Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - While some people profess that art exists for art's sake, the faculty and students involved in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre's production of "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," Feb. 19 through 23, are creating their art with the audience in mind.

The story will inspire an internal debate for the viewers, according to Allen Oster, SFA professor of theatre and the play's director. "Audience members will have to decide if Miss Jean Brodie, a progressive and independent-thinking teacher at a 1930s private girls' school in Edinburgh, Scotland, manipulates her students or establishes an environment conducive to critical thinking."

Caroline Smith, Austin freshman who portrays Brodie, said the script is one of the strengths of the play. "Personally, I always enjoy shows that have 'food for thought,' and that's exactly what 'Brodie' offers."

While preparing for their roles, the actors were challenged to perfect the Scottish accent so that the audience can more readily accept them as Scottish citizens. Lindsay Baird, an exchange student from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, served as the cast's dialect coach.

"Lindsay has been a godsend for this aspect of the production," Oster said.

The show's costumes assist the audience in placing the characters in the correct time frame, explained Angela Bacarisse, SFA associate professor and the play's costume designer. "Much of the action occurs between 1931 and 1939, so we've incorporated women's flowing garments with lots of construction detail. We were able to utilize some vintage clothing we had in stock and built several pieces from vintage patterns."

Scenic designer Tomy Matthys, SFA associate professor, said the script's 24 scene changes posed a challenge. "We didn't want the scene changes to slow down the action of the play and risk losing the audience's attention."

To solve the problem, Matthys worked with technical director Mark Porter to incorportate a turntable that houses five different locations and allows for quick changes.

To assist the audience in getting in the spirit of the play even before they enter the auditorium, Oster has arranged for local bagpiper Richard Zurfloh to play
Scottish tunes outside the Griffith Fine Arts Building for the 15 minutes preceding each performance.

The curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, through Saturday, Feb. 23, in W.M. Turner Auditorium, located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. The play is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts, School of Theatre and the University Series.

Jay Presson Allen's script is based on Muriel Spark's novel with the same title. Oster has given the production a rating of PG.

Prior to the opening night performance, there will be an informative talk about the production at 7 p.m. in Griffith Gallery, across the hall from Turner Auditorium. The audience is invited back to the gallery after the performance for a reception honoring the event's corporate sponsor, Tipton Ford-Lincoln-Mercury.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and $6 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.