Theater student will perform the next School of Theatre Stage II show, After Ashley by Gina Gionfriddo.
Dawson MacLeod, acting senior, is directing the play. The cast has been rehearsing for three weeks.
“The show is about a child dealing with the ramifications of his mother’s assault and death in the public eye,” MacLeod said.
MacLeod said the show features archetypal characters for the audience to relate to.
“This is a show whose entire intention is to spark conversation,” MacLeod said. “There is no right, there is no wrong, there are just opinions.”
Abigail Munday, acting sophomore, plays “Julie” in the show.
“My experience working with director Dawson MacLeod and the rest of the amazing cast has been fantastic,” Munday said. “This is my first Stage II, and I was naturally nervous going in, but from day one, I felt so comfortable working with this company.”
Munday said the show reveals truth in how the media handles tragedy.
“The show exposes what it is actually like for surviving family members of a murder victim in a case that becomes sensationalized by the media,” she said. “The media has a profound effect on our culture and society today, and it is important to remember that behind celebrity, there are always real people, human beings that, in this case, are dealing with the aftermath of a tragic loss while being thrown into the spotlight.”
Jordan Kilgore, acting senior, plays “Alden” in the show.
“I think it’s a show about insensitivity, especially in the media, and how in our highly sensationalized society, good intentions can sometimes turn into selfishness,” he said.
After Ashley performs at 8 p.m. Nov. 8-10 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Black Box Theater in Wanda L. Bass Music Center. Tickets will be $5 and can be purchased in advance.
“The cast is amazing, the tech is amazing. Come see the show,” MacLeod said.
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