Theatre's Antigone 'Held' for Regional Festival

OBU Theatre's production of "Antigone" has been "held" by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VI committee for consideration for advancement to the 2010-11 Regional Festival.

"We are honored to have been held for consideration for the regional festival," said Laura Byland, associate professor and director of theatre at OBU. "We have been very blessed with a wonderful cast and staff for this production. This is such a wonderful opportunity for our students to be recognized by the regional committee for excellence in theatre. Whether we advance or not, this is an amazing achievement."

The Regional Committee will meet in December to deliberate and consider all the productions that have been produced by universities and colleges in the region. The committee generally chooses five or six productions to advance to the regional festival, which will be conducted in Amarillo, Texas, in February 2011.

"Recognition for work well-done is always gratifying, however, it is especially meaningful to us in light of the tremendous challenges presented by this classic play," said Dr. Joyce Spivey Aldridge, associate professor of theatre, who is directing the production. "I am extremely proud of the company for their dedication to the project and for their willingness to courageously create a world that is both radically different from and similar to the one in which we live."

OBU Theatre will continue its production of "Antigone," the final story in the classic Greek epic Oedipus Rex, Nov. 11 and Nov. 13-14. Tickets are now on sale for all performances, which are in Craig-Dorland Theatre in OBU's Shawnee Hall.

Antigone focuses on the moral and ethical battle waged between the young maiden and the willful king. The tale is rich in history and unique in production style, using combat, music and dance. This ancient play, based on the works of Sophocles, has inspired dialogue on vital contemporary topics such as the citizen versus the state, religious belief versus civil law, and the role of civil disobedience in society for centuries.

Performances will be Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 13-14 at 2:30 p.m. as part of OBU's Homecoming festivities. The production is most appreciated by audiences ages 12 and older. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students.

Tickets for OBU Theatre's Antigone may be purchased at the OBU Box Office, open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Sarkeys Telecommunication Center on campus, or by calling (405) 878-2347. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance; any available seats will be sold at the door.

Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center's founding chairman, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. Since its inception, KCACTF has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills and receive national recognition for excellence. More than 16 million theater-goers have attended approximately 10,000 festival productions nationwide.

Region VI includes colleges and universities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

For more information about the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, click here.