Centenary's Marjorie Lyons Playhouse Announces Cast for Junie Moon

SHREVEPORT, LA -- The 2002-2003 theatre season at  Marjorie Lyons Playhouse opens on Sept. 19 with a dramatization of Marjorie Kellogg's touching novel "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon." 

The novel has been adapted for the stage by D. D. Brooke and will be directed by Robert Buseick.  Don Hooper is the set and light designer and Patric McWilliams is the costume designer.  Garrett Moon is the assistant to the director and stage manager.

"Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon" tells the story of three extraordinary people, each handicapped, who meet in a hospital and instantly form a bond in their search for a fulfilling, meaningful life.  Because they have nowhere else to go, and no immediate prospects for the future, they make a decision to live together after being discharged from the hospital. Junie Moon is a young girl who has been disfigured from an attack by her husband. Warren is a  young man who has been shot and has suffered paralysis as an aftereffect. Arthur, also a young man, is suffering from a degenerative brain disease.  Their individual illnesses and infirmities are at first difficult obstacles to friendship. But gradually, courageously, they begin to explore the dangerous possibilities of love.

The title character of Junie Moon will be created by Sara Smith, a freshman theatre major at Centenary.  She is a graduate of Caddo Magnet High School where she played major roles in productions of "Into The Woods," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Nunsense" and "Little Shop of Horrors."  Smith has also appeared in two productions for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, in the chorus for "Annie" and as Kim McAfee in "Bye, Bye Birdie."

 The role of Warren is being played by Joshua Porter, a senior theatre major at Centenary.  Porter has appeared at MLP in productions of "Mame," "The Seagull," "Electra," "Wit," "Cabaret," "Pride's Crossing," "As Bees In Honey Drown," "Gross Indecency:  The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde," "Peter Pan," "42nd Street" and "Grand Hotel," for which he received a TDA nomination.

 The third member of this triangle, Arthur, is being played by senior music major, Brandon Thorn.  He has appeared in MLP productions of "Cabaret" and "Mame."  Thorn has also sung with the Shreveport Opera in productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Samson and Delilah."

Charity Schubert plays Gregory, a rich and sophisticated young lady who befriends Warren and tries to change his life. She has appeared at MLP in productions of "Wit," "As Bees In Honey Drown" and "Electra."  At East Bank Theatre, she played Rosalind in the The Company's production of "As You Like It." 

Phillip Brooks, who was last seen at MLP in "The Seagull," plays Mario, an Italian fish store owner who makes a special connection with Junie Moon.  David Bieler, a professor of geology at Centenary, plays the snoopy neighbor Mr. Wyner. He has appeared at MLP in productions of "Mame," "42nd Street", "God's Country" and "Grand Hotel."

Leah Wingate, Ashley Beckham and Blake A. Baudier play members of the hospital staff.  Leah has appeared in "Wit" and "The Seagull." Wingate was in "Wit," "Electra," and "The Seagull" and appeared in Peter Pan Players productions of "Little Mermaid Two" and "The Jungle Book." Baudier is a freshman theatre major making his MLP debut, has appeared in New Orleans productions of "Tommy," "Steel Pier," "West Side Story," "Guys and Dolls," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Crucible," "Bells Are Ringing" and "Footloose." 

Amber Walson who appeared last at MLP in "Wit" creates the role of hospital patient, Minnie.  Jeffrey Loftin plays Goren, a young man who has just had his leg amputated, and Laura Sentell plays his girlfriend Marilyn. Loftin, is a freshman and making his MLP debut. Sentell has appeared at MLP in "Cabaret" and "Mame" and is a transfer to Centenary from LSU.

"Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon" plays at 8 p.m. Sept. 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and  28 and at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29.  There will be a 7 p.m. preview performance on Wednesday, Sept. 18 with tickets at $5 each.  The box office opens on Thursday, Sept.  12 from noon to 4 p.m. daily.  Tickets are adults $13, senior citizens $11, students
$8 and children $6. For reservations call 318-869-5242.

- 30 -