“You Can’t Take it With You” Hits the OBU Stage Nov. 3

October 25, 2016

OBU Theatre is proud to present Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s, “You Can’t Take it With You,” opening Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Performances will take place at Craig-Dorland Theatre inside Shawnee Hall on Oklahoma Baptist University’s campus in Shawnee.

The production will continue through Nov. 13, with evening performances Nov. 3, 4, 5, 10 and 12, at 7:30 p.m. Matinees will take place Nov. 5, 6 and 13, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $11 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased online at www.okbu.edu/theatre or by calling (405) 585-4350.

In this madcap classic comedy, the Sycamore family seems unstable. One member of the family is making fireworks in the basement, another has a printing press in the parlor, while others pursue dancing, painting and playing xylophone in the living room. But their routine is disrupted when daughter Alice brings her fiancé and his high society family to dinner. The audience is in for a treat as they experience the two highly diverse families as they try to get along.

Matthew Caron, assistant professor of theatre at OBU, will direct the play. Olivia Seamans is the assistant director, Grace Wohlschlegel is the stage manager, and Scott Roberts is the assistant stage manager.

“We all have family,” Caron said. “I think we can all identify, at least to some degree, about being embarrassed by our family—that awkward thing dad said the one time you brought home your boyfriend or girlfriend; that goofy uncle who still thinks you’re a child no matter how old you are; the crazy aunt that demands a sloppy kiss whenever you see her… We all have weird families, and yet, we love them still.”

Caron reflected on directing such a class stage comedy, along with telling its powerful story. “Since its premier in the 1930s, this show has been part of the American theatre repertoire, receiving its most recent Broadway revival in 2014 starring James Earl Jones as Martin Vanderhof. In addition to it being popular fare in high school and collegiate theatre programs, it has also been adapted to both film and television. Its popularity speaks to an underlying universality of theme that is summarized in the play’s ubiquitous title: ‘You Can’t Take It With You.’ No matter how much emphasis we place on the things of this world—our money, possessions, social accomplishments—all of it fades in time.  In the end, it’s the happiness we’ve had and the meaningful relationships we’ve made, that matter.”

Matthew Martin, senior sociology major, from Irving, Texas, will portray “Grandpa” Martin Vanderhof, and junior theatre major, Elizabeth Grimes, from Midwest City, Oklahoma, will star as Penelope Sycamore. Chase Hendrickson, sophomore theatre major, from McKinney, Texas, and Brenna Bergeron, junior theatre major, from Wichita, Kansas, will perform as Paul and Alice Sycamore. Caleb Schantz, junior theatre major, from Yukon, Oklahoma, takes on the role of Tony Kirby; Kymber Sage, junior theatre major from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, takes on the role of Essie Carmichael; and Adam McCollough, sophomore theatre major from Cleveland, Oklahoma, takes on the role of Ed Carmichael. The production features a large cast, including many other OBU students.

“You Can’t Take it With You” is the first show to be featured in OBU Theatre’s 2016-17 “A Season For All.” Future performances include the One Act Play festival in February and the compelling drama “Eleemosynary” in April.

Season tickets may be purchased for $30 for adults and $12 for students at the OBU box office located in Sarkeys Telecommunication Center.