Iowa Summer Rep, the University of Iowa’s professional repertory theatre company, announces a summer filled with mystery for the 2012 season.

The season begins with What the Butler Saw, directed by Eric Forsythe, Iowa Summer Rep Artistic Director. It is considered one of the great satiric comedies of modern theatre, combining Monty Python-style characters and British dry wit. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. June 21-24 and 26-27, July 1, 3, 8, 10, and 11 and at 6 p.m. July 4 in David Thayer Theatre.

The Woman in Black, directed by Mary Beth Easley, is based on the same book as the recent movie starring Daniel Radcliffe. It is a mystery of the imagination, especially notable for having only two actors—and one ghost—perform the entire play. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. June 28-30 and July 5-7 in E.C. Mabie Theatre.

Sherlock’s Last Case, directed by Matt Hawkins, is a black comedy that takes what we know about Sherlock Holmes and Watson, twists it, and cranks it up a notch to the point where it becomes absurdly comedic. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. July 12-14 and 18-21 in E.C Mabie Theatre.

In addition to the three plays, Trouble is My Business, a minimally-staged reading, will take place at 8 p.m. July 17 in Theatre B. Trouble is My Business is a new stage adaptation of two Raymond Chandler stories. Also, the UI Summer Opera will present Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, a tongue-in-cheek comic opera. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. July 13-14 and 2 p.m. July 15 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, as well as 8 p.m. July 20-21 at Hoyt Sherman Place in downtown Des Moines.

Iowa Summer Rep represents a rich tradition of nearly a century of summer theatre at UI. Beginning with Edward C. Mabie’s arrival on campus in 1920, summer play production became a regular feature at the UI. Summer Repertory Theatre was established in 1961. In 1984, Iowa Summer Rep presented its first single-playwright season, offering a unique focus in American summer theatre. In 2000, Summer Rep also became an Actors’ Equity Company, elevating its status as a professional theater company. While many things have changed in the 92-year history of summer play production at Iowa, Iowa Summer Rep has provided a unique and exciting gathering place for the community, whose continued presence and support has inspired a tradition of excellence.

Tickets are on sale beginning Wednesday, May 16 from the Hancher Box Office in the Old Capitol Centre. Tickets are available at www.hancher.uiowa.edu/tickets. Tickets for the Des Moines Opera performances are available at www.hoytsherman.org. Hancher Box Office summer business hours, for walk-up and phone sales, are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Call 319-335-1160 or 1-800-HANCHER. People with special needs for access, seating and auxiliary services should dial 319-335-1158, which is equipped with TDD for people with hearing impairment.

For additional information about each of the productions visit http://performingarts.uiowa.edu.

The Department of Theatre Arts is a unit of the Division of Performing Arts in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Iowa Summer Rep is sponsored, in part, by the UI Office of Summer Session.

UI arts events are searchable on the UI Master Calendar: calendar.uiowa.edu.