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Show 'Dean' to play at Salt Lake theater The New Shakespeare Players will stage a production of the comedy-drama by Ed Graczyk, "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean," at Westminster College in Salt Lake City Ci-ty through Jan. 25. The show will play Thursday through Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Jay W. Lees Courage Theatre. "Dean" gathers the Disciples of James Dean together for their 20th reunion in McCarthy, Texas, in 1975. The plot centers around Mona, who was an extra in the movie, "Giant." She claims she bore the son of the legendary actor. The womens' reminiscences of that period are told in a series of rapid flashbacks until the arrival of a mysterious, glamorous woman shatters the protective bubbles they have created. "Dean" was first produced by Players Theatre of Columbus, Ohio, in September 1976. It later played Off -Broadway. The Broadway production pro-duction was directed by Robert Altman, who also directed the critically successful film. The script of the Salt Lake City production is a combination of the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. The New York Post described the show as "full of homespun humor . . . surefire comic gems." Fran Pruyn, who directs the Westminster College production, said she chose the show because it addresses a number of contemporary contem-porary themes, such as hero worship and self-image, and because of the very good character work it affords the eight women and one man who make up the cast. "These are good, modern and very complex characters," she said, "And I have been fortunate to cast the production with very good and very dedicated Salt Lake actors. 1 think it is the type of show that audiences au-diences will find easy to relate to. It is as funny and as poignant as modern life." The cast includes Jayne Luke as Mona, Jaye Maynard as Sissy, Barbara Bar-bara Smith as Joanne and Bonnie Copeland as Juanita. Other cast members are Betsy Nagel as Mona (then), Nancy Jones as Sissy (then), Barb Gandy as Edna Louise, Kate Norton-Whetman as Stella Mae and Jon Shuman as Joe. Lighting design is by Megan Miles, costumes are by Sue Crotts, set concept is by Mark Read, set design and execution is by Cory Dangerfield and sound design is by Charlene Orchard. Tickets are $6, general admission $4, students. For more information, call 485-0328. |
