November 14, 2014

Theater to present ‘Clybourne Park’

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Race and real estate get a time-warp double exposure at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s McLeod Theater next week as the Department of Theater presents the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play “Clybourne Park.” 

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 20-22, and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 23. A pre-show lecture on Nov. 23 will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts Dean’s Conference Room, which is adjacent to the theater. The lecture is free and open to the public. 

The play, by Bruce Norris, was inspired by Lorraine Hansberry’s play, “A Raisin in the Sun,” and is a feisty look at race relations and real estate in a changing America. 

“Clybourne Park” opens in 1959, in a white neighborhood that is up in arms about the sale of a house to a black family. In 2009, the situation is reversed when a young white couple buys the house with gentrification in mind, and finds their plans for renovation are challenged by the neighborhood association led by a young black couple. 

Seven actors play the characters in each of the acts, which include the homeowners and members of the neighborhood, including community advocates and a local pastor.  These characters are played by Dan Heise, Kristin Doty, Jasmine Wiley, Adrian Rochelle, Chris Ceradsky, Katelin Rebekah Coursey and Hayden Schubert. 

The play is directed by Department of Theater faculty member, Segun Ojewuyi. He is the head of the directing program and has directed past SIU productions that include “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Home” and “Macbeth.” 

The production has sets designed by Department of Theater faculty member Cassandra King. Costumes are designed by Lauren Josef with lighting by Anthony Patti. Mike Maxwell creates the sound design. 

Tickets are $16 for adults and $6 for students and are available in person, Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., at the McLeod Theater or SIU Arena box offices; by phone at 618/453-6000, online at the SIU Ticket Office.  Tickets are also available at the theater, one hour before each performance.