PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
Contact: Christina Madsen, (501) 852-2659, christinam@uca.edu
Melissa Kordsmeier, (501) 450-5092; mkordsmeier@uca.edu
March 17, 2015
UCA THEATRE TO PRESENT “LUCKY STIFF”
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas theatre program will present the musical “Lucky Stiff” April 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. and April 11 at 2 p.m. in the Bridges/Larson Theatre in the Snow Fine Arts Center.
The play is by a Tony Award-winning writing team, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty.
“[‘Lucky Stiff’] has given me a taste of what it would be like to be a professional actor six days…[and]…30 hours a week in rehearsal,” said UCA sophomore Peyton Collier, a digital film major and theatre minor from Cabot who will play the role of Harry Witherspoon.
“I’ve loved this experience because it has felt like a job, it has felt like real theatre, and it has felt apart from school. I forgot about school because I’ve been so lost in rehearsing this production, becoming this character, and doing this performance.”
“Lucky Stiff” is a hilarious murder-mystery farce. The story revolves around an unassuming English shoe salesman who is forced to take the embalmed body of his recently murder uncle on a vacation to Monte Carlo. If he can successfully pass off his uncle as alive, Harry Witherspoon stands to inherit $6 million. If not, the money goes to the University Dog Home of Brooklyn.
“I thought I was just going to have to sit on stage, but there’s a lot more acting I have to do as the dead body,” said UCA junior Cody Douell of Hot Springs, a history and theatre double major. “I have to be on cue for all of the various things throughout the production. If I laugh once, it throws everything out.”
Arkansas Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Robert Hupp, artist in residence at UCA, will direct “Lucky Stiff.” Guest artist Andrew Bourgoin is the musical director, and guest artist Lisa Harper is the choreographer.
UCA Theatre students designed many production elements, including properties design by senior Sara Sharos of Bentonville, lighting design by senior Samantha Weldon of Cabot and stage management by freshman Logan Pruss of North Little Rock.
Tickets are $10 for the general public. The UCA community may present a current UCA ID to receive two free tickets. Seats for this production are limited. To reserve tickets, call (501) 450-3265 or visit UCA Ticket Central located in the Reynolds Performance Hall box office. More information is available online at www.uca.edu/theatre or by contacting UCA Theatre Business Manager Melissa Kordsmeier at mkordsmeier@uca.edu or (501) 450-5092.
The UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Communication, Mass Communication and Theatre, Music and Writing. The college’s primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit www.uca.edu/cfac or call (501) 450-3293.
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