Milligan College - Buffalo Yearbook (Elizabethton, TN)

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Children of a Lesser God Q ie]i Stage. Milligan College ' s theatre department undertook a seemingly insurmountable task this fall as it chose to perform the Tony-award winning play Children of a Lesser God. Children of a Lesser God on the surface was a play about the relationship between a deaf student and her speech teacher who falls in love with her. But the play really emphasized the importance of communication and real love. The cast members not only had to deal with the usual challenges of creating a role, but many of them also had to learn sign language to portray their roles. The first run of the show in October was so successful that extra seating was added to the theater and an extra weekend of performances was also added. Children of a Lesser God was critiqued by the American College Theatre Festival and was one of only six plays chosen from a field of over seventy entries in the Southeast to perform at the Regional Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina in February. The festival was sponsored by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and by the National Broadcasting Corporation. Randy Landry, Karin Gurley and Jonathan Chambers were also nominated for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Award Scholarship. Julie Pierce, Melissa Nelson and Rick Hessler assisted them in this competition. Landry also competed in the Kennedy Center National Acting Award Audition. Hessler participated in the National Critics Institute. The Milligan Students accomplished a nearly miraculous feat with their production of Children of a Lesser God and achieved widespread recognition and honor for their hard work and dedication. By Karin Gurley Children of a Lesser God Directed by Richard Major Cast: James Leeds Randy Landry Sarah Norman Karin Gurley Orin Dennis Jonathan Chambers Lydia Kristine Duncan Mrs. Norman Julie Pierce Mr. Franklin R.W. Hessler Edna Klein Amy Snyder The cast not only performs but they help build the set. Just ask R.W. Hessler. Theresa Brown, a stage crew member, is supervising the tool box. Celeste Olmstead and Pam McConnell help break down the set so the group can travel to Greensboro. Photo by James Rooks 22 Theatre

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Photo by James Rooks Melissa Nelson played the role of Queen Elizabeth. Mark Madden finds a Renaissance Christmas quite different from that in Virginia. Photo by James Rooks Photo by James Rooks The Court Jester, played by Jamie Smith, is a favor- ite character of many in the audience. The Chamber Singers created the atmosphere of a Christmas in Renaissance England. Photo by James Rooks Madrigal Dinners 21

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Sarah Norman (Karin Gurley) and James Leeds (Randy Landry) learn that communication is a vital part of love. ' £ Orin Dennis (Jonathan Chambers) is having a speech h-o therapy session with James Leeds (Randy Landry). Theatre