University Theatre presents 'Our Town'
Nov. 12, 2003
KALAMAZOO--The University Theatre at Western Michigan University presents Thornton Wilder's drama "Our Town" for seven performances Nov. 13-22.
Performances in Shaw Theatre begin at 8 p.m. Thursday through
Saturday, Nov. 13-15 and 20-22, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16.
An opening night reception sponsored by Bacchus Wines & Spirits
will take place after the Nov. 13 performance. A post-show discussion
titled "America Now and Then: What is Gone, What has Stayed?"
will follow the Nov. 16 performance. The discussion will feature
comments by Ingulsrud, former WMU President Diether H. Haenicke
and moderator
Tom Amos.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play will be directed by Leon Ingulsrud, associate artistic director of Louisiana State University's renowned Swine Palace Productions.
"Our Town" is one of the most enduring plays of the American Theatre. The community of Grover's Corners, N.H., serves as a mirror, in which key themes of life--love, loss, the importance of appreciating each day--are reflected for the audience. While nostalgic in tone, "Our Town" blends joy and sadness in a most beatiful story, one of timeless appeal.
Ingulsrud directed the University Theatre's production of "The Grapes of Wrath" in 2000. His return to Kalamazoo this autumn includes residency activities at both WMU and Kalamazoo's Epic Center. In addition to his responsibilities at Swine Palace Productions, Ingulsrud is a co-founder of New York's SITI Company, and spent seven years as a member of the Suzuki Company of Toga.
The performers in "Our Town" include seniors Aaron Michael Adamkiewicz, Lakisha Bowen, Mark Jaynes, Nick Konow, Nate Mitchell, and Joe Crowell; juniors Cynthia Barker, Shana Gagnon, Joel Gelman, Larry Herron, Kristie Kelly, and Nick Shaw; sophomores Catherine Dildilian, Joe Johnson, J. Steadman, and Christine Werny; and freshmen Seth Miller and Ryan Welsh. The designers include seniors Laura Cornish (lighting) and Rebecca Smith (sound); and faculty members Gwendolyn Nagle (costumes) and Greg Roehrick (scenery).
Tickets for "Our Town" may be purchased by calling
or visiting the University Theatre Ticket Office weekdays between
noon and 5 p.m. at (269) 387-6222. Admission is $16 for the general,
$12 for WMU faculty and staff, and $7 for students. The box offices
at Miller Auditorium and the Epic Center also sell tickets to
University Theatre productions.
The 2003-04 University Theatre season is made possible through
a partnership with TIAA-CREF.
Media contact: Patrick Donnelly, 269 387-6222, patrick.donnelly@wmich.edu