Caine College of the Arts and Eastern Utah Theatre open the 2011-2012 theatre season with Kaufman and Hart’s classic American comedy, You Can’t Take It With You.
Written in the mid-1930s, the play tells the story of the Sycamore family, an eccentric and loving family who live life to its fullest despite having the world tell them to live according to their dictates.
Rehearsals began with a cast of old faces, new faces and just plain faces.В Playing the head of the Sycamore Family, Grandpa Vanderhof, is community actor John Behn, previously seen as Caesar Rodney in the CEU production of 1776. Anne Moray from Olympus High School and Cisco Community College is playing Penelope Sycamore; Wilford Woodruff is playing her firework making husband, Paul.В Bethany Gilmore Woodruff of Aberdeen, Scotland is playing Alice Sycamore.В Her ballet-dancing sister Essie, is being played by Altamont High School graduate, Savannah Miller.В Her husband Ed is played by Jerid Clark.В Rheba and Donald who live with the Sycamores are played by high school senior Madison Alleman and Seth Burgess.
Mr. Kolenkov, Essie’s dancing teacher is played by Emery High School graduate Tyrell Clement. Alice’s fiancé Tony is played by Andrew Mahalik from Las Vegas and his parents are being played by Scott Westwood and D. J. Laughbon of South Sevier High School. Rounding out the large ensemble cast are, Scott Zaborski playing Mr. DePinna, William Gibsom playing IRS agent Mr. Henderson, Kimberly Hayes as the actress Gay Wellington and Carrie Huffaker as the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina.
Finally, three actors take on the role of “J” men; Timothy Swensen, Shawn Forsythe and Brandon Wheeler. These actors bring a strong talent and performance ethic to this show.
This is one of the most delightful plays of the American theatre. It is fast paced and features some interesting characters and some fireworks.
“At its heart it is a story about the importance of balancing life and work, and accepting the difference and eccentricities of others,” said USU Eastern’s Dr. Corey Ewan. “I saw this play first in 1976 as part of a theatre tour from the Promised Valley Playhouse and was privileged to play Paul in a production at the Old Lyric Theatre in Logan. I believe the timing for this play couldn’t be better considering the economic climate and the general sense of fear and unrest in the world and our community. It is a feel good play and really very charming and funny.”
Performance dates are September 29-30 and October 1, October 3, 4 and 6-8.В Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. at the Geary Theatre. Ticket prices for USU Eastern students is $1 with a current student activity card, without ID $5; faculty and staff $5; adults $10; high school and all other students $5, senior citizens $7.
This year we have added three more performances to our roster of plays in an effort to give everyone a better chance of seeing these plays. Rounding out Eastern Utah Theatre’s Season is Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet directed by Todd Olsen, See How They Run by Philip King, directed by our guest director Martin Kelly and finally The School for Scandal a restoration comedy by Richard Brinsley Sheridan directed by Ewan.
Ewan said, “This is a solid season of comedy, farce and tragedy and we hope to see you at the theatre.”