Provided/Andy Gillis

Leading the cast of ‘Blood Wedding’ at the Schwartz Center April 24-May 2 are Chandler Waggoner ‘15, left, as the bridegroom; Claire Roberson ’15 as the bride and Alex Quilty ’15 as Leonardo.

The Department of Performing Arts (PMA) will present Federico García Lorca’s “Blood Wedding,” a story of magic, rituals, love and death, with five mainstage performances at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts beginning Friday, April 24.

Showtimes in Kiplinger Theatre are April 24-25 and May 1-2 at 7:30 p.m., with one matinee performance May 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13, $11 for students and senior citizens, available at www.schwartztickets.com or the box office, open Tuesday-Saturday from 2-7:30 p.m. and one hour prior to performances.

Written by the Spanish dramatist in 1932, “Blood Wedding” was inspired by the 1928 murder of a man who had attempted to run away with a bride on the eve of her wedding.

The intense and deeply poetic drama reunites directors E.D. Intemann ’84 and Emily Ranii ’07, alumni who worked together on several productions at the Burning Coal Theatre Company in North Carolina.

Ranii said she is excited by the play’s “meaty opportunities and acting challenges for students.” Intemann, a fan of “Blood Wedding” since he was a Cornell undergraduate, said he felt the “ephemeral and poetic quality” of the work was perfectly suited to the visceral nature of live theater.

The production features a cast of 17 undergraduate students, choreography by PMA senior lecturer Jumay Chu and music by Danny Bernstein ’14. Brian James Murphy ’16 is the assistant director.

Kathy Hovis is a writer for the College of Arts and Sciences.