PRESS RELEASE
University of Central Arkansas
January 26, 2015
Contact: Christina Madsen, at christinam@uca.edu or (501) 852-2659
Melissa Kordsmeier, Theatre Business Manager, at mkordsmeier@uca.edu or (501) 450-5092
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UCA THEATRE TO PRESENT DOUBT: A PARABLE
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Theatre will present Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley on Feb. 12, 13, 19 and 20, at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center.
“Doubt gives our students a chance to work on a 2005 Pulitzer Prize- and Tony- winning script,” said Chris Fritzges, assistant professor of theatre and director of the play. “It takes place during the civil rights movement, but many of the issues are relevant to issues we are still facing today.”
Set during the civil rights era in 1964 at a Catholic school in the Bronx, Doubt: A Parable focuses on the school’s principal, Sister Aloysius, a nun who values a stern hand over progressive education. When the priest, Father Flynn, is suspected of inappropriate behavior with the school’s first black student, Sister Aloysius begins a crusade to rid the church of him—jeopardizing her own career as well as his. As the play unfolds, ideas of compassion, innocence, tolerance and certainty are tested, forcing the question the playwright himself posed: “What is lost and what is gained when the world changes?”
Katherine Renfro, a sophomore from Bentonville, plays Sister Aloysius.
“I put myself in Sister Aloysius’s shoes and have thought in detail about the relationships she has with the other characters,” Renfro said, elaborating on the importance of character analysis in her role. “These techniques are beneficial in my academic and everyday life because I am now able step back from stressful situations and connect with others on a different level.”
UCA Theatre students designed many elements of this production. Set design is by junior Emily Ray from Redfield; costume design is by senior Hannah Moulder from Bentonville; lighting design is by senior Samantha Weldon from Cabot; and stage management is by sophomore Javan Massey Conway.
Tickets are $10 each for the general public. The UCA community may receive two free tickets when they present a current UCA ID. Seats for this production are limited. Reservations can be made by calling (501) 450-3265 or by visiting UCA Ticket Central located in the Reynolds Performance Hall box office.
More information is available online at www.uca.edu/theatre or by contacting Melissa Kordsmeier, UCA Theatre Business Manager at mkordsmeier@uca.edu or (501) 450-5092.
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