Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

5/20/98

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - The NSU Summer Dinner Theatre will go from the sublime to the ridiculous in the two productions it will present beginning in June.

Northwestern will present the comedy "110 in the Shade" June 22 through July 1 on the main stage of the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium followed by the cult classic "Little Shop of Horrors" July 24 through Aug. 2 in Theatre West.

"These plays both have elements of fun and excitement. They demonstrate that diversity is the key to theatre, and you can't have two plays that are more diverse," said NSU Artistic Director Dr. Jack Wann, who will direct both plays. "The first play, '110 in the Shade' is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning work while 'Little Shop of Horrors' is based on a 'B' movie."

"110 in the Shade" is based on the hit play and award-winning film "The Rainmaker" which starred Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn.

The comedy is set in the West during a drought where a father and his two sons are more worried about their daughter/sister becoming an old maid than the cattle on their farm who are dying.

The brothers try every scheme they can imagine to marry off the girl without success. One day a man called Starbuck comes to them promising to bring rain for $100. The men agree to hire the engaging young man. The rainmaker turns his charm on the girl and rain comes along with love.

"I like to work from a strong literary base and this play is based on good literature," said Wann. "The adaptation is faithful to the original work. It will be like two works we have done in the past, 'She Loves Me' and 'Baby.' The cast didn't know much about them when they started but by the end it was one of their favorites."

Wann said the play has elements of hope and redemption.

"In the play, everyone's drought is broken. The people were barren as was the land, but by the end that all changes," he said.

"Little Shop of Horrors" is based on the Roger Corman film about a plant that grows and grows and eventually eats Cleveland. The original film version in the 1960's featured the screen debut of Jack Nicholson. The second version in the 1980's starred Steve Martin, Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene.

"This play is pure escapism. It's great fun and is silly," said Wann.

Chrissy Wright, who has worked with Wann on past summer dinner theatre productions, will co-direct and choreograph "Little Shop of Horrors."

Wann will have to travel to Springfield, Mo. before the play opens to "borrow" the plant that will star in the production.

"I'm not too crazy about making that trip alone," said Wann. "But if I don't make it back, I guess you'll know that the plant got its first victim."

For ticket information on the NSU Summer Dinner Theatre, call (318) 357-6891.

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