A Streetcar Named Desire Stopping at MC
MONMOUTH,
Ill. — Monmouth College will open its 2006-2007 theater season with Tennessee
Williams’ searing masterpiece, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Performances are Oct.
26 through 28 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at the college’s Wells
Theater.
Tickets are $4 for MC students, faculty and staff; $5 for other students and
senior citizens and $6 for adults. They may be reserved by contacting Doug
Rankin at 309-457-2104 or by e-mailing
theater@monm.edu.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” premiered in New York in 1946. The play cemented
William's reputation as one of the greatest American playwrights, winning him a
New York's Critics Circle Award and a Pulitzer Prize. Among the play's greatest
achievements is the depiction of the psychology of working class characters on
their own terms, without romanticizing them.
Genteel and
pretentious, Blanche DuBois, having lost her teaching job and the family
plantation home, comes to stay in New Orleans with her sister Stella, who is
married to brutish Stanley Kowalski. Blanche, full of airs and graces, is
looking for a husband but Kowalski exposes her life as a small town prostitute
and seducer of young boys to her sole suitor, Mitch. In a final power struggle
over the loyalty of his wife, Kowalski rapes Blanche and she is taken away to an
asylum. The play has had many productions and the Elia Kazan 1951 film, which
starred Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando, is an American classic.
Blanche is portrayed by freshman Renee Emery from Girard, IL. Playing the role
of Stanley Kowalski is senior Gregory Malak of Orland Park, IL. Playing
Stanley’s wife, Stella is another newcomer, Kayt Griffith from Woodstock, IL.
Sophomore John Wells of Freeport, IL, portrays Blanche’s love interest Mitch,
the part originally played by Karl Malden. Playing the upstairs neighbors are
senior Chris Walljasper of Donnellson, IA and junior Ellen Ehrenhart from
Springfield, IL.
Completing the cast are sophomore Lindsay Brogan (Elk Grove Village, IL), freshman Mike Diamond (Orland Park, IL), freshman Adam Overberg (Eldridge, IA) , senior Bruce Needham (Monmouth), freshman James Shepard (Chicago), senior Michael Heaton (Canton, IL), freshman Paul Bridges (Bettendorf, IA), and freshman Blake Lyon (Mount Pleasant, IA).
Choreographing the production (and acting) are freshman Aubreigh Moon (Galena, IL) and freshman Kate Drost (Naperville, IL). Sophomore Danellia Connell (Monmouth) serves as an assistant to the director as well as acting and freshman Louise Murphy (Rosemount Park, Ireland) serves as the other assistant to the director. Stage managing is freshman Stacy Field (Chicago).
Directing and designing the production is Doug Rankin, director of theatre at
Monmouth College. Costume design is by sophomore Bonnie Zanger (Quincy, IL).
“A Streetcar Named Desire” is a very graphic play containing both violence and adult situations. It is intended for mature audiences only and is not for those who may be easily offended.