An updated production of “The Threepenny Opera,” a musical about the contradictions in society, is being put on by Theatre Arts at NIU.

“Anyone interested in the headlines of the morning newspapers or in the world we live in should have an interest in ‘The Threepenny Opera,'” said Director Gene Terruso.

The musical was written by Bertolt Brecht in 1928 and was an updated adaption of John Gay’s “Beggar’s Opera.” Now the musical has been updated once again to fit today’s world.

Terruso said a thorough adaptation of the play was done and said writing the lyrics to the music was the hardest thing to do.

However,the dramatic structure of the play, the content of the dialogue and references to sex, rape, abortion, the homeless, political corruption and other social issues come from the original text, Terruso said.

The play is set in Chicago, January 1993. It begins shortly before the presidential election and ends around Superbowl Sunday, Terruso said.

Lorraine Barrett, marketing director for Theatre Arts, said the actors are caricatures of the different types of people in society.

The characters include politicians, prostitutes, crooks and gangsters.

Brecht’s plays are different because they directly involve the audience, Barrett said.

Terruso said Brecht’s type of theater is called epic theater. The audience is constantly reminded they are in a theater and characters speak directly to the audience.

The musical will shake up and shock the audience, Barrett said. She added that it is very political, funny, cynical and contains offensive language.

“No one will be bored and no one will lack an opinion,” Terruso said.

The musical opened Nov. 4 and runs through Nov. 14.

Barrett said tickets are still available for this week’s shows, but they are going fast.

Ticket prices are $5 for students, $8 for faculty members and staff and $10 for general admission. All shows will take place at the Players Theatre in the Stevens Building.