Tintypes offers pure entertainment

The University Theatre summer season kicks off this June with Mary Kyte’s “Tintypes,” a Tony-nominated musical that charts the course of America’s history at the tumultuous turn-of-the-century.

“Tintypes” plays all summer long in the Hemsley theatre cabaret, UT’s much-loved summer specialty, where actors serve up drinks and popcorn along with songs and laughter.

Directed by Rod Caspers, the show is at once nostalgic and subversive. Caspers masterfully exposes the racial and class-based inequities inherent in turn-of-the-century American life, presenting a subtle portrait of historic America while leaving plenty of room for lots of laughter.

The days of hoop skirts and ice cream socials come to life in a delightful collection of popular tunes performed by period archetypes: a beautiful music hall star, a Chaplin-esque Russian immigrant, the outrageous Teddy Roosevelt, and others.

Songs include: “Youíre a Grand Old Flag,” “Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay,” and “What It Takes to Make Me Love You – You Got It!”

Tintypes runs June 27-28, July 3, 5-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, and August 1-3 in the Hemsley Theatre. Performances start at 7:30. Tickets are $16, $13 for UW–Madison students. For tickets and information, contact the Box Office at 262-1500.