October 1, 2008

The House of Blue Leaves. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Theatre presents John Guare's "The House of Blue Leaves," at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15-18 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, in the Alys Stephens Center's Sirote Theatre, 1200 10th Ave. S. The show is directed by Dennis McLernon. General admission tickets are $12 and $15; UAB and BACHE students $6; UAB employees/senior citizens $10. Call 205-975-2787. Visit UAB Theatre online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.

Hailed as "enchantingly zany" by the New York Times, "The House of Blue Leaves" follows Artie Shaughnessy, a middle-aged zoo attendant, as he tries to fulfill his dream of being a successful songwriter. Plans soon go awry as a host of eccentric characters and outrageous situations burst forth with hilarity. Winner of the 1971 Critics Award and the Obie Award as Best American Play, "The House of Blue Leaves" was recently revived on Broadway.

The play is a very dark comedy with tragic overtones, McLernon said. "Anything goes in this play. It is at times farcical, with physical humor, and at times excruciatingly painful. It's about unfulfilled dreams, unrequited love, human emotional need, the loss of hope, and the myth of celebrity on the average person, how celebrity is not what it seems," McLernon said.

The cast includes Trista Baker as the Little Nun; Taylor Campbell as Asylum Attendant; Sarah Gallion as Second Nun; Sarah Hereford as Bananas Shaughnessey; Jereme Lewis as Billy Einhorn; Amanda Murrah as Head Nun; Emily Parks as Bunny Flingus; Jonathon Prensner as Artie Shaughnessey; Jordan Reeves as MP; Whitney Rooks as Corrinna Stroller; and Matt Sanford as Ronnie Shaughnessey.