Centenary College's Marjorie Lyons Playhouse Presents Keely and Du Beginning Feb. 21

SHREVEPORT, LA--Abbey Broussard and Ruth Doreck will play the title roles in Keely and Du, a drama written by Jane Martin, opening at Centenary College's Marjorie Lyons Playhouse (MLP) on Feb. 21.

Keely and Du, a finalist for the 1993 Pulitzer Prize, examines the ideologies of both sides of the abortion issue. Keely, a young woman who has become pregnant as a result of a rape, is kidnapped by an anti-abortion organization, "Operation Retrieval."  The activists (carrying out a nationwide plan) intend to hold her hostage until her third trimester when she will be forced to carry the child to term. 

Du, a registered nurse working for the organization, is assigned the task of watching after Keely for both medical and security purposes. Keely and Du is neither a pro-choice or right-to-life argument. Instead, the playwright Jane Martin forces the audience to view both sides of the debate through the eyes of sympathetic characters. Who is accountable? What is the extent of individual freedom? What are rape victim's rights? What is a Christian's duty?  The characters confront the physical, emotional and spiritual realities of procreation and learn to transcend the issues that separate them.

Keely and Du had its world premiere at the Actors Theatre of Louisville as part of the 1993 Humana Festival of New American Plays. Martin, who many believe is a pen name for a group of theatre artists at the Humana Festival, has previously written Talking with…, Vital Signs and Criminal Hearts.

Broussard, who portrays Keely, has appeared in the productions of Pride's Crossing and Wit.  She has received Times Drama Award (TDA) nominations for her performances in How I Learned to Drive and The Cripple of Inishmaan. 

Du will be played by Doreck, a veteran of local theatre, whose numerous credits include Eleemosynary, Nine, On the Twentieth Century, Chicago, Nunsense, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd and a TDA for Best Actress in a Play for the production of A Perfect Ganesh.

John Kerry is Walter, a man in charge of the kidnapping project. Kerry was last seen at MLP as Oscar Wilde's defense attorney in Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.  He has also been seen in Shreveport Little Theatre's Sideman, The Importance of Being Ernest and Horowitz and Mrs. Washington at Eastbank Theatre.

Josh Talley will appear as Cole, Keely's ex-husband and a newfound member of "Operation Retrieval." He has had roles in Cabaret, Pride's Crossing, How I Learned to Drive and Wit.

Anysia Mantohos, Garret Moon, Megan Taylor and Lindsey Mayo appear as guards and members of the organization.  Manthos was recently seen in Electra. Moon has been seen in Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, As Bees in Honey Drown and Wit. Mayo was seen in the season opener Wit and Taylor is making her MLP debut.

Patric McWilliams will direct Keely and Du. Included among his many directorial credits are: Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Devils, Electra, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, 42nd Street, Pride's Crossing, A Perfect Ganesh, Suburbia and As Bees in Honey Drown. He has received five TDAs for best director.

Don Hooper is the set and lighting designer, John Rabenhorst is the sound designer with Ashley Beckham serving as the assistant director/stage manager.

Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on Feb. 21, 22, 23, 28, March 1, 2 and at 2 p.m. on March 3. Regular performance tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for senior citizens, $8 for students (over 12) and $6 for children. 

The box office will be open from noon to 4 p.m. daily. Tickets may also be reserved for the play by calling 318-869-5242 during those hours. Performances are free to Centenary students, faculty and staff.

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