Press Release: Mary’s Wedding

From the Fillmore County Journal 

by News Team

Saturday, March 7th, 2015

LANESBORO, MINN. —The Commonweal Theatre Company proudly presents the capstone production of the 2014 Apprentice Company, Mary’s Wedding playing March 19 through March 29.

From Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte, Mary’s Wedding tells the story of a young couple named Charlie and Mary who are falling love. Their blossoming relationship, however, is tested when Charlie is called to defend his country at the onset of World War I. The couple promise to write each other every day, but when letters are not enough, they are able to transcend reality and come together again in Mary’s dream. The play asks what it can mean to truly love someone. Commonweal Resident Ensemble Member Megan K. Pence will direct. “We found this script to be very timely,” says Pence, “seeing as it is one of the centennial years of the First World War. It’s rare to find a piece that features a first-hand account of war and yet blends it so seamlessly with a love story that you almost forget that war is even a part of the backdrop. The play exists as a dreamscape, which gives us a lot of freedom to play around with conventions and we’re excited to bring our audiences on an imaginative journey where time and space coalesce as they experience Mary and Charlie’s relationship both backwards and forwards.” The current Commonweal Apprentice Company features Vincent Hannam and Anna Lee Murray, both of whom appeared in Arcadia last season.

The cast of Mary’s Wedding will comprise the duo, with Murray as not only the eponymous Mary Chalmers, but also as Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew (based on the real-life Canadian war hero). Hannam is cast as Mary’s lover and innocent soldier, Charlie Edwards. Ashley Willingham, a member of the 2015 Apprentice Class, leads the production team as stage manager with Commonweal company members Gary Danciu as sound designer and Thomas White providing lighting design. The production’s costumes and props are being designed by Hannam and Murray, respectively.

The Commonweal Theatre’s Apprentice Program is a ten-month commitment designed for recent college graduates or young professionals with commensurate experience who would benefit from a prolonged relationship with a small professional theatre company. Focused primarily on experiential learning through a traditional mentor/apprentice relationship, the program affords artistic opportunities, regular classroom instruction, and administrative responsibilities in the areas of Marketing, Development, and Production.

Funding for Commonweal Theatre’s programming is provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, a grant from the McKnight Foundation, and private funders.

All performances are at the Commonweal Theatre located at 208 Parkway Avenue North in downtown Lanesboro. Tickets are $20 with a student discount available upon request. To reserve tickets for the production call (800)657-7025 or emailtickets@commonwealtheatre.org.

SCHEDULE

Mary’s Wedding runs on the following dates and times:

Thursday, March 19—Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 26—Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 29 at 1:30 p.m.

See the original article here: http://fillmorecountyjournal.com/single.php?article_id=35251