Where Are Your Car Keys and Other Uncertainties Inspire Original Comedy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2010   MEDIA CONTACT Jo Kadlecek Office of College Communications 978.867.4752 [email protected]

WENHAM, MA—From losing your car keys or deciding what to wear each morning to wondering what to do with our lives, everything is fair game in Gordon College’s new original comedy about uncertainty called, “I Don’t Know, I Just Don’t Know.”

The fast-paced production marks the third comedy event in the 10th anniversary year of the Barrington Center for the Arts (Exit 17 from Highway 128). Directed by associate professor of theatre, Norman Jones, “I Don’t Know, I Just Don’t Know” opens Friday, January 29, runs through February 6, and, given the economic uncertainties of the times, includes some “pay what you can” ticket prices.

Known as a divising in the theatre world, “I Don’t Know, I Just Don’t Know” drew from improvisational scenes that the cast of twelve student actors created while a student crew filmed them. The video scenes were then viewed, transcribed, copied and distributed to the cast to determine which fit into an overall story line. Jones and the ensemble then edited each scene, assigned roles and reworked the collaborative scenes into a three-act play. The performance includes musical and comedic interactions that touch on daily life—where are my keys?—as well as more in-depth themes such as faith, doubts, politics and injustice.

“Ever since September 11—and now Haiti—our world has experienced more uncertainties than we have sometimes known what to do with,” Jones said. “We all wonder why certain things happen or the reasons behind certain experiences we’ve had. For instance, why does the greatest certainty in a Christian’s life—God—also seem like the greatest uncertainty at times? Our show touches on our responses to these issues—in hilarious ways.”

The cast of mostly theatre arts majors returned early from Christmas break to write and rehearse the play. They include: Tyrel Borowitz ’11 of Camariilo, CA; Ryan Coil of Nashville, TN; Benjamin Drake ’10 of Doylestown, PA; Taylor Jones ’12 of South Hamilton, MA; Rebekah Jordan ’10 of Groton, MA; Heather Lobe ’10 of Erial, NJ; Chris Preyer ’11 of Grandview, MO; Sarah Romig ’12 of Fort Washington, PA; Carl Schultz ’13 of Uxbridge, MA; Rachel Strasner ’10 of Framingham, MA; Grace Ulrich of Robinson, IL; and Susanna Young ’11 of West Chester, PA.

“This is a talented group of student actors who hasn’t been afraid to explore a range of issues in many theatrical forms, often making visible (to the audience) the invisible elements characters on stage face,” Jones said. “It’s an opportunity to engage in the questions we face each day, maybe with a little humor.”

The show’s technical crew—who also came back early from break—has been as much a part of the creation of the show as the actors, Jones said. They include assistant stage manager Laura Davis ’12 of Andover, MA; stage manager Sam Dennis ’10 of Saint Paul, MN; dramaturg Amy Laing ’10 of North Reading, MA; and assistant stage manager Cassie West ‘11 of Suffield, CT.    
                  
Performances for “I Don’t Know, I Just Don’t Know” are as follows:
Friday, January 29, 8 p.m.;
Saturday, January 30, 4:30 and 8 p.m.
Tue-Thu, February 2–4, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 5, 8 p.m.;
Saturday, February 6, 4:30 and 8 p.m.

Ticket prices are:
Fridays and Saturdays: $7 students/seniors, $10 adults;
Tuesday and Wednesday: pay what you can;
Thursday and Saturday matinees: $5 students/seniors, $8 adults.

For more information please contact, 978.927.2300 or visit www.gordon.edu/theatreschedule

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