Scottsdale, AZ (October 9, 2008) – “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?”  The ‘Stage Manager’, the story’s ever-present narrator, is asked this question at the end of Act III of Our Town, the Pulitzer prize-winning drama by Thornton Wilder.

One of the most frequently produced plays by an American playwright, Our Town is currently being produced by Scottsdale Community College Theatre Arts November 6 – 8 and 13 – 15, on the lawn in SCC’s ‘Center Green.’

The Stage Manager, who watches over and interacts with the residents of the fictional New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners, explains that humans, in fact, do not realize life while they live it, except for the “saints and poets, maybe.”   

Perhaps the play's best-known passage, these words emphasize the value of everyday events.  Throughout the story -- which spans the years 1901 – 1913, the characters place value on moments of ceremony and consequence, such as a wedding or a funeral, yet they do not seem to value or make an emotional connection to the daily activities of their everyday lives.

Instead of attempting to ‘realize life’ at every moment, the citizens of Grover's Corners often lack any sense of wonder at what passes before their eyes every day.

“We all know that something is eternal. And it ain't houses and it ain't names, and it ain't earth, and it ain't even the stars . . . everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings.  All the greatest people ever lived have been telling us that for five thousand years, and yet you'd be surprised how people are always losing hold of it.  There's something way down deep that's eternal about every human being.”

The Stage Manager's words highlight Wilder's interest in finding the eternal among the details of daily life. Wilder felt that humans live on after physical death, yet he believed their daily relationships with one another exceeded the beauty of the afterlife.  The story of Our Town - an allegorical representation of all life, insists that the eternal exists on Earth during each and every moment of human interaction.

According to Daniel Good, director of SCC’s Our Town, Wilder seems to have written this play in response to an overflowing of realism that invaded the theatre.  “Theatre to him had become ‘soothing’, so he created a play whose first stage direction would be: no curtain and no scenery.”

These directions were followed by additional instructions to have the play be completely void of props.  “He removed the ‘things’ from Our Town, placed it in a completely benign and non-threatening town of Grover’s Corners… and then the allegory begins,” explained Good.  “By using people and places in three simple acts, he teaches his audience to cherish the moment.”

Wilder does not pretend that his play represents a slice of real life, although the events that occur onstage could be authentic moments in the lives of real people through the years—a milkman delivers milk, a family has a hurried weekday breakfast, two young people fall in love.  Wilder challenges this appearance of reality by filling the play with devices that emphasize the artificiality of theater—such as the appearance of the Stage Manager who narrates the story, speaks directly to the audience, and often stops the action of the play from time to time.

This closeness between the audience and the story compels viewers to identify with the characters and events, and illustrates why Randy Messersmith, SCC’s Theatre Arts Director, and Daniel Good have chosen to produce the play as an outdoor experience for a contemporary audience rather than present it in a traditional indoor theatre space. 

Messersmith, co-founder of the Southwest Shakespeare Company, and Good, original Shakespeare company actor, are no strangers to the power of outdoor theatre.  The two collaborated on many Shakespearean productions performed outside at the Mesa Amphitheatre. 

“In our discussions about the play, Daniel mentioned that he felt there was something of  a ‘revival meeting’ about the play -- and I agreed,” said Messersmith.  “We want the audience to feel they are coming to a play, but also that they will experience a lesson, and be part of the action.” 

According to Messersmith and Good, the audience will be sitting in and among the actors—and often involved in several moments in the play. 

“The ritualistic nature of seeing a play outside under the stars, with the natural sounds, sights, smells, and outdoor atmosphere of a fictional Grover’s Corners will allow the audience to fully enjoy the experience,” said Good.  “When the characters are describing the ‘terrible moon’ the audience will actual be able to see it.”  

Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) was an accomplished novelist and playwright.  He won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for Our Town in 1938.  Among his many other achievements, his hit play, The Matchmaker, was adapted as the musical comedy Hello, Dolly!.  Wilder’s honors include the Gold Medal for Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Audiences are encouraged to bring a blanket and lawn chairs to enjoy SCC’s Our Town. Refreshments will be served.

 OUR TOWN

Playwright:                                Thornton Wilder

Director:                                    Daniel Good

Producer:                                  Randy Messersmith

Stage Manager                          Nicole Good

Asst. Stage Manager                 Colleen Mason

Set Design                                Kimb Williamson

Costume Designer                     Micheal Waid

Lighting Designer                       Tami Updegraff

Sound Designer                         Xakk Stauber

Technical Director                      Steve Gonnella

Company:        Scottsdale Community College Theatre Arts

                        Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Venue:             SCC’s Center Green (grass areas on east side of Student Center building)

                        9000 E. Chaparral Rd.

                        Scottsdale, AZ  85256

For map of campus (look for grass area east of SC building):

http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/maps/scc_campus_map.html

Performance

Dates/Times:    November 6-8 and 13-15 at 7PM

Ticket Prices:  $10 for General Admission

                        $8 for students and senior citizens

Box Office:      Call (480) 423-6356 to reserve tickets in advance or for more information.

Box office opens 1 hour before curtain.

 Genre:            Drama

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About the SCC Theatre Arts Department:

The Theatre Arts program at Scottsdale Community College integrates the study of theatre history, dramatic literature, theory, and aesthetic concepts with the development of practical skills in acting, directing, design, and theatre technology.  Recognized by national theatre educators and professionals for the outstanding achievements of its students and faculty, the SCC Theatre Arts program combines classroom study with opportunities for public performance and summer professional training.  Students receive experience and education through a combination of coursework, performance and production – culminating in the Associate of Arts, Fine Arts Degree in Theatre.  To learn more about the program, faculty, honors, and awards, call (480) 423-6356 or visit www.scottsdalecc.edu/theatre.

About Scottsdale Community College:
Scottsdale Community College offers over 1,500 academic and non-credit classes each semester. Located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the campus is known for its serene atmosphere and beautiful plant and wildlife. With nearly 12,000 students, Scottsdale Community College is proud to offer high-quality, affordable programs in small class settings. From Motion Picture/Television Production and Culinary Arts to Nursing and American Indian Studies, students have a wide variety of programs from which to earn credits for university transfer, launch their careers, train for new ones, or pursue a special interest. The SCC Business Institute offers customized programs to meet the needs of local business. Scottsdale Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.

To learn about the many academic programs at Scottsdale Community College, call us at (480) 423-6000 or visit our website at www.scottsdalecc.edu.

Media contact:
Denise Kronsteiner
(480) 423-6567
denise.kronsteiner@sccmail.maricopa.edu

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