Thursday, June 29, 2006
New Harmony Theatre presents "The Subject Was Roses"
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The New Harmony Theatre season continues with its second offering, “The Subject Was Roses,” a Pulitzer Prize and Tony-Award-winning family drama by Frank D. Gilroy. The play opens July 7 and runs through July 23 in New Harmony’s historic Murphy Auditorium. According to Scott LaFeber, artistic director, the top-notch actors he’s attracted for this production as well as a wonderful but rarely-produced script are reasons to get to the theatre in July. “The Subject Was Roses” premiered on Broadway in 1964 and ran for two years. Martin Sheen created the role of Timmy Cleary, a young man returning from service in World War II. Sheen reprised the role in the 1968 Academy Award-winning film of the same title. He won a Golden Globe Award for his performance. New Harmony Theatre veteran David Christopher Wells (“Sylvia,” “The Last Night of Ballyhoo”) plays Timmy in LaFeber’s upcoming production. Joan Shepard and Evan Thompson, a real-life married couple with many Broadway, film, and television credits between them, play Timmy’s parents, Nettie and John. The Clearys have high hopes for Timmy’s return. Nettie looks forward to spoiling her only child and to their rituals: making waffles, dancing together, visiting family. John hopes war will have turned Timmy into a man of whom he can be proud. Despite Nettie and John’s happiness at Timmy’s return, unresolved conflicts in their marriage simmer just beneath the surface of every exchange. When Timmy insists that John take credit for the roses that Timmy bought for Nettie, the family must face those conflicts head-on for the first time. LaFeber said, “I’m so proud of this production and the fine company we’ve assembled. In addition to the fact that Joan and Evan are married, David has worked with the both before, so the cast’s familiarity with each other as actors will beautifully inform the show.” The New Harmony Theatre’s production of “The Subject Was Roses” features settings by JR Bruce, costumes by Shan Jensen, lighting by Jon Harper, and Sound by Thomas “Tommy” Thompson. “The Subject Was Roses” runs July 7 – 23 at Murphy Auditorium. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. There is one Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. on July 22. Tickets for all performances at The New Harmony Theatre are on sale now. Prices are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $10 for anyone 25 or younger. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 1-877-NHT-SHOW or visit www.newharmonytheatre.com. The New Harmony Theatre is a professional Equity theatre produced by the University of Southern Indiana. All plays are performed at Murphy Auditorium at 419 Tavern Street in New Harmony. Box office hours are noon until show time on performance days; noon until 5 p.m. when there is no performance. The box office is closed on Tuesdays. |
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