each other broaden their perspectives and take chances, and another that has been together for some time but is struggling to overcome past problems and fully commit to one another.

Rendon said the story takes simple, mundane moments and focuses on the emotions and internal dialogue surrounding them to reflect the human experience.

While the musical is based on Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, Rendon said it is tonally and thematically similar to films such as Stranger than Fiction, Forrest Gump, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The purpose is to raise awareness of other people’s experiences.

Although each person’s experience is unique, Rendon said people often experience similar emotions and mental states.

“You may gravitate toward one and think, ‘Oh, I’m such a Warren,’ or ‘Oh, I’m such a Claire,’ or ‘I’m such a this or that or the other,’ but to just the general person sitting in the audience, they’re gonna go, ‘No, that’s just being human, and I know what that’s like,’” Rendon said.

As a faculty-in-residence, Rendon lives on campus and sees firsthand how students cope and interact.  He is always looking for ways to help students better understand themselves and hopes Ordinary Days can serve that purpose.

To encourage student attendance, Rendon has partnered with the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Through ticket sales and the assistance of resident assistants, the Theatre Department is holding a contest to determine which on-campus residence has the highest number of students attending. He believes collaborative efforts across campus create an environment of support and broaden students’ perspectives.

“I believe that everything is interwoven. I believe every discipline is connected. Theatre is just as much a part as Math, Science, and English. It’s hard to separate all these things and say they all live in their own silo,” Rendon said. “I think anytime we can get areas connecting again, we will see that there’s so much more in common with each other.”

After the show, audience members will be invited to a Talk-Back Forum. Rendon said he holds talk-back sessions for many of his shows but considers them particularly important for productions that address complex topics.

“A Talk-Back gives students a safe forum to talk about issues while not having to talk about themselves. They can relate it all to the characters,” Rendon said.

Tickets are available through the Theatre Department’s website. Students, faculty, and staff can receive a complimentary ticket.