Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Stephen F. Austin State University's The Original Cast will present "Playing the Palace" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, through Saturday, March 24, in the Downstage Theater of the Griffith Fine Arts Building. The ensemble will also present a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.

The Original Cast, established in 1991, is the SFA School of Theatre's cabaret-improvisation troupe that presents an original musical revue each spring and performs for civic groups and other sponsors throughout East Texas.

Dr. Alan Nielsen, professor of theatre and director of the ensemble, said this year's revue focuses on "the golden days of Vaudeville, when variety was all the rage.''

The program includes singing, dancing, comedy acts and dramatic skits which the students proposed for the show.

Cast members include senior theatre majors Darrel Grant of Houston, Katie James of Tyler, Sonia Lerner of Missouri City, and Aaron McDaniel of San Antonio. Also, junior theatre majors Samuel Flash of Cypress, Christopher Gammel of Sugar Land, and Nicholas Mills of Houston.

Also in the troupe are sophomores Mark McManus of Houston and Sarah Zabinski of League City, and British exchange students Gemma Creasey, Rebekah Davies, Rebecca Killick, Amanda McLaren and Tom Read Wilson.

Shari Ellsworth, adjunct theatre faculty, serves as the troupe's co-director.

"Playing the Palace" is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and youth. For tickets or more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.