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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (1/05)
Contact: Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, 318-869-5242, or Lynn Stewart or Jennifer Hayes, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120

Centenary’s Marjorie Lyons Playhouse to Present The Distance From Here Feb 17-20, 24-26

SHREVEPORT, LA — The Distance from Here, one of the biggest hits of the 2003-04 off-Broadway season, will open at Centenary College's Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, Feb. 17 for a seven-performance run.

The Distance from Here is an intense look at the dark side of suburbia. Two American teenagers, Darrell and Tim, lack direction and purpose in their lives. Both without a supportive family life and little to occupy their time, the two seem focused on finding a decent hangout to avoid the turmoil contained in their respective homes. When Darrell’s suspicion about his girlfriend Jenn’s infidelity is confirmed and Tim comes to her defense, these three drifting characters speed toward disaster.

Playwright Neil LaBute has gained critical acclaim for his films In The Company of Men, You’re Your Friends and Neighbors and had smash hits with The Shape of Things (performed at MLP several seasons ago) and his latest, Fat Pig, currently playing in New York.

The cast is led by Joshua Porter as Darrell. Porter has numerous credits at Marjorie Lyons, having appeared in The Shape of Things, The Beauty of Queen Leenane, Verna: USO Girl, As Bees in Honey Drown, Grand Hotel, Pride’s Crossing, Wit and Electra. He is a recent graduate from Centenary’s theatre program.

Patrick Kelly will be seen as Tim, Darrell’s best friend. Kelly made his MLP debut this past summer in Gypsy. He is a freshman theatre major at Centenary.

Sarah Smith will appear as Jenn, Darrell’s girlfriend. Smith, a junior communication major at Centenary, was most recently seen in The Underpants and has had roles in Verna: USO Girl, Tell Me That You Love Me Junie Moon, Women Behind Bars, The Shape of Things, Gypsy and The Laramie Project.

Anysia Manthos will appear as Shari, Cammie’s stepdaughter. Manthos has a wide range of appearances in productions, which include The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Women Behind Bars, The Bat, Electra, The laramie Project, When You Comin' Back Red Ryder and Wit. Manthos is a senior theatre/communication major.

Phillip Brooks will play Rich, the newest husband of Darrella's mother. His latest appearance was as Teddy, the menacing stranger, in When You Comin' Back Red Ryder. Brooks has had major roles in The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Noises Off, The Shape of Things, The Bat and The Underpants.
He is a senior film studies major at Centenary.

Charity Schubert appears as Cammie, Darrella's mother. Her credits include The Shape of Things, The Underpants, Electra and As Bees in Honey Drown. Schubert recently spent a year studying in France and is a senior theatre/French major at Centenary.

Filling out the cast as friends and an employee at a local mall will be Laura Beth Sentell, Christopher Comeaux and Jamie Norwood.

Sentell, a senior theatre/dance major at Centenary, has been seen in Gypsy, The Wayside Motor Inn, and Women Behind Bars. Comeaux is making his MLP debut as a sophomore performing arts major. Norwood was recently seen in When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder and The Underpants. He is a sophomore theatre major.

The Distance from Here is directed by Patric McWilliams. His credits include The Shape of Things, The Bat, The Devils, Picasso, At the Lapin Agile, A Perfect Ganesh, Suburbia, Lips Together Teeth Apart and Marvin’s Room.

McWilliams has designed the sets and costumes, with Don Hooper designing the lights and serving as technical director. Ashley Beckham is the assistant director/stage manager.

After opening on Feb. 17, the show will run Feb. 18-19 and Feb. 24-26 at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Feb. 20.

All performances are at the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse on the Centenary College campus.

Seats for The Distance from Here can be reserved by calling the Theatre Box Office at 318-869-5242. The box office is open daily from noon-4 p.m. Ticket prices for all performances are $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens; and $10 for students. There will be a preview performance on Wednesday, Feb. 16 with all seats priced at $7.

Audiences are advised that The Distance From Here contains strong language and adult themes.

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