The spring season of Southeastern Theatre will feature both veterans and newcomers to the stage in the production of “Blood Wedding,” a tragedy about betrayed love and family conflict.
Chelsea Krause, a senior double majoring in marketing and general studies with a theatre concentration, and Janna Baza, a freshman majoring in general studies with a theatre concentration, will play the two lead female roles in “Blood Wedding,” which was written by Federico Garcia Lorca in 1932.
In the play, a Bride (Krause) and Bridegroom (Joe Matherne) in Spain are preparing to go into an arranged marriage, but on their wedding night, passions run high and conflict arises between the Bridegroom and the Bride’s past lover Leonardo (Joshua Austin). Moreover, both Bride and Bridegroom have problems with the Bridegroom’s mother’s (Baza) ideas about marriage and family life.
Krause has been seen in many Southeastern theatre productions including “All My Sons,” “Night Mother” and “The Bacchae.” “Blood Wedding” is Krause’s eighth Southeastern show and ninth show since beginning college.
“She’s a hard one to explain,” said Krause about her character. “She’s always in her head, constantly fighting over what’s best for her. She’s in an arranged marriage with the Bridegroom, whom she knows can provide well for her, yet she still has a passion for her past lover Leonardo. She’s a mostly delicate and reserved person in the beginning, but later we see her become a quite passionate personality.”
On the other hand, Baza admits to not having a long theatre resume thus far.  
“Aside from doing exercises and assignments in acting class, my only other real performance as an actress was the 24 Hour Theatre Festival I did last semester, and it was called ‘Seven Twisted Tales,’ where I played Brunhilda the Burly Woodcutter,” said Baza.
On normal days during the production of the show, both Krause and Baza attend classes and hang out with friends as usual before rehearsal from 6 to 10 p.m. In “Blood Wedding,” Baza plays the Mother of the Bridegroom.
“She’s a passionate woman with a fire inside her,” said Baza of her character. “Her family has been torn apart by violence, and all she has left is one son, an empty womb and a heart full of hatred and pain. At first, I had some negative thoughts towards my character, but as the show has progressed, I’ve changed my opinion. She’s hurting, and it’s easy to see. When she speaks, it is not because she likes the sound of her own voice but to release the haunting memories that live within her and replay in her mind on a daily basis. Mother is strong, regal and sophisticated, but mostly she is powerful. Like I mentioned earlier, she is a passionate woman.”  
Krause and Baza think the entire cast of “Blood Wedding” is exceptional.
“This entire process has been a learning experience for both me as an actress and as a person,” said Baza. “In the beginning, I was only familiar with a handful of my cast members and was friends with only a few from that handful. It was fun getting to know everyone and see some new talent at work. It was interesting figuring out how to find chemistry and building different relationships with the cast members.”
Krause thinks students will like how different “Blood Wedding” is compared to other tragedies thanks to the direction of Samuel Sparks.
“It’s a very different piece that verges on both realism and mysticism,” said Krause. “It is a piece of moving art, filled with vibrant language and images. Lorca’s written a beautiful work that I loved when I read it initially. Sam’s vision is going to bring this beautiful work on stage and make it breathe. I feel the audience will see it in an artistic light and they’ll really enjoy that.”
Baza agrees the play’s deep emotions make “Blood Wedding” a must-see.
“I think they will like the passion of the play,” said Baza. “I hope they get caught in the heat of the moment, whether that heat be fueled by anger, revenge or lust. This piece is beautiful and poetic, so I hope the students see that. The costumes and set pieces are rather stunning as well.”  
Blood Wedding will be performed in the Vonnie Borden Theatre in D Vickers Hall from Tuesday, Feb. 26 through Friday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m.
General admission tickets are $10. Southeastern faculty and staff, seniors and non-Southeastern students are admitted for $6, and Southeastern students are admitted free with university I.D.
Tickets are available at the Vonnie Borden box office in D Vickers Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the box office will also open at 6:30 p.m. on performance nights.