Catawba College Theatre Arts Department’s production of “The Marriage of Bette and Boo” will run Sept. 20-24. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Florence Busby Corriher Theatre on campus.
The play, often regarded as the most optimistic play of often darkly satirical playwright Christopher Durang, is the Blue Masque’s opening production for the 2005-2006 academic year and is being directed by Theatre Arts Chair Dr. Woody Hood. In scenes from the play which are narrated by Bette and Boo’s detached son Matt, the audience is provided with snap shots from various decades of a deeply dysfunctional family. Boo’s out-of-control alcoholism is matched only by Bette’s obsession of having babies despite the fact that they all die. Matt’s grandparents are mean, embittered, speech-impaired, or angry. His aunts are continually pregnant or excruciatingly apologetic. And, family therapy has never been more needed or funnier.
Students and the characters they play include Jes Dugger, a junior from Greensboro, as Bette Brennan; Amy Guenther, a junior from Asheville, as Margaret Brennan (Bette’s mother); Sheldon Rogers, a sophomore from Waxhaw, as Paul Brennan (Bette’s father); Jena Wooten, a junior from Jonesboro, Ark., as Joan Brennan (Bette’s sister); Caitlin Heinen, a junior from Wauwatosa, Wis., as Emily Brennan (Bette’s sister); Joey Yow, a junior from High Point, as Boo Hudlocke; Michael Strickland, a junior from Austin, Texas, as Karl Hudlock (Boo’s father); Candace Neal, a sophomore from Waxhaw, as Soot Hudlock (Boo’s mother); Michael Lasris, a sophomore from Seaford, Va., as Father Donnally and the Doctor; and Brian Romans, a senior from Baltimore, Md. as Matt.
Crew members in addition to Dr. Hood includeMcKenna Dabbs, a junior from Nashville, Tenn., assistant director; Lauren Connolly, a junior from Moon Township, Pa., stage manager; Briana Smith, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, assistant stage manager; Professor David Pulliam, scene design; Professor Eric Abbott, costume design; Taylor Edwards, a senior from Hickory, assistant costume design; Adam York, a senior from Sanford, lighting design; Tiffany Cox, a junior from Woodbridge, Va., makeup design; Professor Christopher Zink, technical director; Jesse Frank, a sophomore from Baltimore, Md., front of house; Katie Bruton, a senior from Hiddenite, master electrician; Sean Williams, a sophomore from Suffolk, Va., lightboard operator; Kelly Flick, a senior from Newport News, Va., master carpenter; Tiffancy Tesh, a freshman from Summerfield, running crew; Jordan Richards, a junior from Hendersonville, props master; Andy McCain, a sophomore from Mequon, Wis., props running crew; Liz Ballard, a junior from Culpeper, Va., charge scenic artist; Tiffany Hogan, a freshman from High Point, sound board operator; Sarah Koerner, a sophomore from Rocky Mount, wardrobe; Meredith Fox, a junior from Elon, hairdresser; Jessica Taige, a sophomore from Wauwatosa, Wis., dresser; and Danielle M. Papet, a junior from Glassboro, N.J., publicity.
Other students involved in various crews which are helping with the production include lighting prep crew: Sam Brooks, a sophomore from Seaford, Va.; Betsy Foster, a sophomore from Baltimore, Md.; Jon Jordan, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, Va.; Ryan Musil, a senior from Whitefish Bay, Wis.; and Jessica Taige, aforementioned; set prep crew: Daniel Hines, a sophomore from Yorktown, and Dan Koppenhaver, a freshman from Boone; props prep crew: J.T. Kesler, a sophomore from Salisbury, and Bree Raymond, a senior from Spring Hill, Fla.; paint crew: Sonny Kong, a sophomore from Matthews; Meredith Fox; Jesse Frank; and Minnie Scronce, a sophomore from Hickory; costume prep crew: Joe Castillo, a freshman from White Plains, N.Y.; Justin Dionne, a junior from Salisbury; Michael Lasris, a sophomore from Seaford, Va.; and Sean Williams, a sophomore from Suffolk, Va.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. For more information, call the Catawba College Box Office at 704-637-4481. Group rates are available.
