Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will close its summer repertory season with final performances of Martin McDonagh's "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" on Wednesday, July 12, and Thursday, July 13, and A.R. Gurney's "A Cheever Evening" on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15.

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. in the W.M. Turner Auditorium of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, located on the SFA campus.

McDonagh's play centers around Maureen Folan, a bitter 40-year-old spinster, played by Garland junior Savannah Seilheimer, who is the sole caregiver of her manipulative 70-year-old mother, Mag, played by Rhonda Williams, Nacogdoches resident and former professional actress.

McDonagh quickly establishes the tension between the two women, but as the play progresses and Mag interferes with Maureen's love life, the playwright also reveals the psychological twists and turns of human nature.

"It'll be an evening of slow bombardment," said Williams. "The audience will walk away from the play much as moviegoers walked away from 'Psycho.'"

"The play is very Irish," said Clarence Bahs, the play's director. "You'll have to laugh at the grisly humor to keep from crying."

"The Beauty Queen of Leenane" received four Tony Awards when it opened in 1998. It also received the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards and was the co-winner of the 1998 Lucille Lortel Award.

A.R. Gurney's "A Cheever Evening" is based on 17 of John Cheever's most humorous and moving stories about East Coast middle class Americans from post World War II to the 1970s, explained Alan Nielsen, SFA professor of theatre and the play's director.

"The numerous vignettes are full of likable characters trying to hold on to a dying culture," said Diane Flynn, SFA Box Office manager. "Each scene is like a little, tiny sit-com, complete with humorous one-liners."

"And the scenes often transcend their time periods," said Sylvia Bierschenk, director of Arts Information at SFA. "They deal with all sorts of familial relationships with which we can all relate on some level."

Cheever won the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for the collection of stories on which the play is based, and the drama received an OBIE in 1994-95.

The summer repertory season is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Theatre. Due to adult themes and language, the season is recommended for mature audiences only.

Tickets to each production are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.