University Theatre presents a tale of forbidden love
Feb. 2, 2004
KALAMAZOO--"The House of Bernarda Alba," a tale of forbidden love opens Thursday for seven performances in York Arena Theatre at Western Michigan University.
Presented by University Theatre, Federico Garcia Lorca's 1936 drama will be staged at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 5-7 and 12-14, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8.
"The House of Bernarda Alba" explores the suppressed desires of an aging widow and her five daughters. In enforcing an eight-year period of mourning over her husband's death, Bernarda Alba tries to maintain her family's honor by imprisoning her daughters in their own home.
Set in a rural village in southern Spain, "The House of Bernarda Alba" follows the daughters and servants as they attempt to hide their true emotions from Bernarda. The eldest of the five sisters is engaged to marry the most handsome man in their village, but all of the sisters harbor feelings for him, as a possible escape from a maternal tyrant. When a secret tryst comes to light, the tension turns deadly.
"The House of Bernarda Alba" is directed by Department of Theatre alumna Tara Matkosky, whose other directing credits at WMU include "Bent" and "The Most Massive Woman Wins." The all-female cast includes senior Jessica Cerutti; juniors Kristie J. Kelley, Nylda Ria John-Mark, and Maria L. Shellenbarger; sophomores Shauna Bryn Barcewicz, Catherine Dildilian, Beth Lach, Melissa Dyan Pryor, Allison Shoemaker, Lindsay K. Weaver, and Christine Werny; and freshman Katie Lynn Dickinson.
An opening night reception sponsored by the University Theatre Guild will take place after the Feb. 5 performance, and a post-show discussion with the director and cast is scheduled for Feb. 12.
Seating for "The House of Bernarda Alba" is general
admission. Tickets for may be purchased between noon and 5 p.m.
weekdays by calling the University Theatre Ticket Office at (269)
387-6222. Admission for the general public is $10 and $6 for
students. The box offices at Miller Auditorium and the Epic Center
in downtown Kalamazoo also sell tickets to University Theatre
productions.
The 2003-04 University Theatre season is made possible through
a partnership with TIAA-CREF.
Media contact: Patrick Donnelly, 269 387-6222, patrick.donnelly@wmich.edu