University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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On Stage T HE FALL SEASON of the University Theatre opened on the beautiful black and white raked stage repre¬ senting Big Daddy’s Mississippi plantation in Tennessee Williams’ classic play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” It was the second time the UA has produced the play made famous by the 1956 movie starring Elizabeth Taylor. The 1993 production was directed by associate profes¬ sor of drama, Patricia Romanov, who said that the play is as important today as it was forty years ago. “It’s full of family stuff: sib¬ ling rivalry, greed over inherit¬ ance, alcoholism and disease,” she said. The play is about the decay of two marriages: that of Big Mama and Big Daddy, a southern plan¬ tation owner, and that of their son Brick and his wife Maggie. Both marriages are dying because of deceit and jealousy. Williams’ play focuses on these relationships and the rela¬ tionship between Big Daddy and Brick, who never lived up to his father’s expectations. “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ pre¬ sented acting opportunities for women to portray chara cters that were before their time, if not revo¬ lutionary. Daphne Hamilton, who played the title role of Maggie the cat, called the experience “emotion- a lly gratifying.” “Maggie embodies everything a woman goes through,” Hamilton said. “She has to fight PH0T0 for love and compassion. She is living in the 50s before it was accepted for a woman to be strong.” The second play of the season moved from the tradi¬ tional theatrical atmosphere of the Fine Arts Center, to the more intimate setting of Studio 404 on the fourth floor of Kimpel Hall. Dexter Roger Dixon, assistant professor of drama, di¬ rected the production of “Bum This,” which sold out for almost every performance. “Burn This” was written by Lanford Wilson in 1986, and was the most contemporary play in the fall season. The play chronicled the lives of friends and family a fter the tragic death of a young male dancer. “Burn This” explored themes of isolation, metamorphosis, homosexu¬ ality and uncontrollable passion. The play had a small cast with Kenn Johnson and Sarah Colonna in the male and female lead. The passionate performances and the frequent use of graphic language in “Burn This” left an unforgettable mark on audience members, some of whom were disturbed enough to walk out during the middle of the shows. The third production of the season returned to the realm of classic American drama when Amy Herzberg, assistant profes¬ sor of drama, directed the popu¬ lar Broadway musical, “Guys and Dolls.” This play was adapted from the short stories of American writer, Damon Runyon. The musical is set in the prohibition years of 1920s New York. The principal characters include the guys, young gamblers always looking for a crap game, the dolls, young dancers who want to marry the guys and the young mission¬ aries who want to save their souls. The musical included such famous show tunes as “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck be a Lady” and “If I were a Bell.” Taking the leads in the UA production were Frankie Hatcher as Miss Sarah and Rob Sutton as Sky Masterson, an unlikely couple drawn together by destiny. Also star¬ ring as the show’s other leading couple were Justin Fletcher as Nathan Detroit and Lara Jo Hightower as Miss Adalaide, who finally head to the alter after fifteen years of engagement. by Susannah Jarrell The fall production of “Bum This” sold out almost every one of its performances in Studio 404. The controversial play starred Sarah Colonna as Anna. Jason Brown played her jealous boyfriend. ♦ University Theatre fall season packs the house Fall Plays ♦ 15

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Maggie the Cat Playing the title role in the Tennessee Williams classic “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, ” Daphne Hamilton lit up the stage with her portrayal of a woman fighting for love. Hamilton said that playing Maggie was “emotionally gratifying. ♦ University Theatre photo Miss Adalaide Singing the woes of a middle-aged maiden, Lara Jo Hightower describes the sufferings of her character Miss Adalaide in the musical “Guys and Dolls. ” After waiting years to be married to Nathan Detroit, Miss Adalaide had grown weary of chasing her dream. ♦ University Theatre photo Kissing Mama Opening the season with a bang, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ examined the lives of a dysfunctional family in the Old South. As Big Mama, Elise Ashlock pampers her son Brick, played by J.K. Symancyk ♦ University Theatre photo Hanging On Still waiting for her wedding day. Miss Adalaide (Lara Jo Hightower) asks her fiancee Nathan (Justin Fletcher) for a commitment. “Guys and Dolls n followed the struggles of two couples in the days of prohibi¬ tion. ♦ University Theatre photo 14 ♦ Academics

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Whether in Barnhill, the ballroom or the WAC, superstars, lecturers, comedians and young upstarts keep the campus entertained and educated. From heated debates in the Union ballroom to rip-roarin’ country concerts in Barnhill Arena, stars and notables from around the globe kept students entertained and informed throughout the fall semester. Kicking off the season’s lecture series, University Programs brought Morton Downey, Jr. and Dave Pallone to campus in September for “Gay Rights in America: The Great Debate.” Downey, best known for his radio and television talk shows, and Pallone, a gay man who was a professional umpire for 18 years, agreed that homosexuals should have the same rights as everyone else, but argued over the view of homosexual¬ ity as a “lifestyle.” “I don’t agree with the gay lifestyle,” Downey said. “But (homosexu- why me als) should be able to live with it in the realm of their own bed- blazing laughter As part of the Celebrity Showcase Committee’s Bust-A-Gut Comedy Series, Tommy Blaze performs in the Union. The comedy series was a popular event with many students who enjoyed the hilarious break from schoolwork that the series provided. ♦ Diaz photo rooms. “This is my life,” Pallone responded. “This is the way God put me on this Earth. This is not a lifestyle. This is not a choice I made.” In October, the year’s concert series began with a bang as country superstars Clint Black and Wynonna rolled into town on their “Black Wy Tour.” Wynonna opened the show in Barnhill Arena, playing such hits as “Tell Me Why,” “Only Love” and “No One Else On Earth.” She also performed several songs from her days as half of the dynamic country duo, The Following by matt helmer Wynonna’s departure from the stage, the man she said was “like the brother I never wanted” ap¬ peared dressed entirely in black. Opening his act with a swinging rendition of “Too Much Rock in This Country,” Clint Black kept the audience screaming while he sang and played the guitar. Black plowed through a string of continued on page 18 16 ♦ Student Life