‘No Exit’ opens to playgoers, providing immersive experience

Jean Paul Satre’s “No Exit”, and adapted by Paul Bowles, will debut on today at 7 p.m. and continue its run through Saturday, Nov. 23 with a matinee showing also at 2 p.m.  

Freshman Candice Weilert, who is a theatre student at Butler, described the play for audiences. 

““No Exit” is about three people who are technically in hell, and they are strangers who are trapped together in a room,” Weilert said. They are all fighting to get out of hell, so the strangers are comparing stories.”  

The upcoming theatrical production, directed by Eric Urick, is a departure from “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.” 

““The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” is based off a children’s book by Kate DiCamillo, so I think the biggest difference is that story is meant for kids, and “No Exit” is not,” Weilert, who had five smaller roles in “Tulane,” said.  “It (“No Exit”) deals with some heavier themes, and “Tulane” did too; it was very emotional too, and “No Exit” is very intricately designed.” 

Unlike previous theatre productions, “No Exit” will debut in the Butler Black Box located in the 700 building in Room 766. 

“This show takes place in the Black Box, which is the first time Butler is doing a show (of this kind),” Weilert said. “It's a new studio; they have full sound and full lights, but it’s very immersive. You are going to feel like you are in the show; you are so close to the actors that you are going to see everything. It will be a real fun environment because I haven’t seen a black box show.” 

Since this will take place in the Black Box Theatre, the production is actually spread out over two weeks. Following Thanksgiving, audiences can choose to attend the production of “No Exit” on Thursday, Dec. 5 – Saturday, Dec. 7. 

Reserve your tickets at the Box Office: https://www.butlercc.edu/info/20118/music---vocal/1071/fine-arts-ticket-reservations