CTE Announces 2005-06 CWU Theater Season

September 16, 2005

Contact: Leslee Caul (509-963-1760/fax 509-963-1767/e-mail: caull@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Work has been underway since last spring and in just a few short weeks the Central Theatre Ensemble (CTE) at Central Washington University will launch its 2005-06 season of live theatre in Ellensburg. As always, a broad tapestry of thought-provoking plays await audiences, including an uproarious comedy, a soulful musical, a family classic, one of the Bard's funniest comedies and two original play festivals featuring some of the most creative (and award-winning) student playwrights in the region.

CTE begins the season with the award-winning comedy "The Foreigner," by Larry Shue. Charlie lands in a remote fishing lodge in Georgia with a gripping fear of making conversation with strangers. In an effort to help, his pal Froggy introduces the shy young chap as an exotic non-English speaking foreigner. The fun really begins as Charlie overhears more than he should including sinister plans and devastating revelations made with the thought that he can't understand a word that is being said. "The Foreigner" runs Oct. 27-30 and Nov. 3-5 in the Milo Smith Tower Theatre.

Next CTE takes a unique look at the American landscape as told by the men and woman who punch a time clock every day in "Working," a musical based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers. The play is adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, with songs by Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Schwartz, and James Taylor. The schoolteacher, the parking lot attendant, the waitress, the mill worker, the mason, the trucker, the fireman and the housewife are among the many characters who will surprise and inspire with a vivid portrait of the hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of "common" men and women who work to earn a living. "Working" runs Nov. 10-13 and Nov. 17-19 in McConnell Auditorium.

Fall quarter concludes with "SHORTS: An Evening of Original Plays," featuring 10-15 minute plays, written and directed by CWU students. These original works present far-reaching, often funny and sometimes disturbing views of modern American life. From poignant dramas and biting satire to laugh-out-loud comedy, this annual short one-act festival offers up an eclectic evening of thought-provoking entertainment. "SHORTS" runs Nov. 16-19 in the Milo Smith Tower Theatre.

As winter draws to a close, CTE presents the timeless classic "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." As much a piece of Americana as the great Mississippi, Mark Twain's classic story of Tom, Huck and friends adventuring through childhood on a rickety raft has captured the imaginations of generations. This 60-minute stage adaptation presents the story in its full glory from the whitewashed fence to the epic life and death battle in the cave, and is sure to delight young and old alike. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" runs from March 3-11 in McConnell Auditorium. Daytime matinees will also be available for local schools.

CTE "springs" into a classic comedy in May with one of William Shakespeare's most beloved and enjoyable comedies, "Much Ado About Nothing." In this classic piece, young lovers Hero and Claudio are one week from marriage and decide to pass the time conspiring to set a "lover's trap" for arrogant confirmed bachelor Benedick, and his favorite sparring partner, the sharp-tongued Beatrice. Meanwhile, the evil Don Jon conspires to break up the wedding by accusing Hero of infidelity. In the end, though, it all turns out to be "much ado about nothing." The production runs May 11-14 and 18-20 in the Milo Smith Tower Theatre.

A perennial favorite, the Dr. Betty Evans Original One-Act Festival, concludes the season with a new line-up of plays written and directed by CWU students. The festival, named in honor of the late CWU theatre arts professor Betty Evans, is the brainchild of theatre arts professor Wesley Van Tassel, who has fostered the playwriting program both in the classroom and on stage for nearly a decade as both a professor and producer.

Several plays produced at past festivals have gone on to win new-play competitions and have been produced at regional theatres and national conferences. Four plays will be shown each evening, so plan on attending twice to see all eight great plays. The festival runs May 31-June 3 in the Milo Smith Tower Theatre.

The CTE box office is open weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by phone with a VISA or MasterCard at (509) 963-1774. The box office is also open one hour prior to each performance at the performance venue.

For more information or to be added to the CTE mailing list, visit www.cwu.edu/~theatre.

Persons of disability may arrange for reasonable accommodation by calling (509) 963-1774 or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.