CSC theatre ringing in 2010 schedule with 'Dead Man's Cell Phone'
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” a play described as a darkly comic journey, will be presented by the Chadron State College theatre program Feb. 11-14 at the Black Box Theatre of Memorial Hall.
The action of the play is set into motion when Jean, a simple but sweet woman who professes that she wants to “remember everything, even other people’s memories,” acquires a cell phone belonging to the deceased Gordon. Through Gordon’s cell phone contacts, Jean meets the man’s former shady associates and eccentric family members. This journey, both literal and emotional, follows Jean’s encounters with Gordon’s quirky family and their loss, clandestine business meetings and unexpected romance.
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” is directed by CSC senior Colt Neidhardt of Crawford with the set design by senior Clint Wright of Oshkosh and sound design by senior Tamsyn Dalton of Bayard.
“To be able to direct a full-length major production while still an undergraduate is an invaluable experience,” Neidhardt said. “To have the opportunity to work with my some of my closest friends and peers on this project has been a real gift. I believe wholeheartedly that we have created a show that is not to be missed.”
The edgy play was written by Sarah Ruhl in 2007 and premiered in New York City the following year.
“This story acts in many ways as social satire on our dependencies on technology. We have taken the ‘human’ out of our ‘human interactions’ and Ruhl’s script fights to explain the importance of saying ‘I love you’ in person as opposed to a text message,” Neidhardt said. “These social messages combined with Ruhl’s quirky look at the afterlife provide us with material that is darkly-comic, human and inhuman all at the same time.”
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” runs Thursday, Feb. 11 through Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee Sunday Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. For tickets call the CSC box office at 308-432-6360 2-6 p.m. Monday-Friday or e-mail boxoffice@csc.edu. Students involved with the production: Anna Avila, Littleton, Colo.; Travis Beguin, Rushville; John T. Bryan III, Denver; Katie Curtis, Custer, S.D.; Becci French, Alliance; Shalee Jones, Minatare; Pam Jungck-Wright, Torrington, Wyo.; Erin Neal, Crawford; Colt Neidhardt, Crawford; Amber Nightingale, Morrill; Amanda Pintore Omaha; Shannon Smay, Sidney.
Related Link: Dead Man's Cell Phone, Behind the Scenes
Category: Campus News