NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

2/15/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES ­ Playing a character caught in a nightmare has had a subconscious effect on Billy Mobray.

"Since we've started the show, I've had a few nightmares about it, like missing the show or being late," Mobray admitted. It is the first leading role for the actor, a junior theatre major from Lake Charles.

Mobray plays George Spelvin, the lead character in "The Actors Nightmare," which will be presented by the Northwestern State University Theatre Feb. 16-19 and Feb. 22-26. The play by Christopher Durang is about a man who appears on a stage with no explanation of how or why he is there. He is uncertain of what his lines are, or even what play is being presented.

"As George, I'm not sure why I'm there on stage," Mobray said. "I don't think I'm an actor. I think I'm an accountant and I'm trying to keep up but they keep changing the play. It really is like a nightmare. The character is quite confused and really nervous."

Mobray tries to channel his own experience to project his character.

"In a dream you feel scared," he said. "You don't' know why you're scared but you know there's something to be scared about. I think about how I'd feel in George's situation, not knowing what was going on, and how I'd try to keep up. The other characters think George is an actor who knows what he is doing and is intentionally messing up."

Mobray had never acted before he came to Northwestern, but knew it was something he always wanted to do. A friend from high school pointed him toward NSU. He appeared in last summer's "Dames At Sea," and more recently in "Antigone" and "This Is A Play."

"As I was reading the script, I knew that was the role I wanted," Mobray said. He auditioned for "The Actor's Nightmare" by performing George's lengthy monologue. "It got me the part."

Despite George's situation and his attempts to keep up, his character may not even be real.

"If an actor has two characters in a play, quite often one of the characters will be listed with the name George Spelvin. In a sense, my character may not really exist," Mobray said.

The actor has learned much since his stage debut.

"Every night you can change a little," he said. "It's the same show, but you can deliver a line in a different way. Every night you can change your character and see yourself grow."

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. in Theatre West. Admission is $10 and free for NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students. To reserve tickets, call (318) 357-5814.

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