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Characters Seek Author
Story and Photos by Tania Valdizan
l-r: Jessica Tomasin, Leigh Ann Spencer, Justin Phaneuf, Jake Robinson
l-r: Jen Strand, Jessica Cyr, Sarah Birdsong
l-r: Leigh Ann Spencer, Anne G'Fellers
l-r: Jen Strand, Latoya Sharpe, Sarah Birdsong, Jessica Cyr, Matt Shearin, Chris Smith
| Cast of Characters |
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The Father….........Justin Phanuef
The Mother….........Jessica Tomasin
The Step daughter…..Leigh Ann Spencer
The Boy…............Lucas Gregg
The Child…..........Zoe Otis
The Son…............Jacob Robinson
Madame Pace…........Anne G'Fellers
The Manager…........Jen Strand
Leading Lady….......Chelsey Gaddy
Leading Man…........Chris Smith
Second Lady…........Angela Merritt
L'Ingenue…..........Jessica Cyr
Juvenile Lead…......Matt Shearin
Property Man….......Britini Hudzietz
Prompter…...........Josh Hasty
Machinist…..........Immanuel Elliot
Manager's Secretary…Sarah Birdsong
Door-Keeper…........Michael Fisher
Other actors and actresses
Kristine Pugh
Matt Finch
LaToya Sharpe
Shamaal Thomas
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The Mars Hill College theatre department is at it again, but this time with a different kind of play.
Six Characters in Search of an Author, says Director Bill Gregg, is a "realistic play" -- in contrast to the department's last production, The Sound of Music, which he calls "expressionistic."
The majority of the actors on stage will be wearing their own clothes and not costumes.
The play, which opens on Thursday, November 18, is about six different characters with no history looking for an author to give them a story. They spend most of the play trying to convince a stage manager that they are not just amateur actors but real characters in search of an author to give them a story.
This play, written by Luigi Pirandello, an Italian poet and writer, has an interesting symbolic point of view. These characters are in search of an author to give them a story, but once they have their story, they will never be able to change. It is like they were "pre-destined," says Gregg.
Two children will perform in the play. Bill Gregg's son Lucas, who is 11 years old, will play the boy. Drew Otis' daughter Zoe will play the child.
Gregg is an experienced director who has worked with actors such as Val Kilmore and Kelsey Grammer when they were starting off in show business.
When asked how the play was chosen, Gregg said he has always wanted to do it. "We try to introduce the students to various types of plays. The characters in the play will be mostly using improvisation techniques. They will seem like themselves," he said. He usually directs one to two plays a year and is very excited about this one.
He said five weeks of hard work is paying off. Everyone had their lines memorized about two weeks ahead of time. The play opens this week.
With 18 to 20 people in the cast and 8 to 10 people working back stage, the play is relatively small, but Gregg expects the theatre to be full to capacity on opening night. Three main characters - the father, stepdaughter, and the theatre manager - have the the most lines.
The play, Gregg said, is presented like a "play within a play" and will be very interesting.
Some LAA courses require students to come and see the play, which is free opening night. The play can be seen in Owen Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Nov. 18-20, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 21. Admission is free on Thursday and Sunday; at the other times admission will be $5 for adults and $3 for students.
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