April 8, 9, 10 & 15, 16, 17 at 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 18 at 2:00 PM

Withycombe Lab Theatre 7:30 PM

(East entrance, 30th & Campus Way)

Edgar Lee Masters'

Spoon River Anthology

by Charles Aidman

4-6-04               OSU TO PRESENT "SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY"

By Mark Floyd, 541-737-0788                                        SOURCE: Marion O. Rossi, 541-737-4917

            CORVALLIS -             Oregon State University will present Charles Aidman's stage version of "Spoon River Anthology" April 8-10 and April 16-18, in the Withycombe Hall lab theater.

            Based on Edgar Lee Masters' collections of poems, the play is set in the quasi-fictional southern Illinois town of Spoon River in the late 19th century. The play chronicles the life and world of Spoon River by having its former residents – now "sleeping on the hill" in the town cemetery – come back from their graves to speak.

            The characters enjoy a freedom and frankness in their thoughts that they never would have shared when alive, providing a candid look at small-town life and the human condition that is equal parts humorous and poignant.

            The stage adaptation includes music selections from or reminiscent of the era.

            Marion O. Rossi, a University Theatre faculty member, directs the play. Lilli Ann Linford-Foreman, a graduate student, is costume designer; faculty member George Caldwell is technical director; OSU senior Courtney Silvester is stage manager; and theater arts undergrads Lige Armstrong and Michael Todd Backus are lighting designers.

            The cast includes four OSU students who play multiple roles. They include Bryce D. Bumgarner, a junior from Stayton majoring in new media communications; Emily Chovanec, a sophomore from Corvallis in theater arts; Amy Edwards, a junior from Corvallis in theater arts; and Jason Leon, a freshman from Salem in theater arts.

            Sophomore Steve McClain, an English major from Salem, and Maarika Teose, a freshman in chemistry from Portland, will provide music and songs, as well as perform small roles in the play.

            Performances are set at 7:30 p.m. from April 8-10 and April 15-17, with a 2 p.m. matinee set for April 18. Tickets are priced at $7 for general admission; $5 for seniors and $4 for students.

            Due to the nature of the play, latecomers cannot be seated. More ticket information is available by calling 541-737-2784.

*Lab Theatre Rules and Regulations

• Late arrivals will not be seated.
• Season Productions that are in the Lab Theatre will have tickets available at the main theatre box office Wednesday through Friday during the run of the production between the hours of 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM and forty-five minutes prior to each performance in the Lab Theatre box office.
• With the exception of season productions, tickets for all publicly advertised performances in the Lab Theatre will be issued strictly on a first come, first served basis, with sales commencing forty-five minutes before each performance. 
• Lab Theatre seating is festival-style seating only. There are no reserved seats available, only reserved dates for each season production.
• Because of seating limitations in the Lab, there will be no advance reservations of seats for any Lab Theatre production.
• Evening performances will begin at 7:30 PM., and matinee performances at 2:00 PM.
• Four seats will be reserved for wheel-chair patrons until five minutes before the scheduled curtain, at which time they may be released for general sale.
• Due to state fire regulations, audience members may be seated only in the fixed seating provided and standing viewers will not be allowed.

    University Theatre Office