June 9, 2005 -- The University of Wyoming's 2005 Snowy Range Summer
Theatre and Dance Festival continues its summer season with Anne
Nelson's bittersweet 9/11 retrospective, "The Guys," directed by UW
Professor Leigh Selting.
The play, featuring UW Assistant
Professor of Acting Wolf J. Sherrill and UW alumna Martha Slater, runs
June 21 through 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Studio Theatre. For
tickets, call (307) 766-6666 or go online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts.
Based
on a true story, Nelson's play recounts the immediate aftermath of
September 11 through the eyes of two New Yorkers who might otherwise
never have met. Nick is a stalwart fire captain who's been traumatized
by losing most of his men in the attack. Joan is an editor whose
comfortable life is forever shaken by the tragedy that unfolds around
her.
When Nick unexpectedly calls Joan for help with the daunting
task of writing eulogies for his "guys," she cannot resist. Nick and
Joan begin to come to terms with what's happened to them and their
"beautiful, gleaming, wounded city," and begin the process of recovery
from such devastating loss and tragedy.
A few weeks after 9/11,
Nelson wrote "The Guys" in a mere nine days for the Flea Theatre, one of
the local businesses and arts enterprises greatly affected by the
tragedy. The play has run throughout the United States ever since.
"As
a friend of the playwright, Anne Nelson, I'm extremely proud to be
producing her piece in Laramie for the first time," says Selting.
"Although
the events of 9/11 are nearly four years past, the crisis of conscience
that both of the characters seem to suffer and then come to terms with
in the piece (which is based on actual events) still resonates today. At
times both funny and moving, 'The Guys' is a piece everyone should
see," he adds.
Since its debut, "The Guys" has traditionally been
performed in cooperation with local fire agencies in order to raise
monies for their own charitable funds. For this production, a special
benefit performance will be given for the Laramie Firefighters
Association on Tuesday, June 21. All fire department personnel are
invited to view the show for free, and a portion of the proceeds and any
additional contributions will go to the association's Burnout and
Community Service Fund. Companion tickets may either be purchased for
half price or for full price, with half the proceeds going toward the
fund. Call (307) 766-2160 for more information.
Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2005
