What happens when everything goes wrong in a community theatre production? A night of laughs and hilarity ensues. This April, the Concord University Theatre Department will present the comedy “Play On!” It is the story of a disastrous attempt by an amateur theatre company to present a play where nothing goes right.
“Play On!” will be presented on April 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. nightly in the H.C. Paul Theatre in the Alexander Fine Arts Building at Concord University. General admission for the play is $5 per person. Concord students, faculty and staff will be admitted at no charge. Tickets can be reserved by calling Tess Vaught at (304) 384-5275.
“Play On!” is written by Rick Abbott and produced in cooperation with Concord Theatricals, formerly Samuel French, Inc. This hilarious play is about a theatre group desperately trying to put on a play in spite of the maddening interference by the haughty author who keeps revising the script. The play is produced by CU Theatre Director Karen Vuranch and directed by CU alum Cameron White.
“Cameron graduated from the CU Theatre program last year,” stated Vuranch. “He is doing a remarkable job directing the play. It is great to see our graduates continuing the work they began as students.”
“Play On!” features a cast of ten CU students and community members. Melinda Goda and Jordan Simpson play the husband and wife team, Henry and Polly. Joey Mitchem and Emily Hall play love interests Violet and Billy. Aaron Sudderth and Riley Bowyer also play roles in the play within a play. In addition, Julie Prince plays the director of the ill-fated production and Chris Robertson and Megan McClung are the stage crew. Jade Cox is the meddlesome writer of the play.
While there are actors portraying the stage crew, Concord students make up the play’s actual stage crew. Vuranch is currently teaching a Stagecraft class. “Part of the class includes helping to get this play production ready,” she stated. “Students in the class will serve as stage crew, lights and sound operators, and a stage manager.” She went on to say that the set has been built and sound effects created by students.
For more information about the upcoming performances of “Play On!” please contact Karen Vuranch at [email protected].
