigor and insight.  

Howard is a trailblazer, having directed award-winning productions like “The Color Purple,” “The Bluest Eye,” “God Spoke My Name: Maya Angelou” and “Sarafina!” She also co-directed “Ain’t Mis-Behavin” at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival in Scotland and “Soul Rhythm: Sistah’s Voices” at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa. She is the recipient of the Mabel Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Artists Celebrating Excellence (ACE) Awards. 

Howard’s reimagining of Ibsen’s play is a story set in the 1960s, a time of racial unrest, as African American women challenged America to embrace justice and equality.  

Although their efforts were an external fight, many internal battles for women’s personal freedom and liberation were going unheard, as was Nora’s existence within her household. After a series of disturbing incidents, Nora is utterly disillusioned with her husband, Torvald, whom she now sees as a fraud. She realizes she is just a doll he treats as an irresponsible woman whose role is to flatter and serve him. Finally, when pushed up against the wall, Nora makes an extraordinary, shocking and life-changing decision. 

These performances will take place at the Paul Robeson Theatre on A&T’s campus. Admission is $17 for adults, $11 for senior citizens and non-A&T students, and $6 for children 12 and younger. A&T students receive free admission with their Aggie One Card. The performance dates and times are: 

• Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. 

• Friday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. 

• Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. 

• Sunday, Oct. 27 at 3p.m. 

For tickets, call 336-334-7749 or visit https://www.itzy.io/dollshouse.