Tough as Steel and Delicate as Magnolias

 BY DZHULETTA AVANESIAN

Generic Theater Company presents “Steel Magnolias”  Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 21-23 in Lisner Downstage. The show's all female cast is directed by senior Henry Morillo.

“Steel Magnolias” is about the lives of six women who live in the Natchitoches, La. area. The show’s classic title foreshadows the reality that the female characters can be both tough as steel and delicate as magnolias.

“I expect the audience to have a lot of fun, that's our main goal,” says actress Samantha Gordon, who plays Ouiser. While the cast promises both laughter and tears, “Overall you are going to come out happy and glad you went,” says actress Courtney Wade who plays Annelle.

The show is rare in the sense that the audience will see an all-female cast. There are not many opportunities to see such a thing in theater. 

“I wanted to do a show that had an all female cast because there are many females at GW who want to perform,” said director Henry Morillo. “Unfortunately in theatre it's traditionally hard to find good roles for women.”  

Beyond its female dominated cast, the show is memorable for its famous satirical lines and relatable plot. “The show touches so many topics that everyone has really dealt with, such as illness or losing a family member,” says stage manager Natalie Petruch.

The story also touches on many psychological themes and the audience is expected to experience a wide range of emotions while watching the show.  The story reminds the cast and crew of the importance of friendship and the basic everyday struggles we all face.

“The show is about women who are very powerful and confident of who they are,” says assistant stage manager Leah Cohen. “It’s an awesome message of women power.”

The show is set in a local 1980s Louisiana beauty salon and Generic did an amazing job emulating this. “It's a very homey atmosphere,” said assistant director David Huppert. “The set up is salon, six women and an audience that feels like they are right there with the women.”

The cast praised Morillo for his fun and engaging way of directing. From research into the time period to plenty of planning, he created a vision everyone could get on board with. “I trusted the production team and Henry,” said actress Kellianne King. “He really had a great vision.”

The show starts at 8:00 PM on Thursday and 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are five dollars and can be purchased with cash at the door.

Dead Man's Cell Phone Knocks The Audience Dead

By Will Beals 

GW’s Department of Theatre and Dance opened its MainStage season Thursday night with its production of Sarah Ruhl’s 2007 comedy-drama, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone.” 

GW junior, Lauren Winters stars in this play about how memorializing the dead and technology changes us as a society. Dead Man’s Cell Phone is the odyssey of a woman forced to confront her own assumptions about morality, redemption, and the need to connect in a technologically obsessed world.  The production also stars junior Meghan Bernstein, junior Andrew Flurer, senior Same Game, senior Hilary Kelly and senior Lily Sondik. Theater professor Elizabeth Kitsos-Kang directs the show.

The cast delivers a moving performance, inciting laughs, gasps and cheers from the audience.

The local Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company originally performed Dead Man’s Cell Phone in 2007. Since then, Ruhl’s dramatic comedy has been performed throughout the country.

Tickets are still available for the final performance of the production, scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 PM. General admission is 15 dollars, with a discounted student price of 10 dollars.

Ticket reservations are available online at theatredance.gwu.edu, by calling (202) 994-0995, or by visiting the box office prior to the performance. The box office is located next to the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, on the first floor of the Marvin Center and will open at 1:00 PM.

Following Dead Man’s Cell Phone, the Department of Theatre and Dance’s 2013-2014 season continues with five other productions including Twelfth Night (opening Oct. 31), Absurdities: An Evening of Ionesco (opening Feb. 20), The Cradle Will Rock (opening March 27), and two faculty, guest artist, and student choreographed DanceWorks (opening Nov. 14 and April 17).

Local Independent Theater Strives for Younger Audience (video)

West End cinema, on 23rd and M, shows independent films, shorts and documentaries. The local community has embraced the theater, but the ownership claims many GW students don't even know it's there. Recently, the theater has tried to draw in college students with special promotions and online advertising. To see a list of show times and special offers visit their website.

Created by Joseph Rabinowitz and Bridgett Lynn

Lack of Space for Theatre Groups

Problems are still plaguing student theater groups after officials prohibited many future performances at the Lisner Downstage.

According to reports, the noise produced by the shows allegedly interferes with performances in the main auditorium. Student run fundraising efforts will begin shortly in an effort to sound proof the Lisner downstage, but the costly project may be an obstacle, according to The Hatchet.

Earlier this week students came together to support the Pelham Hall theater slated for completion by 2010, as well as the remodeling of the Mitchell Theater, but questions over space are certain to continue until then.

The Mount Vernon Pelham Hall project concerns some who worry that its location away from the Foggy Bottom campus may affect attendance and revenue.

Meanwhile GW allegedly invested $5,000 into a sound system at the theater located in Mitchell Hall. The investment is part of a remodeling effort to improve the space and get the rock-opera “Tommy” underway within the upcoming weeks.

-Jesse Regis