The theater department began work on its first spring production, a two woman show titled “‘night, Mother,” by holding auditions in the Vonnie Borden Theatre in D Vickers Hall. The auditions were held on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 4 to 6 p.m.
“‘Night, Mother” was written by Marsha Norman in 1983. This play earned Norman the Pulitzer prize in Drama that year and was turned into a broadway show and later a film.
The play features two characters: Jessie Cates, a thirty-something year old woman who is physically unsteady and has a quirky sense of humor, and her mother Thelma Cates.
The play begins with Jessie revealing to her mother that she has come up with a plan to commit suicide, and drama flares up between the two women from that moment on.
“It’s a play that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Chad Winters, a professor of theater who is directing the play. “The subject matter is still important today. Suicide is an issue in society, and the play examines that.”
For the auditions, eight students came to the Vonnie Borden Theatre to perform a one to two minute dramatic monologue for Winters.
Chelsea Krause, a junior marketing major with a theater minor, performed a piece titled “One Moment,” which she prepared in advance for the audition.
“Acting is essentially what I want to do for the rest of my life,” said Krause after her performance.
Veronica Gutierrez, a sophomore general studies major with a concentration in theater, also stood out at her first audition for “night, Mother.” Gutierrez has previously worked on several productions at Southeastern, including “Julius Caesar” last year.
Four students, including Krause and Gutierrez, received a call-back. On Friday, January 20, at 4 p.m., they returned to the Vonnie Borden Theatre, where Winters had them read different parts to find the perfect pair for the roles.
After an hour, Winters had found his Jessie and Thelma Cates. Krause, who went out for either part, was cast as Jessie, and Gutierrez was cast as Thelma, her mother.
“The opportunity of being a leading actor in a production like “‘night, Mother” is one I’ve always hoped for,” said Gutierrez. “Knowing that the show is completely dependent on the chemistry Chelsea and I have is both nerve racking and exhilarating. I look forward to building a professional relationship with her and bringing everything I can to the table.”
Krause and Gutierrez have been involved in theater on campus for several semesters through Southeastern’s honorary theatre society Alpha Psi Omega.
The pair will immediately begin preparation for this dramatic two woman play, which promises to entertain the audience while they are drawn into the reality of its content.
“‘Night Mother” will be performed from Wednesday, Feb. 15 through Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Vonnie Borden Theatre, with each performance beginning at 7:30 p.m.
For additional information on the play, contact Winters at Chad.Winters@selu.edu.