UA Theatre’s ‘Playboy’ Brings Irish Spirit to Life

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Rural Ireland comes alive when The University of Alabama’s department of theatre and dance presents J.M. Synge’s “The Playboy of the Western World” Tuesday, Feb. 26—Sunday, March 2, at the Gallaway Theatre in Rowand-Johnson Hall on UA’s campus.

In “The Playboy of the Western World,” Christy Mahon, a stranger in town, arrives at Flaherty’s Public House and boasts that he has killed his father and fled his former life. For the locals, this story rings of excitement and adventure and enlivens their otherwise dull and dreary world. But is Christy telling the truth? Director Rory Ledbetter plans to bring out the underlying exuberance in this passionate portrayal of Synge’s masterpiece.

“There’ll be singing, laughter, romancing and violence,” Ledbetter says.

Keeping in the Irish spirit, the department will host an “Irish Mini-Fest” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1 before the 2 p.m. performance. Traditional Irish entertainment will be performed in front of Rowand-Johnson Hall, including dancers, music by the band Skullduggery, food and a “luck of the Irish” drawing for a full-season ticket package for two for the 2008-2009 theatre and dance season. Radio station 90.7 The Capstone will broadcast live from the festival.

“The Playboy of the Western World” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, March 1, with 2 p.m. performances Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2. The Gallaway Theatre is at Stadium Drive and Marr’s Spring Road on the UA campus. Tickets are $13 for adults ($12 plus $1 service charge), $11 for UA faculty, staff and senior citizens ($10 plus $1) and $9 for students ($8 plus $1). Tickets can be bought at the box office noon to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday in Rowand-Johnson Hall, by visiting www.crimsonartstickets.com or by phoning 205/348-3400.

Note on parking: To make room for the Crimson Ride Transit System, parking is no longer allowed on Colonial Drive, Stadium Drive or Marr’s Spring Road. Parking is still available, however, on the side and rear of the theatre building. Parking is also available in the ten Hoor Parking Deck No. 1 (entrance on Stadium Drive), at no charge. The deck is next door to the theatre at Stadium Drive and Marr’s Spring Road.

The theatre & dance department is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.