Heller Theater to stage winner of playwriting contest
By KAREN SHADE World Scene Writer
5/5/2005
Heller Theater will stage "Lester's Breakdown Suite," by Eric Appleton over the next two weeks.
Shows are scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and May 12-14.
Winner of Heller's 2004 National Playwriting Contest, the play follows the lives of three estranged sisters and the children of one of the sisters.
"It sort of follows this family in a nontraditional way," said director Devin Meadows. "It's not a straight-up drama, but there's humor in it, too."
The story centers on Lester, the son of one of the sisters.
"He's been told he's impaired all of his life, but maybe he isn't like everyone has thought," Meadows said.
The story reveals a family in discord attempting to restore their relationships.
Appleton, a lighting and set designer based in Chicago, will participate in audience discus sion sessions after the May 13 and 14 performances.
Appleton, whose "Iphigenia in Kingman" was produced by the International Theater of Chicago last year, said it's both exciting and scary to have his work produced and staged.
"There's always a fair amount of trepidation when the piece no longer lives solely within your own head," he said.
He had never won a playwriting competition before.
"I must admit I never really expected a play of mine to be performed in Tulsa, but then, Lester's a pretty Midwestern play and I hope it'll be a good fit."
The cast includes Whitson Hannah, Alli Tunnell, Nate Gavin, Sue Sinor, Marilyn Gates, David Gray, Ronda Grosso, Tony Manganaro and Sherry Zyskowski.
Shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.
Heller Theater is located at 5328 S. Wheeling Ave.
For more, call 746-5065.Back
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To contact the webmaster e-mail alb74066@aol.com or Heller Theatre at Parktheater@ci.tulsa.ok.us
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