Thursday, October 16, 2008
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-Members of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore s Drama Society are currently rehearsing for their fall theatre production “Andre’s Mother” combined with a scene adapted from “The Women of Brewster Place.” The play will be performed October 30-November 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ella Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.
“Andre’s Mother,” an award-winning television film by Terrence McNally, originally aired on American Playhouse by PBS stations in 1990. The film explores a mother s inability to come to terms with the AIDS death of her son, Andre, and the anger she feels toward his partner and their lifestyle. McNally won an Emmy for outstanding writing in a miniseries or special and the National Board of Review named it the Outstanding Television Movie of the Year.
“The Women of Brewster Place” was a novel by Gloria Naylor adapted into the 1990 series by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. The musical premiered at the Alliance Theatre in Washington, D.C., a year ago. Set in an urban area, it examines the relationships of the residents including homosexuality.
To explore the shared theme of the interaction between gay and straight communities, a roundtable discussion follows the first performance.
Tickets will be available at the door. Prices are $5 for the general public, $3 for senior citizens and $2 for UMES students. For more information, call 410-651-6575.
###
Gail C.S. Stephens, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580, gcstephens@umes.edu.
Contact: Dr. Della Dameron-Johnson, director of drama and assistant professor of English and modern languages, 410-651-6575, ddjohnson@umes.edu.
