Parkside Theatre presents “Great Expectations”

Pip gets a Great Expectations earful from the Miss.

Parkside Theatre, the award-winning theatre company of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Theatre Arts Department, presents seven performances of Charles Dickens' classic coming-of-age tale "Great Expectations." This inaugural production in the Black Box Theatre of the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for the Arts and Humanities is presented Feb. 24, 25, Mar. 1, 2, and 3 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. and Mar. 2 at 10 a.m.

In Victorian England, the Industrial Revolution has transformed the social landscape but the division between rich and poor remains steadfast. One day, the young orphan Pip is taken to play at the home of wealthy spinster Miss Havisham, where he meets and falls in love with the beautiful but cruel Estella. Pip is working hard to become a gentleman worthy of Estella when news comes that a secret benefactor has given him a large fortune. A mystery then unfolds as Pip's sudden rise from poor country boy to city gentleman forces him to move from one social extreme to another.

Director Jamie Cheatham said "Great Expectations" is a challenging and exciting way to open the university's new performance space.

"We wanted a strong piece for our inaugural play in the new Black Box Theatre," Cheatham stated. "We thought this is a great piece of classic literature to produce on stage and the title seemed like a positive message to open with: 'Great Expectations!'"

The cast features Bobby Johnson as the passionate but naïve Pip, Alecia Annacchino as the eccentric, wedding dress-clad Miss Havisham; and Mike Zimmermann as Magwitch, the criminal who serves as an unlikely source of assistance for Pip. Brittany Arndt portrays the beautiful but callous Estella. Also featured are Ken Lafayette, Madeline Wakley, Alex Metalsky, Kevin Duffy, and Rachel Sandlin. Sets for the play were designed by Skelly Warren with costumes by Darice DaMata-Geiger and lighting by UW-Parkside graduate Steve Sorenson.

Admission to Parkside Theatre's production of "Great Expectations" is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $7.50 for students. Order tickets online at www.uwp.edu keyword tickets, by email at boxoffice@uwp.edu or call 262-595-2564.

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 2/14/2012

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