'Adult Evening' aptly named

That’s what Roger Mays, Chadron State College director of theatre, says about the student production of “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein,” set to take the stage under his direction this weekend.

The show will run Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 9-11, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre in Memorial Hall.

Silverstein, who died in 1999, is best known as the author and illustrator of children’s books, such as “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “The Giving Tree.” This weekend's play is a stark contrast to those efforts, with a heavy dose of profanity and adult themes. It has been described as a tribute to Silverstein’s “gleeful and sometimes ghoulish” humor. The play is presented as a series of 10 mini comedies, each featuring two to five student-actors.

Commentary from the actors, who say this production is unlike any other they've been a part of, may be viewed at "Behind the Scenes," a feature of the CSC theatre program's website.

Silverstein, who began his career in the arts as a cartoonist for "Stars and Stripes" magazine is known as a man of many talents. In addition to his work as an author and screenwriter, he has expressed his artistic aptitude as a poet, cartoonist, dramatist, songwriter and satirist.

For tickets for "An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein," people may contact the CSC Box Office at 308-432-6360 from 2-6 p.m. each weekday, or by email at boxoffice@csc.edu.