KU News Release

Oct. 13, 2006
Contact: Charla Jenkins, University Theatre, (785) 864-2684.

KU students star in Thornton Wilder play about the history of humankind

LAWRENCE — The Department of Theatre and Film and University Theatre at the University of Kansas and INTRUST Bank are staging the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “The Skin of Our Teeth” by Thornton Wilder. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28 and Nov. 2, 3 and 4, and at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.

Karen Paisley, founder and artistic director of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre in Kansas City, Mo., is guest director for the production. Scenic designer is Mark Reaney, professor of theatre and film and artistic director of the University Theatre. Lighting designer is Tim Boeshaar, Mission Hills senior, and costume designer is Madison Spencer, Leawood master’s degree student in scenography.

Wilder completed “The Skin of Our Teeth,” his sixth and most ambitious play, in January 1942, and it opened on Broadway in November of that year, directed by Elia Kazan. Audiences and critics applauded the unconventional drama about the history of humankind. Most reviewers agreed the playwright had produced a work that would revitalize American theater.

Disrupting traditional notions of linear time, the play tells the story of a 20th century American family and recounts such epochal events as the onset of the Ice Age, the start of Great Flood and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Ending exactly as it began, the play illustrates the cyclical nature of existence, celebrating humanity’s resilience, inventiveness and will to survive. Although the play offers an age-old message, it does so in a nontraditional form, rejecting the conventions of naturalistic drama. Combining modern theatrical experiments and timeless human themes, “The Skin of Our Teeth” presents in serious and comic ways that mankind has always been on the edge of catastrophe, and worse, probably always will be because of natural disasters and the human race’s inability to learn from its past mistakes.

Paisley, former director of education and literary associate at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, is a veteran professional director, performer, writer, award-winning educator and arts advocate who enjoys working on established masterworks and creating original work that explores language, movement and symbol systems.

A pre-performance preview and discussion about Wilder’s play will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre. Tickets for the show are required to enter the theatre for the preview.

Reserved seat tickets for the production are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; and SUA box office, 864-7469. Tickets are $16 for the public, $10 for students and $15 for senior citizens and KU faculty and staff. VISA and Mastercard are accepted for phone and online orders.

KU students in cast and production roles for “The Skin of Our Teeth” are listed below by name, level in school and major, parents’ names (if available), high school and role.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
David Beals, junior theatre major, son of Nancy Jorn and Stuart Beals; Lawrence High School; Mr. Tremayne, Usher and Beggar.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood
Madison Spencer, master’s degree student in scenography; Shawnee Mission West High School; costume design.

From Lenexa
Joe Carey, junior theatre major, son of Jon and Beverly Carey; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; Fitzpatrick.

Brandon Ford, senior theatre major, son of Victor and Shelly Walker; Olathe East High School; Moses and Chair Pusher.

Val Smith, junior French and art history major, daughter of Tom and Vicki Smith; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; Gladys.

From Mission Hills
Tim Boeshaar, senior in theatre design, son of Richard and Emily Boeshaar; The Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, Mo.; lighting design.

From Olathe
Cali Gilman, junior theatre major, daughter of Barb Signor; Olathe South High School; Mammoth, Ivy and Woman.

From Overland Park
Jordy Altman, junior theatre major, son of Ron and Julie Altman; Blue Valley Northwest High School; Dinosaur and Convener.

Julie Bayliff, sophomore theatre and history education major, daughter of Cheryl Bayliff; Shawnee Mission West High School; Muse and Showgirl.

Brian Ervin, junior theatre and film and psychology major, son of Daniel and Deborah Ervin; St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Telegraph Boy, Beggar and Convener.

Christopher McGillivray, freshman theatre and film major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul McGillivray; Blue Valley High School; Defeated Candidate, Announcer and Beggar.

From Stilwell
Matthew Crooks, sophomore theatre and film and English major, son of Mike Crooks and Nancy Wunderlich; Blue Valley High School; Henry.

LABETTE COUNTY
From Parsons
Lavinia Roberts, junior theatre and painting major, daughter of Mary and Richard Roberts; Parsons High School; Mrs. Antrobus.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth
Virginia Heinen, freshman physiology major, daughter of William and Suzanne Heinen; Leavenworth High School; Muse and Showgirl.

RICE COUNTY
From Little River
Lance Hill, senior theatre and film major, son of Joni Brown; Central Christian High School, Hutchinson; Fred Bailey and Usher.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Stephen A. Ferrell, senior theatre major, son of Al Ferrell; Perry-Lecompton High School; Homer and Man in Wheelchair.

COLORADO
From Littleton
Kacie L. Dienstbach, senior theatre and film major, daughter of Eric and Donna Dienstbach; Heritage High School; Sabina.

MAINE
From Falmouth
Carter Royce Waite, senior theatre and film major, son of DeDe Waite; Falmouth High School; Mr. Antrobus.

MISSOURI
From Chesterfield
Ryan Klamen, sophomore theatre major, son of Kelly and Suzy Klamen; Marquette High School; Doctor Einstein and Assistant Broadcast Officer.

TEXAS
From Kingwood
Elizabeth Elliott, freshman theatre and film major, daughter of Paul and Shannon Elliott; Kingwood High School; Muse, Hester and Bingo Caller.

From Plano
Ben Cook, junior theatre major, son of Richard and Carol Cook; Plano Senior High School; Broadcast Official, Beggar and Announcer.

From San Antonio
DeAndrea Herron, senior theatre major, daughter of Beatrice Herron; James Madison High School, Dallas, Texas; Fortune Teller.

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