Theatre to Perform “Dancing at Lughnasa”

Truman’s Theatre Department will perform “Dancing at Lughnasa” by Brian Friel at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22-24 and 2 p.m. Feb. 25 in the James Severns Theatre.

“Dancing at Lughnasa” is set in 1936 rural Ireland and follows the lives of five unmarried sisters trying to make ends meet. During the festival of Lughnasa, an ancient Celtic harvest celebration, the family’s struggles are interrupted by colorful bursts of music from the radio, their only link to the larger world. This memory play, told from the perspective of one of the sister’s seven-year-old son, reveals the family’s resilience in the face of change. Widely regarded as Friel’s masterpiece, this haunting play is his tribute to the spirit and valor of the past.

This play is directed by Randall Bame, lecturer in theatre. Bame has worked on many shows at Truman, including last spring’s performance of “The Mousetrap,” which received two awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in January.

The five Mundy sisters are played by five actors in the Theatre Department. The oldest sister, Kate, is played by Molly Laiben, sophomore French major. The show has two actual sisters playing the role of two of the Mundy sisters. Caroline Million, senior theatre major, plays the role of Maggie, and Anna Million, English pre-MAE sophomore, plays Agnes. The next sister, Rose, is played by Savannah Carmichael, senior creative writing and theatre major. Lastly, the youngest sister, Christ, is played by Anna Markewicz, senior theatre major.

In addition to the five sisters, there are three more integral members of the cast. Aidan Grantham, senior sociology major and theatre minor, plays Jack, the brother of the Mundy sisters and the uncle to Michael. Michael is Chris Mundy’s son, and is played by Patrick Vincent, senior theatre major. Lastly, Gerry Evans, Michael’s father, is played by Parker Shinn, sophomore English and theatre major.

This play is directed by Randall Bame. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at boxoffice.truman.edu. For more information, contact the Truman Theatre Box Office at 660.785.4515 between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.