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Show Iferfiliti Vol. 1 No. 5 OGDEN, UTAH July 14, 1967 zziV' :' W iJ - ' i j j ' family faces the tension ot dissention in scene from "The Subject Was e Weber State College Summer Theatre Department. The play will end Summer Theatre Musical Comedy Gomes To Stage Of Weber State Three actors, and a comical plot based around a bouquet of roses, are the main ingredients for Weber State College's second summer theatre presentation, "The Subject Was Roses". Recently released for local production, the play received a New York drama critic's award for "one of the freshest comedies of the year." Author of the play is Frank Gil-roy and Weber State's presentation of his work is the first local production in the western states. The three-act comedy is directed by Michael Sharp, WSC theatre arts professor, and is enacted by three community and college players. Jerry Wind, a Weber State senior theatre arts major, plays the part of a son, recently discharged from the Army and trying to make adjustments to civilian life. "':. . ) The role of his mother is played by Mrs. Malcolm (Luacine) Pingree and the role of his father Is played by Edward Bunnell, both veteran college and community actors. Roses become an important element in the play when the son sends his mother abouquet of them, but who allows the father to take credit for the gift. Everything is reasonablyserene and secure when the father, in a burst of anger, tells his wife that the idea of sending the roses was not his own. He tells her that the son had sent the roses and the ensuing outburst between the two parents nearly destroys an already shaky relationship. The incident sets off a series of complications which the son finally manages to resolve. "The playwright has built a play Roses," currently presented by July 15. which has been praised for its warmth and charm, wisdom and wit," Sharp said. "It is a refreshing and light comedy for the whole family," said T. Leonard Rowley, WSC theatre division chairman. The play opened Tuesday to a good-sized audience. Students, faculty members and several community leaders attended the performance in the Cellar Theatre. The theatre is air-conditioned for the Summer Theatre Festival. Tickets are still available for tonight's and Saturday's performance.The Fine Arts Center Box Office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and will be open at 7:30 p.m. both evenings. All seats cost $1.50. Curtain time is 8 p.m. College Schedules Full Calendar Of Summer Events Two summer theatre presentations, a summer music festival and preparations for the 1967 "Pioneer Days" Parade kept students and faculty at Weber State College "extra-busy" this week. Final performances of the "Subject was Roses," a comedy written by Frank Gilroy, will be held tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Cellar Theatre of the Fine Arts Center. The three-act comedy, directed by Michael Sharp, a new faculty member in the WSC theatre division, is the second in a series of the summer theatre program. "Billy the Kid," an old fashioned melodrama, has been presented by the theatre department at city and county recreation parks for the past 10 days. Melodrama Audiences will be given a final chance to hiss the villian and cheer the hero tonight and Saturday when the "Show Wagon" travels to Bonneville and West Ogden Park. Performances begin at 8 p.m. both nights. A final presentation will be on July 17 at Twenty-third Street Park. . "The Subject was Roses", which began Tuesday is the second pro-, duction, with "Finian's Rainbow," a musical comedy, scheduled for August. Sharp, a graduate of the University of Utah, said the summer theatre festival is an "enthusiastic and optomistic" schedule of - events. The new faculty member was cited at the best scene designer and the best actor while attending the University. New Director He has worked as a designer for the Salt Lake Playmakers, a professional group known for their performances inParkCity, and has directed "A Taste Of Honey" and "The American Dream." "Roses" is his first Weber State College production. Sharp said the play was written at a time when the brutal and the absurd were the popular theatre fare and consequently, "this gentile and perceptive comedy seemed to have a little chance for success." "The play did not pull a sold-out house until after its 136th performance, he said, "and after that it was virtually impossible to obtain tickets. The charm of the production lies in its quiet realism about family life, the director said, especially in the delightful human reactions between parents and son. Actors in the play are Jerry Wind, Mrs. Malcolm (Luacine) Pingree and Edward Bunnell, all veteran college and community players. Also adding to the list of summer activities is the sixth annual WSC Summer Music Festival, which opened Monday for some 250 music teachers and students from 10 western states. The festival is a yearly event sponsored by the WSC Music Department, with faculty members Lyneer C. Smith, Loren Crawford and Ron Wooden helping conduct the sessions. Two sessions are planned this year - the choral and orchestra session July 10 - 21 and the band session, August 7 - 18. And while the Theatre Department Is busy with a full schedule of summer presentations, other departments of Weber State are involved in other summer projects. One of the school's most elaborate and decorative activities during the summer months is the design and construction of the WSC studentbody float. WSC Float This year's float, designed by Robert A. Hunter, WSC executive vice president, is almost completed with plans remaining a top secret. Also assisting with the building of this year's entry to the Ogden's "Pioneer Days" Parade and the Brigham City "Peach Days Parade " are: Perry Perea, WSC president; Brent Wilson, financial vice president; . Dennis Heiner, legislative vice president and senators - at- large Tom Welch and Judy Willmore. Roger Wise, WSC activity vice president, is also guiding activities with his Union Building Activity Board members helping with construction work. "Weber State has taken the sweepstakes award for the past two years," Hunter said, "and we mean to do it again this year." Those who have seen, and worked, on the float say it is "gorgeous" and a "sure award winner." "We'll be up against a lot of stiff competition and we realize it," Hunter said. The "Pioneer Days" parade will be held July 24. Ray Minter, parade chairman, said more than 100 units will be entered including high school bands and drill teams, horse units and floats. Other activities of the 1967 "Pioneer Days" will include the sheriff's posee Saturday at the Ogden stadium, coronation of "Miss Rodeo Utah," July 22 and a six-night rodeo beginning July 18. Several WSC coeds have entered the "Miss Rodeo Utah" race including Carol Knuden, "Miss Rodeo Ogden." Miss Knudsen, 19, is a freshman at Weber State. She was graduated from Ben Lomond High School. Leonard T. Rowley |