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   from the issue of September 28, 2006

     
 
University Theatre opens season Oct. 5 with 'Judevine'

University Theatre opens its 106th season of productions at UNL with David Budbill's "Judevine."

The production, directed by associate professor Virginia Smith, will have performances at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-7 and Oct. 11-14 in the Studio Theatre, third floor of the Temple Building.

Tickets are $16, $14 for faculty, staff and senior citizens, and $10 students with a valid NCard. Season passes are also available.

Tickets and season passes are available at the Lied Center ticket office or by calling 472-4747.

"Judevine" is a parade of lives seen singly and in relation to others: Raymond and Ann, who in their 50 years together have become a mythic vision of love and warmth and cooperation; Grace, whose tortured and lonely life explodes into bitterness, jealousy and finally into madness; teenage Carol Hopper, middle-aged Conrad and the Vietnam vet, Tommy, who each in their isolation withdraw into themselves; Lucy, who lives in a past that's gone, and Jerry who loves and protects her; Alice who is "half man half woman," who "embraces other people's lives;" Laura and Edgar who pass their ordered, proper and restrained days while bursting with repressed passion for each other; and Antoine, the foul mouthed saint, the irrepressible, effusive, loquacious and ebullient lover of women and life. These and many others populate the town and the life of Judevine and are brought to the stage by David, the poet, who is the narrator of this play and guide to these portraits of ordinary people, by turns raucous and bawdy, delicate and painful, funny and angry. David reveals to us an intensely passionate and caring song of praise celebrating human nature.

The cast includes Master of Fine Arts professional actor training program members Andrew Beck, Flynt Burton, Rachel Charlop-Powers, Acquah Dansoh, Jim Hopkins, Greg Parmeter, Ja'Nelle Taylor; undergraduate theatre majors Lindsay Cook, Kara Davidson, and Matt Miller; and music major Dan Beard who is also assistant musical director and plays the guitar and harmonica.

The production features original music by Chicago composer Paul Amandes who last composed music for the Nebraska Repertory Theatre production of Local Wonders. Amandes' music is directed by Alisa Belflower.

Scenery is designed by Nao Nishimori, costumes by Candace Frank, and lighting by Brooke Stevens, all undergraduate theatre majors.

The stage manager is undergraduate Alex Dumas.

The remainder of the 2006-2007 University Theatre season includes:

The premier of "Broadcast," Scott Murphy and Nathan Christensen's musical about radio. The performance is a collaboration with the School of Music. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25-29, with 2 p.m. curtains Oct. 28-29 in the Lied Center's Johnny Carson Theater.

"Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, 23, 24, 28 and March 1-3 in the Studio Theatre.

And "Suburbia" by Eric Bogosian will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 12-14 and April 18-21 in the Studio Theatre. The performance includes adult language and themes.

Howell Theatre in the Temple Building is under extensive renovation and will not be used for productions during the 2006-2007 University Theatre season.


GO TO: ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 28

ARTS HEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER 28

American Plains juried show opens Oct. 6
American Life in Poetry
'Collage Aesthetic' opens Sept. 29 at the Sheldon
Film traces death of GM
Graphic novel lecture Oct. 7
University Theatre opens season Oct. 5 with 'Judevine'

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