This weekend, keep your eyes open for alien life forms and glamorous women. Two dynamic shows will be presented on the stages of Silver Cultural Arts Center, The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe and Jerry’s Girls.
Search, written by Jane Wagner, originally starred Lily Tomlin playing sixteen different characters. During the 1985-86 season, Search was one of the most commended shows on Broadway.
Assistant Professor of Theatre Elizabeth Cox explained why the Music and Theatre Department chose to put on Search. “We looked for a piece that would have a minimum number of people, would be fun and entertaining. The characters are diverse and extremely interesting.”
Sharon Lajoie, Assistant Professor of Theatre at New England College, will be guest-directing the play. Her former involvements with theatre include collaborations with Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth and directing plays at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men in Concord.
The sixteen original characters have been divided between four talented PSC theatre students: Sarah Edmunds, Stephanie Johnson, Shelly Miller, and Whitney Smith. Edmunds, who plays five characters throughout the shows, described the show. “It’s based around this bag lady named Trudy who thinks she has an electromagnetic connection with other people, and space aliens who she calls her space chums. The come to learn about her and the human race.”
It is through the trials of the characters and their interactions that the audience becomes acquainted with the many faces of humanity. The Search for Sings of Intelligent Life in the Universe will be performed in the Studio Theatre on September 26 and 27 at 7:00 p.m., and on September 28 and 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Jerry’s Girls showcases forty different female characters taken from the late composer and lyricist Jerry Herman’s musicals. The selections range from ballads and show tunes to songs of comedy and love. The show is a celebration of the vigor, splendor, and glamour of women all around the world. Guest director Kevin Asselin will head the show, joined by pianists Constance Chesebrough and Allan DiBiase in the vicinity of musical direction. Performance times for Jerry’s Girls are September 27 and 28 at 8:30 p.m. in Hanaway Theatre.