College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

• Eleven monologues highlight Iowa State Theatre production of "Talking With"

• A poetic celebration of women is highlighted through 11 separate monologues in the production of "Talking With" at Iowa State University.
  
  "Talking With" will be presented by ISU Theatre beginning Thursday, Jan. 27, in the Maintenance Shop located in the Memorial Union. Performances will be held nightly at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27-29, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Jan. 30.
  
  Through a series of diverse, revelatory monologues by eclectic characters, "Talking With" explores the experiences, perspectives, and voices of women. Robin Stone, assistant professor with ISU Theatre and director of four of the 11 monologues, says the segments range from serious to comedic.
  
  "All the characters have some sort of obsession, but at a different level and all from the perspectives of women," he said. "All the characters are interesting and all so different because they have a uniqueness about them.
  
  "The different range of characters is fascinating."
  
  The monologues, all between five and nine minutes, range from an actress who threatens to kill her cat if she is not cast in a play to the evangelical snake charmer, to the housewife lost in Oz. Other monologues include a woman at a rodeo and another preparing for childbirth.
  
  The monologues are a collection of works written under the pseudonym of Jane Martin. By performing the monologues in the M-Shop, Stone and fellow directors and ISU Theatre faculty members Jim Trenberth and Annaliese Baker say that's a perfect setting.
  
  "The nature of the monologue where someone is telling their story three feet from the audience is much better suited for this type of show," Trenberth said. "It's a good deal more personal than on a larger stage."
  
  Performers and the monologues in "Talking With" include Laura Williams, "Audition;" Amanda Mullen, "Fifteen Minutes;" Holly Reese, "Handler;" Ruthellen Cunnally, "French Fries; Veronica Skaar, "Dragons;" Kelly Larsen, "Twirler;" Rachel Goeb, "Clear Glass Marbles;" Laura Bestler-Wilcox, "Lamps;" Jillian Carstensen, "Scraps;" Maria Orlando, "Rodeo;" and Rachael Rhoades, "Marks."
  
  Three students, Danielle Warnke, Lore Blomquist, and Dani Henke, are the student costume designers. The trio is designing for specific monologues and working with each of the three directors.
  
  Tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7 for students.

Laura Williams - "Audition"

Kelly Larsen - "Twirler"

Holly Reese - "Handler"

Maria Orlano - "Rodeo"

Amanda Mullen - "Fifteen Minutes"

Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111. Published by: University Relations, online@iastate.edu. Copyright © 1995-2004, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.

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