April 14, 1999

KU THEATRE TO CLOSE SEASON WITH 'THE GUT GIRLS'

"The Gut Girls," with a 17-member cast, is directed by Delores Ringer, associate professor of theatre and film, with scenic design by Christian Boy, Milwaukee, Wis., graduate student in scenography; lighting design by Dennis Christilles, assistant professor of theatre and film; and costume design by Tony Fuemmeler, Armstrong, Mo., senior.

"The Gut Girls" is set in Deptford, England, at the turn of the century. The title characters are five unmarried women working up to their ankles in blood in the slaughterhouses of London.

"As gut girls, they are considered by society to be the scum of the earth," Ringer said. "But they make more money than most women of the time and have freedom and autonomy to be themselves. Then this aristocrat decides she can make them 'ladies' with good manners and clean uniforms.

"When they lose the jobs in the gutting shed, their world changes from hellish to heavenly, but they find that hell is more fascinating," she said. "As their world becomes cleaner and more feminine, it also becomes more restrictive and oppressive."

In conjunction with the KU production, there will be a free panel discussion of "Working Women and Class Distinctions" at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Borders Books and Music in Lawrence.

Reserved seat tickets for "The Gut Girls" are now on sale in the KU box offices: Lied Center, 864-ARTS; Murphy Hall, 864-3982, SUA Office 864-3477. Tickets are $12 for the public, $6 for all students, and $11 for senior citizens. Both VISA and MasterCard are accepted for phone orders.

Members of the cast for the KU production include (listed by name, class, parents' names, home address, and role):

ALLEN COUNTY

From Iola

Jeremy C. Spencer, junior, son of Richard and Kathy Spencer, 503 Kansas Drive, Jim.

BARTON COUNTY

From Hoisington

Kari Wahlgren, senior, daughter of David and Lonnie Wahlgren, 261 W. Fourth, Kate.

CRAWFORD COUNTY

From Pittsburg

Jaxon Wells, sophomore, son of Kaye Quick, 505 Hobson Drive, Harry.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

From Lawrence

Jacole M. Kitchen, sophomore, daughter of James R. Kitchen, 2905 W. 28th, and Julia Kitchen, 1718 S. Christy Lane, Las Vegas, Ellen.

JOHNSON COUNTY

From Lenexa

Jeffrey Brown, junior, son of Bill Brown and Kris Wyman, 12405 W. 82nd Place, Arthur.

Stacey Jean Siegert, junior, daughter of Pam Siegert, 12011 W. 82nd Terrace, and Wayne Siegert, 9808 W. 60th, Meriam, Edna.

From Overland Park

Andrea J. Acosta, senior, daughter of Jess and Janet Acosta, 11110 W. 99th Place, Maggie.

Josh Meyer, junior, son of John and Gail Meyer, 10803 W. 156th Terrace, Mad Jacko.

From Stilwell

Becky Lake, freshman, daughter of Stephen and Joyce Lake, 16205 Riggs Road, Nora.

LABETTE COUNTY

From Parsons

Jaime S. Tucker, junior, daughter of Gertrude Tucker, 1630 Corning, Eady.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY

From Lansing

Ginger Bartkoski, junior, daughter of Terry and Janet Bartkoski, 605 Pine Ridge Court, Polly.

RENO COUNTY

From Hutchinson

Cristopher Corey, junior, son of John and Marcia Corey, 74 Willowbrook, Len.

RICE COUNTY

From Sterling

Kristen E. Bush, sophomore, daughter of Scott and Lynne Bush, 449 N. Broadway, Annie.

SEDGWICK COUNTY

From Wichita

John David Buxton, sophomore, son of Steve and Sally Buxton, 5711 Kenawee, Lord Edwin Tartaden.

SHAWNEE COUNTY

From Topeka

Alison B. Preston, senior, daughter of Larry and Wanda Preston, 2511 SW Meadow Lane, Priscilla Cuttle-Smythe.

MISSOURI

From Butler

Cristina Mundey, sophomore, daughter of Alan and Lucille Mundey, 703 Hillcrest, Emily.

NEBRASKA

From Omaha

Emily Griebel, junior, daughter of Dave and Nancy Griebel, 18035 Washington Plaza, Lady Helena.