IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/29/06 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SILVER CITY- The Western New Mexico University Expressive Arts
Department premiere of “The Importance of Being Earnest” is this
Friday. The play, directed by Jack Ellis, will be performed by WNMU
students as well as members of the community.
The play will be performed in the Fine Arts Center Theatre, Friday,
March 31, and Saturday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. A matinee performance
will be held on Sunday, April 2, at 2:30 p.m. The last performances
will be Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m.
There is no admission to the play, however donations will be accepted
to benefit the Herb McGrath Fund which offers scholarships to WNMU
students. A portion of the proceeds from the opening night performance
will be donated to AmeriCorps and the WNMU Beekeepers Film Society.
Non-perishable pet food will also be accepted and donated to the Silver
City animal shelter.
“The Importance of Being Earnest,” Oscar Wilde's most successful play,
became an instant hit when it opened in London, England, in February,
1895, running for 86 performances. Considered a comic masterpiece this
play keeps the audience wanting more. The play, set in London, is about
a man named Jack Worthing, a pillar of the
community and landowner, who for years pretends to have an
irresponsible black-sheep brother named Ernest who leads a scandalous
life in pursuit of pleasure and is always getting into trouble of a
sort that requires Jack to rush off to his assistance. In fact, Ernest
is merely Jack’s alibi, a phantom that allows him to disappear
for days at a time and do as he likes. No one but Jack knows that he
himself is Ernest.
Work on the play began in November when Ellis first decided that this
was the
play he wanted to perform for the spring production. The cast has been
rehearsing since January, Monday through Thursday for about three hours
each night.
“Our actors and actresses have all been working very hard. This is one
if the greatest comedies of all time and I hope everybody will come
out, see it and enjoy the laughs.”
For more information please contact the Jack Ellis at 538-6502 or the
Expressive Arts Department at 538-6614.
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WNMU News!