The Denison University Theatre 2000-2001 season opens with Noel Coward's "Hay Fever." The production opens at 8 p.m. Friday (October 6) and continues with performances Saturday (October 7) and Tuesday through Saturday (October 10-14) in Ace Morgan Theatre. Assistant Professor of Theatre Robert Gander directs this production.

Set in 1924 in the country home of a stage actress, Judith Bliss, her husband, David, a writer, and their ill-tempered children, Simon and Sorrel, "Hay Fever" depicts what happens when Bohemian style meets British propriety. Each member of the family has a guest for the weekend, and the unsuspecting guests are thrown into an increasingly bizarre and hilarious nightmare. Outrageous emotions and wild dramatizations enliven this stylish and sophisticated comedy.

Gander earned a master of fine arts degree in theatre with an emphasis on directing from the University of Montana. He served as production coordinator for the Missoula Writer's Colony with the Montana Repertory Theatre. During his tenure as president of Theatre Works of Sarasota, Gander founded "Shakespeare Under the Stars," a successful outdoor theatre group.

Portraying the members of the Bliss family are seniors Shelby Mattingly (Louisville, Ky.) as Judith and Joe Miller (Quarryville, Pa.) as David; and juniors Scott Esposito (Chagrin Falls) as Simon, Evan Flowers (Delaware) as Sorrel, and Natalie Pinero (Annapolis, Md.) as their maid Clara.

The visiting guests are played by seniors Meredith Zinsser (Mentor) as Myra Arundel and Sean Bill (Santa Barbara, Ca.) as Sandy Tyrrell; junior Elizabeth Brammer (Shadyside) as Jackie Corryton; and sophomore Jason Seltzer (Mt. Lebanon, Pa.) as Richard Gretham. Junior Jennifer Hulbert (Louisville, Ky.) is stage manager and senior Andrew Levitt (Columbus) is assistant stage manager.

Designing the production are theatre faculty members Associate Professor Peter Pauze, scenery, lighting and sound, and Assistant Professor Cynthia Turnbull, costumes.

Tickets for "Hay Fever" are $9 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, and $4 for students of all ages. Call (740) 587-6527 to reserve tickets and for more information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

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