[NEohioPAL] DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, A Wildly Imaginative Comedy

[Tricia Applegate via NEohioPAL]

Dead Man's Cell Phone
by *Sarah Ruhl*
directed by *Rachael Swartz*
Nov. 5-7, 12-14 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
Studio Theatre
*Pre-Show Talk:* Nov. 13 at 6:45 p.m.

*Ashland University Box Office*
419-289-5125 (Noon-6 p.m., Monday-Friday)
Online at www.ashland.edu/tickets
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AshlandUniversityMus/3f45e5363b/1af00b4fad/9602b2ba93/t=tix&e=81e1ba4545b053753cf19bacc4ede24f>
 (additional fees apply)
 *Single Tickets
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AshlandUniversityMus/3f45e5363b/1af00b4fad/25ddb1e44a/t=tix&e=81e1ba4545b053753cf19bacc4ede24f>:*$12
Adults $10 Senior Citizens, AU Alumni & Faculty/Staff $8 Groups of 10 or
more* $5 Non-AU Students* $2 Ashland University Students w/ ID*

*For REDUCED TICKETS - AU STUDENT ($2), CHILDREN ($5) and GROUP of 10 or
more ($8)  - Call Box Office, 419.289.5125.

*ASHLAND.EDU/THEATRE <http://www.ashland.edu/theatre>*

Ashland University Department of Theatre continues its 2015-2016 season
with Sarah Ruhl's wildly imaginative comedy *Dead Man's Cell Phone*. Directed
by guest artist Rachael Swartz, performances will be held in the intimate
Studio Theatre on November 5-7 and 12-14 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, November
8 at 2 p.m. Audiences are advised that the show contains adult language.

As in Ruhl's other works, the MacArthur "Genius" Grant recipient and
two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist often addresses themes of death and
memory. This play is about how we memorialize the dead and our need to
connect in today's technologically obsessed world. In particular, when
technology and death intersect, we find ourselves grieving for strangers.

The play opens as Jean, played by senior theatre major Natalyn Baisden
(Wooster, Ohio) has had enough of an incessantly ringing cell phone at the
cafe table next to her. As she intervenes, she realizes that the cell
phone's owner, Gordon who is played by freshman theatre major Waylon H.
O'Donnell (West Sunbury, Pennsylvania), is dead. Comedy, a love story, and
horror ensue as Jean becomes entangled with Gordon's quirky, arrogant,
entitled, eccentric family including his mother played by freshman
education major Emma Dumford of Westerville, his widow (freshman criminal
justice major Kaylee Lhotsky of Brunswick), and his brother (freshman
history major Tyler MacQueen of Loudonville). In addition, Jean must
confront the other woman and a stranger who are played by freshman theatre
and journalism/digital media major Ingrid Schmidt (Mansfield).

The show's guest director, Rachael Swartz, is an actress, director and
educator from Wooster, Ohio.  She received her MFA in Performance from The
University of Southern Mississippi and her BA in Theatre from Baldwin
Wallace University. She has directed youth programs at The Clinton Area
Showboat Theatre and The Lost Colony, and toured the U.S. and Canada as a
teaching artist with Missoula Children’s Theatre. She currently serves as
the Education Director for Maples Repertory Theatre. Her previous
performances include Mother Abbess in *The Sound of Music, *Betsy/Lindsey
in *Clybourne Park,* Sara Jane Moore in *Assassins, *Mrs. Candour in *The
School for Scandal, *and Artemis in *Eleemosynary.* Rachael is a proud
Equity Membership Candidate and member of the Voice and Speech Trainers
Association, The Lessac Institute, and Dueling Arts International.

The set and sound designs for the Ashland University production of *Dead
Man's Cell Phone *are created by technical director J. Michael Desper,
while costumes are designed by resident costume designer Sarah Russell; and
lighting design by Patty Lanious. Junior Eryn Reynolds Tramel (Medina)
serves as the choreographer with sophomore Ceyanna Stasick (Sullivan) and
freshman Olivia Kimball as the show's stage manager and assistant stage
manager, respectively.
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