CCU brings Pulitzer Prize-winning play to life with a production of Thornton Wilder’s ‘Our Town’
Performances will take place in CCU's Edwards Theatre from Wednesday, Nov. 7, through Friday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m.; and Tuesday, Nov. 13, through Thursday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $17, with CCU discounts available. There will be a special matinee performance on Friday, Nov. 9, at 9 a.m. with an admission of $5.
A landmark in American drama, "Our Town" was first performed at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, N.J., in 1938. The play tells the story of a small community that represents every town the world over. Narrated by the "Stage Manager," the play follows the Gibbs and the Webb families, residents of Grover's Corners, N.H., through 12 years of life changes - from the mundane to the romantic to the devastating. Through young lovers Emily and George, their strong and loving parents, and the locals' interwoven lives, Wilder delivers universal truths on what it means to be human.
"Our Town is a unique play in that the spoken word is the point, the action," said John Woodson, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and director of the production. "It's a play intentionally evading every requirement of most plays. Wilder's powerful themes of the fleeting nature of human life and the importance of companionship cannot be missed by anyone who witnesses it."
The cast includes Dalton Hedrick as the Stage Manager, Joshua Diveley as Dr. Gibbs, Blake Pousson as Joe Crowell, Jason Skibinski as Howie Newsome, Kiarra Donnelly as Julia Gibbs, Milla Blackwelder as Mrs. Webb, Collin David Beach as George Gibbs, Sarah McInnis as Rebecca Gibbs, Zack Olds as Wally Webb, Carlie Maize as Emily Webb, Dan Ennis as Professor Willard and Gavin Carnahan as Mr. Webb. Other cast members include Camryn Mullin, Evan Sherwood, Jordyn Davis, Bradford Averitt, Hayle Barry, Michael Paul Torello, Lyra-Grace Schwartz, Conyers Harvin, Nick Haddad, Aidan Fletcher and Sam Clifford.
"All people have an inherent desire to hear stories, within our family, community and world," said Woodson. "The theatre serves as an open and honest place to address those stories and for us, the audience, to have a collective experience in witnessing them. As a director, my hope is that those who see 'Our Town' will experience an enduring story as if for the first time, being spooled out in front of them, that very moment."
The Edwards Theatre is located in the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts building at 133 Chanticleer Drive W. on CCU's campus in Conway. For tickets, call the Wheelwright Box Office at 843-349-ARTS (2787) or visit coastal.edu/culturalarts. The Wheelwright Box Office is located at 108 Spadoni Park Circle on the Conway campus, and hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Department of Theatre will bring "She Kills Monsters" to the stage in late January/early February; "Steel Pier" in late February/early March; and "A New Brain" in mid-April.
Additional resources:
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