For immediate release
By Kristi Roshto
February 12, 2021
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will present the play “The Old Man and The Old Moon” for its annual Muse Project beginning Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre. Performances will continue Feb. 26, Feb. 28 and March 1 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2:30 p.m. The production is open to Ouachita faculty, staff and students with limited seating to allow for social distancing, and paid streaming tickets are available to the general public at www.obu.edu/boxoffice.
Written and produced by PigPen Theatre Co. in New York City, “The Old Man and The Old Moon” is a whimsical, folksy play that follows an old man searching for his wife as he encounters a myriad of different people, adventures and challenges. The play was selected by Ouachita Theatre Arts as this year’s Muse Project, an annual opportunity for current students to design and direct a show of their choice.
Molly Kennedy, a senior musical theatre major from Melissa, Texas, and director of the play, said she nominated this production for the Muse Project because it “is so different than anything I had seen done on the Verser stage before, and I just love the characters, the story and the message of the show.”
“The Old Man follows his wife to the ends of the earth and discovers his destiny,” Kennedy said. “It’s also a folktale about how the moon got its phases, and I hadn’t seen that in other productions.”
For Payton Mixon, a junior musical theatre major from New Caney, Texas, who plays the narrator, the message of the play is, “to go out and experience, to have an adventure with the ones you love.”
“During COVID, this play will be very impactful with fun twists and turns that will bring the audience away from the quarantine lifestyle,” Mixon said.
Faculty advisors for “The Old Man and The Old Moon” include Kelsey Looney, visiting assistant professor of theatre; Matthew Murry, visiting assistant professor of theatre; and Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts. Julia Letcher, a sophomore musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, serves as stage manager and Sarah Franklin, a sophomore musical theatre major from Grand Cane, La., serves as assistant stage manager.
Hannah Anderson, a senior musical theatre major from Austin, Texas, serves as costume designer and musical director; Amy Jackson, a senior theatre arts and communications & media/film studies double major from Cypress, Texas, and Brynlee Beams, a freshman theatre arts major from Cabot, Ark., serve as scenic designers; and Kailee Morehart, a senior music and nursing double major from Alexander, Ark., serves as lighting designer.
In-person tickets are available to current Ouachita students, faculty and staff for purchase through the OBU Box Office and www.obu.edu/boxoffice. Paid streaming tickets will are available to the general public on the Box Office website. Current Ouachita students may receive one free ticket upon presentation of their student ID. For more information, contact the OBU Box Office at (870) 245-5555 weekdays from 1-5 p.m. or through [email protected].
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VIEW THE FULL CAST/CREW LIST AT https://obu.edu/stories/events/2021/02/ouachita-presents-the-old-man-and-the-old-moon-february-25-through-march-1.php