NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/22/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Don't expect a typical kind of performance when the NSU Theatre presents "Lines In The Sand" April 24-27. The play begins at 7:30 p.m. on the stage of the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Scott Burrell is the director.

The theme of "Lines In The Sand" relates to the tragedies of Sept. 11.

"This will be totally different and unconventional," said cast member Guy Miller of Pineville. "It has been very challenging. This is a new experience and new type of theatre that we wanted to try."

Burrell and the 30-member cast began crafting the play in January. Each individual started by creating their own character in great detail down to their street address.

"Scott is the director but the ideas came from us," said Katie Guell of Harvey. "It was 30 different egos and people with strong opinions. I know it was hard to pick out what to use. The process has been emotionally draining."

Miller refers to the play as "poor-man's theatre." Cast members had to create, contribute or find everything used in the play including the props and the music.

"If we needed it, we had to go get it," said Miller.

During the first half of the semester, Burrell allowed the cast to work freely in developing the play then began to take a more active role as rehearsals began.

Guell said the process has allowed her to find out a great deal about people in the theatre program she did not know very well.

"I wouldn't have gotten to know most of the people in the cast if it hadn't been for this and I have been surprised at how talented they are," she said. "Everyone has really connected."

The cast is very tight-lipped about revealing any information except for the general theme.

"We use Sept. 11 as a spring board," said Miller. "People will realize what was going on around them as a result of those events. We will show every angle. But we don't offer any opinions on the event. It will be full of emotions."

Guell said she has received lessons from this project that she will always be able to use.

"I know that I can work with anybody," she said. "I can respect the ideas of other artists. I feel lucky to get to do this. Scott has shown so much respect for us. This is a main stage production and the last production of the year. He (Burrell) believes we can do it."

Tickets are $5 and free for NSU students with I.D. For more information, call (318) 357-5814.

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