Main MenuNEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
8/30/2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES -Works by George Bernard Shaw, Neil Simon, Rodgers and Hart and an original work are among to be performed during the NSU Theatre's 2001-02 season.
Shaw's "Major Barbara" will open the year Sept. 27-Oct. 5 in Theatre West. William Gilmore's "The Tragedy of Frankenstein" is set for Oct. 31 Nov. 4 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. In the spring, Rodgers and Hart's "The Boys of Syracuse" will be presented on Feb. 21-28 in Theatre West. An original play, "Lines in the Sand" will close out the year on April 24-27 in Theatre West. NSU Coordinator of Theatre Dr. Jack Wann will direct "Major Barbara" and "The Boys of Syracuse." Assistant Professor of Theatre Scott Burrell will direct "The Tragedy of Frankenstein" and "Lines in the Sand."
Simon's "Biloxi Blues" will be presented in the Loft Theatre Oct. 9-10. Assistant Professor of Theatre Dr. Vicki Parrish will direct "Biloxi Blues." Wann will direct "Proof" in the Loft Theatre April 2-3.
"We feel the season will be very provocative and a feast for the mind and the heart," said Wann.
Major Barbara is Barbara Undershaft, the daughter of a wealthy munitions magnate, who embraces religion as a means of salvation. Her father is a social philosopher who believes that the worst of crimes is poverty. Father and daughter clash in this witty, thought-provoking tale of political economy.
"Shaw was an intellectual playwright who used words extremely well," said Wann. "He is one of the greats of English literature. Shaw was an iconoclast, reformer and a mischief-maker. He attacks sacred cows and in this play takes on religion."
Gilmore's play is a re-telling of the story of Frankenstein
with a focus on the Mary Shelley's original novel.
"The play doesn't make the creature so monstrous. The audience
empathizes more with the creature," said Wann. "With
all the controversy over science and how far it should go, the
play could not be more timely."
Gilmore is a friend of Burrell's and will plans to come to Natchitoches during rehearsals. This is the first time the play has been performed in this region.
"The Boys from Syracuse" is a musical based on Shakespeare's "Comedy of Errors."
"This musical was done at Rodgers and Hart's peak. It has the elements of twins and mistaken identities," said Wann.
In directing the play, Wann plans to do some "creative writing" to put the play into a larger scenario.
"We are going to make it a play about Rodgers and Hart and make 'The Boys from Syracuse 'a play within a play.' It will have all the songs, but we are going to give it some atmosphere," said Wann.
The final main stage play "Lines in The Sand" will be 'built from scratch' by theatre students next spring.
"Those in Scott (Burrell's) class will be in the play. They will begin developing a theme and create a dramatic piece from zero," said Wann. "We have never done anything like this. It should be exciting."
The NSU Theatre will also collaborate on the annual Christmas Gala Nov. 30 and the NSU Dance Ensemble will perform in the annual Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet Pageant Feb. 1.
For more information on the NSU Theatre's 2001-2002 season, call (318) 357-6891.