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Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
9/15/98
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - The music of George Gershwin and the drama of Lillian Hellman and Shakespeare will highlight the NSU Theatre's 1998-99 season, according to artistic director Dr. Jack Wann.
The season will open with Gershwin's "Crazy for You" Oct. 8 - 11 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium with Assistant Professor of Theatre Ed Brazo directing. Wann will direct Hellman's "The Children's Hour Nov. 13-21 in Theatre West.
Assistant Professor of Theatre Scott Burrell will make his directing debut at Northwestern Feb. 24 - March 2 with Brian Friel's "Dancing at Lughnasa" in Theatre West. The season will close with Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale," April 21-28 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Wann will direct.
"This will be one of the most literate seasons we have had. Each of the playwrights represented are giants," said Wann. "We are raising the stakes higher for our program. This will be a very challenging season."
"Crazy for You" is a reworking of Gershwin's "Girl Crazy. Billed as the "new Gershwin musical," the play tells the zany story of a stage-struck banker playboy who falls for the only girl in Deadrock, Nev. (pop. 157 men) with a collection of 18 George and Ira Gershwin standards such as "Embraceable You," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "I've Got Rhythm" and "Someone To Watch Over Me."
The winner of every major 1992 Broadway prize for Best Musical (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle awards), "Crazy for You" went on to take London's Tony-equivalent, the 1993 Laurence Olivier award for "Best Musical." It also won Tonys for choreographer Susan Stroman and costume designer William Ivey Long.
"This is a very demanding musical to put on with a lot of costume changes, but if anybody in the south can pull it off, Ed Brazo can," said Wann.
"The Children's Hour" has been called "One of the great successes of a distinguished writer." The play involves two women who run a school for girls. A malicious youngster starts an entirely unfounded rumor about the women which precipitates scandal. Later it is discovered the gossip was pure invention, but by that time irreparable damage has been done.
"This is a very strong women's play that is like 'The Crucible.' It shows what can happen when the big lie is told," said Wann.
"Dancing at Lughnasa" is a story told through the memory of the illegitimate son as he remembers the five women who raised him, his mother and four maiden aunts. During one summer when he is seven, several events occur. The boy's elderly uncle, a priest, returns after serving 25 years as a missionary. The sisters acquire a radio which turns them from correct Catholic women to shrieking, stomping banshees in their own kitchen. And he meets his father, a charming Welsh drifter.
From these small events spring the cracks that destroy the foundation of the family forever. But this haunting play is the Irish playwright's tribute to the spirit and valor of the past and its people.
"The play is reminiscent of Tennessee Williams in its gentle approach. It is a touching play," said Wann.
"The Winter's Tale" evolves as Leontes, jealous king of Sicilia, decides the child his wife is bearing is not his. Going against all advice, he throws the new baby out on the hillside, his wife into jail and himself into purgatory. How is it possible to heal such wounds? Shakespeare shows how, as the women get to work, and the daughter leads the father back to redemption.
"It is a big chore. 'The Winter's Tale' broke many conventions of the day," said Wann. "The first part is violent and dark with rage and jealousy. The latter part becomes more pastoral and magical."
For ticket information on the NSU Theatre's 1998-99 season, call (318) 357-6891.