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Rep schedule brings fairy tale, Nebraska talent to stage
By Emily Pyeatt
Staff writer
Summertime... Man, oh man,
the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff
knew what they were talking about.
Their lyrics make me think of the
good oF summertime - the hot,
blazing sunshine, little kiddos sell
ing lemonade, and the Repertory
Theater.
Well, maybe the song doesn’t
make me think of those things, but
there is a treat for you Lincolnites
craving summertime and some
diverse theatrical productions.
Have no fear, the Nebraska
Repertory season begins a little
early this year. Instead of the Rep
beginning shows in June, this year’s
season kicks off in March. The sea
son is different in other ways, too.
The Repertory Theater has a new
executive director, Jeff Elwell, said
Nora George, the Repertory
Theater consultant.
The meaning of the Nebraska
Repertory Theater has changed
from what it first meant. The origi
nal concept of a rep was a company
that produced several different
pieces in the course of one season.
The Nebraska Rep provides not only
simultaneous productions, but other
diverse theatrical productions as
well. The productions are held with
in NU theaters during the summer
months.
This season offers an eclectic
lineup.
“The Last Night of Bally Hoo”
and William Inge’s “Picnic” will run
simultaneously throughout July and
the beginning of August.
Apart from the traditional sum
mer season, which runs from June to
August, the Rep is producing the
Nebraska Premier Production of
“Match Play” and “Sleeping
Beauty.”
The season begins with “Match
Play” written by the late Nebraskan
playwright William McCleery.
The concept of the Nebraska
Premier Production, of which
“Match Play” is an example, pro
vides a chance for the company to
feature Nebraska artists and talents.
“The play is extremely well
crafted,” said Elwell.
The dramatic comedy presents
the story of a struggling newspaper
and the conflicts of a love affair
between a publisher and editor.
Elwell said he plans to continue
the Nebraska Premier addition to
the Rep in future seasons
Next year’s goals include a joint
production that would allow the
Nebraska Premier show to run in
Chicago, Elwell said.
The Premier shows are “a way to
get into a bigger ball game,” Elwell
said.
The “bigger ball game” includes
representation that transcends the
Nebraska stage and allows actors to
receive work promotions.
“Sleeping Beauty” premieres in
May. It will tour schools throughout
Lincoln and will play the Howell
Theatre on the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln campus, Elwell
said.
The season continues with “The
Last Night of Bally Hoo” running
through July and early August.
The play offers a light look at a
wealthy German-Jewish family dur
ing World War II. The family wor
ries more about attendj ffg fog tbeatgr
than the threat of Adolpntmlef:
“Picnic” runs simultaneously.
The Pulitzer Prize and Critic
Circle award-winning play
poignantly depicts neighbors -
focusing primarily on an all-female
household. The exploration into the
families’ lives intensifies when the
women are confronted with an out
sider.
The rnanaes in This vear's
Repertory Theater exceed past pro
duction scheHnlino This ui>ar’c
Repertory Theater has been
scheduled more than it ever has
before.
Elwell sought to change the
face of those involved with the
Rep, Elwell said.
“I thought we had a lot of tal
ent with MFA graduates and
local equity actors,” Elwell said.
“So we formed a sort of corps to
cast primarily from local talent
and then supplement with pro
fessional actors, some well
known and others slightly
known.”
This year, actors from the
local corps company filled 15
roles. This made students and
the people from Lincoln more
involved, Elwell said.
The local company includes
students and actors, but numer
ous professors also audition and
receive Rep roles.
“I think it’s a good thing for
faculty to have another outlet for
creative activity,” Elwell said. “It
gives students a chance to work
(with them) and know the craft
passion they put into
what they teach.”
NEBRASKA REP
9 - 25
|’Match Play"
in the Studio Theater on the
: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
campus
May 18 - 20
’’Sleeping Beauty"
I in the Howell Theatre on the
■ University of Nebraska-Lincoln
| campus
July 6 - August 3
’’The Last Night of
Bally Hou”
: in the Johnny Carson Theater,
LiedCenter for Performing Arts
July13 - August 6
jjiif&icnic"
if pn tfieHowell Theater ’
A season ticket package, which offers one
ticket for each snow, costs $40 for adults,
$30 for faculty, staff or seniors and $12 for
students or people younger than 18 years
old.
Uld Malanie Falk/DN
