UW-Green Bay Theatre and Dance to present ‘Censored on Final Approach’
UW-Green Bay Theatre and Dance will present its third mainstage production of the 2013-14 season, Censored on Final Approach, Feb. 27-28 and March 1 and 5-8 in Jean Weidner Theatre at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts on campus, 2420 Nicolet Drive.
Written by Phylis Ravel, the play sheds light on the story of an elite group of female World War II fighter pilots who were selected to serve as Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs. The women were championed by pioneer American aviator Jacqueline Cochran, but were not embraced by their male counterparts — and they struggled for acceptance on a daily basis. The play brings to life a dark time of bigotry, sabotage and the consequent cover-up of an all-but-forgotten chapter of American history.
Shifra Werch
The UW-Green Bay production of Censored on Final Approach is being guest-directed by Shifra Werch, a Chicago-based director, designer, actor and dancer who is co-founder and artistic director of L’Opera Piccola, where she has staged 11 operas. Werch’s stage credits include Milwaukee Opera, Tucson Opera and Quincy Opera. She has created new productions for Adobe Woman’s Theater, National Pastime and Bailiwick Repertory Theatre. In addition, Werch assistant-directed The Soldier’s Tale for The Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center and High Fidelity for Route 66 Theatre.
No stranger to Wisconsin performing arts, she had a long association with Pamiro Opera and has collaborated on two previous productions with UW-Green Bay, The Pirates of Penzance and Pippin.
Performances of Censored on Final Approach will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 27-March 1 and Wednesday-Saturday, March 5-8 in the Jean Weidner Center at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door for adults, $15 in advance and $17 at the door for students (with ID) and seniors, and $10 for UW-Green Bay students. Order online at www.uwgb.edu/tickets or by calling (920) 465-2400 or (800) 328-tkts.
UW-Green Bay Theatre and Dance is collaborating with several University and community organizations for a number of activities related to the themes of the play.
Celebrating Women’s History Month and the opening of Green Bay’s new veterans clinic, the groups will present a series of events under the heading “Theatre Inspiring Conversations,” details of which can be found at www.uwgb.edu/theatre/events/censored.asp. More information about UW-Green Bay Theatre and Dance is available online at www.uwgb.edu/theatre.
Censored on Final Approach cast: Evan R. Ash (Artillery Officer); Ashley N. Skoglund (Elizabeth Langley); Tyler Miles (PFC Donald Foster); Adam W. Meyer (Pilot/Serviceman); Cody Galligan (Wayne Langhorn); Scott Klapperich (Artillery Trainee); Randall J. Tranowski (Lieutenant Paul Ryder); Hannah K. Blecha (Catherine Watts); Ashley Wisneski (Gerry Hansen); Sydney Haessly (Mary O’Connor); Stephanie Frank (Jacqueline Cochran); Andrew Delaurelle (Major John Stephenson).
Censored on Final Approach crew (as of Feb. 17): Erin Gerard (Stage Manager); Cody Von Ruden (Assistant Stage Manager); Jeff Chesebro (Video Technician); Rebecca Kellner (Sound); Libby Reineke (Prop Master); Liz Galba (Costume Head); Joey Hart, Abby Stuckey (Costume Crew); Katie Akerboom (Props); Jordan Heller (Dramaturge).
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