Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 11/2/00
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   126

Editors: Photo accompanies release   Please note local interest
SLU THEATRE PRESENTS MAMET'S "OLEANNA"
     HAMMOND -- David Mamet's controversial play about sexual harassment, "Oleanna,"
is the second offering of the Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre's 2000-2001 season.
     The play, directed by Larry Gray, will be presented November 14-18 at Vonnie Borden
Theatre in D Vickers Hall.
     Curtain is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $5 general admission, $3 senior citizens, Southeastern
faculty and staff and non-SLU students. Southeastern students are admitted free with their
university I.D.
     David Mamet, Gray said, is one of the most celebrated contemporary American
playwrights, and "Oleanna" marks the first time one of his plays has been performed at
Southeastern. The play was nominated for the Obie award and was named one of the 10 best
plays of the New York season in 1992.
     The setting is a college professor's office and the characters include an instructor dealing
with promotion and tenure and a young woman, one of his students.
     "Oleanna" raises the controversial issues of political correctness at a time when the
nation's morality has been tested by increased incidents of sexual harassment. When the play
debuted, the New York Times said, "'Oleanna' is likely to provoke more arguments than any
play this year."
     Gray agrees. "'Oleanna' inspires a lot of discussion and even heated arguments," he said,
adding with a smile, "I would like to be a little fly on the wall or in the car going home and hear
all the arguments."
     Gray said the play contains adult language and situations and is intended for mature
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SLU THEATRE PRESENTS "OLEANNA"   Add One

 audiences.
     Gray has chosen two Southeastern Theatre newcomers to portray John, the college
professor, and Carol, his student. The professor will be played by Clarence Wethern of
Mandeville and Brandalyn Bostic of Baton Rouge has the role of Carol.
     Gray said the play's three acts are short, so he plans to run straight through, with no
intermission. Musical interludes, however, will mark the acts' transition. "I went to some trouble
to make the music fit exactly and I think it will add tremendously to the production," Gray said.
     The set   a college office   was designed by Misty Pelas of Venice and the lighting was
designed by Greg Wilkes of New Orleans. Both are students working under the direction of
communication faculty member and set designer Steve Schepker.
     Tickets for "Oleanna" will go on sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily in the lobby of D
Vickers Hall beginning November 7. For additional information, call 504-549-2184.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu./NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf00.htm