Lackawanna College Players

"I Bet Your Life"

The Fall 2006 Semester play is under way! The play is a comedy (with a mystery element) written by Fred Carmichael.

The Play is about a successful soap opera writer who writes a screenplay and would like his literary agent to push the script to Hollywood. The script he has written involves a terminally ill man who puts a hit out on himself and soon realizes that he was mis-diagnosed. The man must then figure out who the hit man is before it is too late! After the agent reads the script, he is convinced that it isn't feasible and decides that he will not push the screenplay to the powers that be in Hollywood. To convince the agent that his script is indeed plausible, the writer takes the agent and his secretary to a lodge out in the country for the weekend. He tells him that he has hired a hit man to kill him and he must figure out (amongst the wide array of party guests) who the hit man is before 10 O'clock that night. If the agent can figure out who the hit man is before 10, then he wins the bet and does not have to think about the writer's script ever again. If he doesn't, he will lose the bet and must promote his friend's script. Things, of course, don't always go according to plan as the evening turns into a very comical guessing game that is full of surprises.

Coordinator of Theater Arts:
Dr. Michael C. Illuzzi

Directed by:
Duane Wallace

Assistant Director:
Carol Arena

The Cast
Shauna McGrail	Stacy Kingsley
James Phillips	Gregory Larson
Mike Munley	Matthew Stoddard
Breanne VanFleet	Laura Pudney
Kate Fabian	Gerta
Jack Armbruster	Burton Finley
Kim Jones	Lila Langforth
Katie Hammond	Henrietta Squires
Peter Marion	Ira Watson

Show dates:

Wednesday, November 15th &
Thursday, November 16th at 8 pm.

In the Mellow Theater
Lackawanna College
501 Vine Street
Scranton, PA.
18509

Tickets:
$2 with college ID
$5 General Admission

For more info call: 570.961.7810

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"Love Sex and the I.R.S."

Record numbers turn out for the Theater Department's Spring Production!

Getting up on stage and performing in front of a crowd. That is one dream I never thought I would fulfill so soon. When I first started at Lackawanna College, my ideal career choice was to be a film director. In my first semester at Lackawanna, I took an acting class with Dr. Illuzzi. I was no Audrey Hepburn, I had stage fright, but I took the course because every future director needs to know how to act. In the second semester of my freshman year, I worked on the college's first successful play "Brighton Beach Memoirs" as well as the second "Plaza Suite" as Assistant Director. Both plays served as great opportunities for me to get even more comfortable with the process of theatre. Working back stage and helping out with student productions is a rush in itself especially with everything goes accordingly.

When "Love, Sex and the I.R.S" was the final decision for Lackawanna College's third production, I of course was going to continue with my normal routine as assistant director, until I was given a chance thrown right into the palm of my hand. Carol Arena, our stage designer and my future acting coach, asked me if I would like to take the part as Jon's mother Vivian. At first I was really unsure if I really wanted to take the part because of my case of stage fright and never having the experience of performing. I felt such a strong connection with Vivian's character, she reminded me of my mother in many ways. How could I turn it down?  I did not want to throw such a good opportunity away, so I decided to suck it up, take the challenge, and learn to face my fear of performing. I was nervous that I finally did take that big step because I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into. I didn't know what the results were going to be. That uncertainty isn't exactly comforting. What helped me cope with the discomfort of not knowing what this was going to come next, I just kept reminding myself that I only will live once and to be a good director I have to learn the craft of acting. I had the help of Carol Arena and Duane Wallace for Vivian's blocking in the play and my acting in itself.

I have learned so much in the past three months about theatre than any other production I did before. Memorizing lines and your place on stage is very difficult and it took a lot of practice. We had an amazing cast that was a blast to work with. Everyone was very patient and supportive with me being the new girl in the acting world. Connecting with the cast makes a huge difference with your performance on stage. Instead of feeling a thick layer of pressure, I felt like I wanted to be there and be a part of the production. Having a good time at the practices helped ease my nerves. A couple of days before opening night was when my stomach started to tie in knots. I was really ferklempt and found myself obsessing and asking myself "What have I gotten myself into!!" My brother Cale was very supportive to me. He gave me great advice telling me that "I was going to do fine and if I didn't do it, I would regret it." Of course he was right. I can't even begin to explain what I was feeling opening night or how I even succeeded and survived both performances. I just did it. I walked out onto stage where I could visibly see every person in the crowd, knocked down my brick wall and let them have it. The play was a success. The whole cast did a great job; we all worked very hard, which all paid off in the end. My stage fright was gone. I no longer have to live the burden of "everyone's staring at me". I really feel I have grown since I have taken the opportunity to play Vivian. I tackled a fear.  Now acting is another interest of mine that I will still like to work at along with becoming a director.