Those on campus who have enthusiasm for theater will have the chance to experience a special showcase of the Mercyhurst Theatre program’s Tennessee Williams One-Acts Feb. 7-10.
This festival features six one-act plays by the American playwright Williams, which will be performed in sets of three on alternate days.
“This Property is Condemned,” “I Can’t Imagine Tomorrow” and “The Case of the Crushed Petunias” will be performed on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
“Hello from Bertha,” “Lord Byron’s Love Letter” and “Auto-da-Fé” will be performed on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.
The one-acts will be performed in Taylor Little Theatre and will feature the talents and expertise of six student directors: Alexis Webb, Monica Tinsley, Jacob Tretinik, Abby Whitman, Tessa Sayre and Elizabeth Shewan.
The students have been working hard to bring the spirit of Tennessee Williams alive with the assistance of the Theater program’s director, Brett Johnson, Ph.D., who has been actively supervising the upcoming production.
The process, although exciting, has been deliberate.
Whitman, a junior Music Therapy major who is directing “Hello from Bertha,” said that it has “been an incredibly positive experience to direct (her) one act play.”
She said that she is “so thankful for the opportunity to direct a work of Tennessee Williams, one of America’s greatest playwrights.”
Senior Dance and Public Health major Nina Hollopeter, who plays the Matron in “Lord Byron’s Love Letter,” said, “Williams’ work is distinctive and there are plenty of little details and meanings behind certain things that seem miniscule in nature but actually have a deeper meaning.”
The cast of the Tennessee Williams one-acts is composed of 18 Mercyhurst students, a colorful assortment of varied majors and years, unified for the purpose of theater.
Mark the dates in your calendars and come support the Mercyhurst Theater Program Feb. 7-10 in Taylor Little Theatre.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for Mercyhurst students with their I.D. You will need to come to two performances to see all six one-act plays.