FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (3/98)
Contact: Robert Buseick, Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, 869-5242,
or Lynn Stewart or Amy Boltinghouse, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120 or 869-5709
SHREVEPORT, LA--The Marjorie Lyons Playhouse at Centenary College will present Neil Simon's award-winning play, Lost in Yonkers, at 8 p.m. on March 26, 27, 28, and April 2, 3, 4 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday April 5. A special preview will also be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25.
The winner of four Tony Awards, including "Best Play," and the Pulitzer Prize, Lost in Yonkers is a funny and heart-rending comedy that asks the question, "What happens to children in the absence of love?" In the story, two young boys experience the death of their mother and are then sent to live with their formidable grandmother, a one-woman German front-refugee and a widow who has steeled her heart against the world.
Director Robert Buseick has assembled an experienced cast to fill the seven roles for Simon's heart-warming, laughter- and tear-filled comedy.
Candace Higginbotham, bureau chief for Community Services, Department of Community Development for the City of Shreveport, has been cast in the role of the grandmother. Ms. Higginbotham has received Times Drama Award nominations for her acting in Dancing at Lughnasa and Eleemosynary at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse; Fiddler on the Roof at PAC; Cemetery Club and On Golden Pond at Shreveport Little Theatre; and Painting Churches at East Bank Theatre. She was the Times Drama Award winner as the Best Supporting Actress for her work in A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur at Centenary College. Ms. Higginbotham is also past president of the Shreveport Little Theatre.
Playing the two young boys, Jay and Arty, are area students Lake Hearne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lake Hearne, Sr., and Rodney Clements, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Clements. Lake plays Jay, the older of the two boys and is a student at St. Mark's Cathedral School. He has appeared in productions of The Rescuers, 101 Dalmations and Alice's Adventures Through the Looking Glass with the Peter Pan Players.
Rodney plays Arty, the younger brother. He is a student at Walnut Hill Middle School where he has been involved in numerous school productions, is an honor role student and plays baseball for his school.
The role of the boys' father, Eddie, is being created by Steven E. Baker, a junior theatre major at Centenary where he has appeared in productions of Bent, Red Scare On Sunset, Oliver, Sweet Charity, Period of Adjustment, Assassins, Angels in America, God's Country and Funny Girl. He has received two Times Drama nominations for his work in Centenary's production of Merrily We Roll Along and Shreveport Little Theatre's production of The Woman in Black.
Centenary junior theatre major Miranda Shackelford, will create the role of Aunt Bella, the boys' aunt who eventually saves them, experiencing a wrenching confrontation with her mother in the process. Ms. Shackelford has appeared at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse in productions of subUrbia, Red Scare on Sunset, Little Women, Angels in America, The House of Bernarda Alba, Funny Girl, Merrily We Roll Along and God's Country.
Uncle Louie, a small-time gangster, will be played by junior theatre major Logan Sledge. Mr. Sledge was nominated for a Times Drama Award for his performance in Period of Adjustment at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse. He has also appeared in productions of Bent, Red Scare on Sunset, subUrbia, Little Women, Assassins, Oliver, Merrily We Roll Along, Funny Girl, Angels in America and God's Country, all MLP productions.
Completing the cast is Emily Vise, a senior theatre major at Centenary. She will portray the boys' Aunt Gert. Ms. Vise has appeared at Centenary in productions of Assassins, Little Women, Oliver, Funny Girl, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Diary of Anne Frank, Angels in America and God's Country.
The production staff for Lost in Yonkers includes Patric McWilliams as costume designer, Don Hooper as set and light designer, Kenneth Scruggs for sound design, Vanessa Keller and Ryan Williams, stage properties, and Matthew Nicholas as assistant to the director.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $7.50 for students, and $5 for children. Tickets for the special preview on March 25 are $5. The box office opens on Thursday, March 19 and is open weekdays from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets may be reserved by calling 869-5242 during the designated hours.
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