The University of Illinois Springfield Theatre Program will present six performances of “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsay-Abaire, winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The show will run for two weekends: Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, and Thursday, Nov. 12, through Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Studio Theatre on the lower level of the Performing Arts Center at UIS. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., except for the Sunday show on Nov. 8, which will start at 2 p.m.

A “Pay What You Can Night” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, during the production’s final dress rehearsal. Admission for this performance is cash only at the door, with patrons invited to pay any amount they choose.

“Rabbit Hole” follows Becca and Howie Corbett, a suburban couple whose lives are changed forever when their young son, Danny, is killed in an accident. Eight months later, Becca wants to make a fresh start by moving to a new home and giving away their son’s possessions, while Howie wants to preserve Danny’s memory. The play explores how the couple and their family navigate grief and search for a path toward love, hope and healing.

The play premiered on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre in 2006 in a Manhattan Theatre Club production directed by Daniel Sullivan. The original Broadway cast included Cynthia Nixon, Mary Catherine Garrison, John Slattery, Tyne Daly and John Gallagher Jr. The production received five Tony Award nominations, including best play, with Nixon winning the Tony Award for best performance by a leading actress in a play.

“Rabbit Hole” is directed by Professor and Director of Theatre Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson with scenic and lighting design and technical direction by Associate Professor of Theatre Dathan Powell.

The cast includes community members Kara Skorge as Becca and Zaxxson Nation as Howie, along with UIS students Celia Christen as Izzy, Rachel Hettrick as Nat and Sylus Zawicki as Jason. Christen is a theatre minor, and Zawicki is a theatre major.

The production team includes UIS theatre major Chloe Pease, stage manager; UIS students Autumn Williams, assistant stage manager and wardrobe/run crew; Carson Kowalewski, assistant stage manager; Robin Messerschmidt, dramaturg; Aurinia Breinlich, props assistant; Aryonah, props run crew; Gabriela Avalos, wardrobe/run crew; Danner Van Hise, master electrician/light board operator; Marshall Victor, sound research/design; Andrew Emrick, sound research assistant/board operator; and Chip Deiss, documentarian/assistant lighting designer. Community member Sabrina Holmes serves as props master.

Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for UIS faculty and staff and seniors age 65 and older, and $10 for UIS students.

Tickets can be purchased through the UIS Theatre website. Patrons may call the Department of Art, Music, and Theatre at 217-206-6240 for more information.