W;T Marks Opening of Theatre Season Aug. 28

August 25, 2003

Oklahoma Baptist University's production of Margaret Edson's first play, W;T, opens at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 28, in Craig-Dorland Theatre.

W;T presents Vivian Bearing (OBU nursing major Twila Johnson), a renowned professor of English who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. A scholar of John Donne's metaphysical sonnets, Vivian comes to reassess her life and work; moving from an aggressively probing and intensely rational style to a profundity and humor that is transforming both for her and the audience.

The play continues at 7:30 p.m. nightly Aug. 28-29 and Sept. 4-5. A 2:30 p.m. matinee will wrap up the production on Sept. 7. For ticket information, call 878-2347.

The cast also includes OBU graduate Joshua Gibson as Jason Posner; Christy Hall as Susie Monahan; Dr. John Simons, OBU associate professor of church music, as Dr. Kelekian, and Dr. Ramona Farthing, OBU professor of French, as E.M. Ashford. Elise Tavery, Breeman Ainsworth and Lee Matthews play lab technicians, students and residents.

The play is directed by Laura Byland, OBU director of theatre.

A panel discussion follows the Aug. 28 and Sept. 4 productions.

W;T burst on the scene in 1999, claiming the Pulitzer Prize for drama, the 1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, and the 1999 Drama Critic's Circle Award for Best Play, among other awards.

The New York Times hailed the play as "The kind of theatrical experience of which legends are made."