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March is Women's History Month, and in honor of the annual event Virginia Wesleyan Theatre is presenting Eleemosynary, a play by Lee Blessing. The play depicts three generations of intelligent women coming to terms with their relationships to each other in the context of societal expectations regarding smart women.
"These three women carry, on their bodies and in their minds, not only their own individual histories but the histories of each other, and, perhaps, of countless women," said Dr. Sally Shedd, associate professor of
theatre and director of the production. "In order to 'fly,' they must come to terms with the past and with each other."
The production will be presented in the Hofheimer Theatre in the Fine Arts Building on campus. It is approximately 90 minutes long and will be presented without an intermission. Shedd is directing the production with scenic and projection design by Assistant Professor of Theatre Travis Malone and lighting, costumes and technical direction by Technical Director Tammy Dhority. The cast includes freshman Kim Fahle, Pierrette Swan, and senior Jenna Zitz.
"Three 19- to 22-year-old actors play ages ranging from three months to 75 years," said Shedd. "Time is fluid. Past becomes present. Characters directly address the audience and 'narrate' portions of their lives. Multiple viewpoints are often expressed simultaneously. With this structure, playwright Lee Blessing stages the intricately interwoven nature of family."
Showtimes for Eleemosynary are: 8 p.m. on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3; 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 4; and 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8 through Saturday, March 10.
The March 9 performance has been designated as the
annual "Celebration of Women's Voices" on the Virginia Wesleyan campus. The performance
will be presented in honor of Claire Cucchiari-Loring, with all proceeds
going
to two local charities in her name.
Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights contributions of women to events in history. The purpose of Women's History Month is to increase consciousness and knowledge of women's history: to take one month of the year to remember the contributions of notable and ordinary women. The beginnings of the event can be traced back to the first-ever International Women's Day in 1911.
"Eleemosynary is an exceptional script for several reasons," said Shedd. "It celebrates intellect -- an especially relevant message for a college campus. The feminist theorist in me appreciates a script featuring women that avoids focusing on action animated by the absent male. The play's message of forgiveness as a conduit to freedom is a positive counterbalance to 'victimization' depictions of women."
Blessing is an American playwright whose best-known play, A Walk in the Woods, was nominated for both a Tony award and a Pulitzer Prize. He currently heads the graduate playwriting program at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
Reservations for all performances can be made by calling 757.455.3381.
Admission
is free to the Virginia Wesleyan community and $10/$5 for the general public.