AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR
EDRIS COOPER-ANIFOWOSHE
HELMS ROBERT O’HARA'S SATIRIC LOOK AT AMERICAN HISTORY AND RACE RELATIONS IN
AN AMERICAN MA(U)L
AT THE WELLS-METZ THEATRE

BLOOMINGTON, IN—In the prologue to Robert O’Hara’s An American Ma(u)l we watch Jefferson frame those famous phrases in the Declaration of Independence: “all are created equal” with the right to “life, liberty” – and the pursuit of happiness, represented by his slave Sallie who tells jokes that would make Lennie Bruce proud. This sets in motion a scathing satire about the fragility of race relations in America. An American Ma(u)l opens Friday March 21 and continues March 22, and 25-29. Evening performances begin at 7:30 in the Wells-Metz Theatre. There will be a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 29.

An American Ma(u)l challenges the history we have been taught with a ferocity rarely seen in the American theatre. The Franklin family is White. Their Black neighbors, the Jeffersons, are direct descendents of Thomas Jefferson, and they carry their “true proofs” with them in an old suitcase. They’ll need that proof when the modern-day President rips the 14th Amendment from the U.S. Constitution – and begins rounding up slaves to build a cotton-picking workforce. With racial conflict boiling to nuclear proportions, the Franklins’ racism explodes despite the love their twin sons share with young Juliet Jefferson.

Make no mistake, this is a funny play! O’Hara is clear in his opening stage directions: “Perform this piece as Theatrical SLAP.” A true satire, An American Ma(u)l delivers its socio-political commentary with a bale full of belly laughs as it rips open the fabric of the American quilt to expose the truth. You won’t believe how much you enjoy having your beliefs in the basic goodness of American icons challenged while being forced to face the truth about yourself and our country.

Direction of this important production is in the capable hands of Indiana University Theatre and Drama Assistant Professor of Acting and Directing, Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe, who has won multiple awards for acting and directing and was Assistant Director for the original production of An A merican Ma(u)l at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. Robert O’Hara himself was on hand in February to advise the cast and crew. Third-year acting M.F.A. student Jeff Grafton is Assistant Director. Vocal coach Nancy Lipschultz is on hand with a far different task than coaching Shakespeare or Chekhov. The cast includes second-year M.F.A. acting student Dawn L. Thomas (recently seen in Measure for Measure), many Theatre and Drama majors as well as those from other departments, members of the comedy troupe All Sorts of Trouble for the Boy in the Bubble, and a few IU football players. Many are making their Lee Norvelle Center debut. Others on the creative team are: second-year M.F.A. student Seamus M. Bourne (Scenic Design), third-year M.F.A. student Angie Burkhardt (Costume Design), second-year M.F.A. Sean Smallman (Lighting Design) and senior Matt Reynolds (Sound Design). The production is stage managed by senior Jackie Goeppner assisted by Kevin Love and Daniel Reinglass.

An American Ma(u)l opens Friday, March 21st, with additional performances March 22 and 25 through 29. All performances will take place in the Wells-Metz Theatre at the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center at 7:30 PM. There will be an additional 2:00 pm matinee on Saturday, March 29. Ticket prices are $16.00 for adults and $13.00 for students and seniors (discounts Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday matinee only). STUDENT RUSH tickets are available on the day of every performance; students with a valid IU I.D. may purchase any available tickets for $10 cash. Group prices are available. For ticket information, call 812-855-1103 and ask for information about Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center tickets. To purchase tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 333-9955 or visit www.theatre.indiana.edu.

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