Special readers theater presentation
of Oxygen for SERMAC 2007 Center Stage, in cooperation with SERMACS 2007 (Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society) will stage a readers theater presentation of Oxygen, by Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann and eminent chemist Carl Djerassi (who developed the birth control pill) in the auditorium of Greenville Senior High Academy of Academic Excellence on Vardry Road at 8 pm on Friday, October 26. Admission is $10 (cash) at the door. No reservations will be accepted and seating is first come-first served.
The play jumps between an imaginary historical meeting between three candidates for the award and the deliberations of the selection committee. The candidates include Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who isolated oxygen, but failed to publish it; Joseph Priestly, who first published the isolation of the element, but remained conceptually wedded to phlogiston theory; and Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, who was the first to recognize combustion as a chemical process. Each has a claim to the title of the "Discoverer of Oxygen", but what exactly do we mean by the term "discover"?
While the three candidates are all male, the play also looks at the role of women in science. Through the eyes of the candidate's "significant others" we learn that they played a role both in the laboratory and in the establishment of the accepted historical account. The selection committee must wrestle with its own cultural blinders as it attempts to peer through the mists of time in order to make its decision.
Oxygen was written by two renowned chemists who also have impressive literary credentials:
Carl Djerassi is best known for his work in the development of oral contraceptives and mass spectrometric techniques. He has published more than 1,200 peer reviewed papers as well as several novels. Included among his many awards is the American Chemical Society's highest honor, the Priestley Medal. He is the author of five novels, a collection of short stories, a poetry chapbook, an autobiography and a memoir and has written eight plays.
Roald Hoffmann received the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (with Kenichi Fukui) and continues to make important contributions to theoretical and computational chemistry. Professor Hoffmann's literary work includes books of poetry, several non-fictional books and the television series The World of Chemistry. He also has released a new play, Should've. We are delighted to have Dr. Hoffmann's participation in several events during SERMACS 2007, including "talk-back" sessions following each performance of Oxygen.
Fridays at 10:30am & 7pm Buy all three for only $39!
It's Friday. It's time to relax and leave the week's stress behind. Come enjoy friends, a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, a casual atmosphere, and wonderful music that only the GSO's principal musicians can provide. Our Spotlight Series brings a "come as your are" atmosphere to the symphony. You'll love the concerts, but also the company as you will have the opportunity to interact with the musicians from the stage. So relax, get comfortable, and enjoy the show!
Leos Janacek
Arnold Bax
GioachinoRossini
Spotlight I (Sept. 7, 2007, 10:30am and 7pm) Janacek's Mladi or Youth for normal wind quintet plus bass clarinet colors the ensemble beautifully. Mladi is fascinating, exuberant and one of my favorite pieces of music. It seems to brings out the best in wind players, who always seem to relish it. Schubert's "Trout" quintet for piano and strings is without question one of the most famous pieces of chamber music ever written. This refreshing, wonderfully happy piece is based on Schubert's 1817 song "Die Forelle" (The Trout).
Spotlight II (February 1, 2008, 10:30am and 7pm) Bax's Elegiac Trio for flute, viola and harp creates an atmosphere of peace and contentment. The lyrical intimacy of these chamber works of Arnold Bax are quite a contrast from his massive symphonies & tone poems. You will love the Halvorsen Passacaglia for violin and cello duo based on Handel's Suite #7 in g minor, it is reflective, intimate and passionate. Mozart wrote to his father two days after the premiere of the Quintet in E flat Major for piano and winds and said: "It had the greatest applause. I myself consider it the best thing I have written in my life."
Spotlight III (April 4, 2008, 10:30am and 7pm) Rossini's Sonata #5 for strings is a lovely three movement work written in the composer's youth and only rediscovered after WWII. Nielsen described his Serenata in Vano (scored for clarinet, bassoon, horn, cello and double bass) as 'a humorous trifle'. In one movement, it was written for his friends from the Royal Chapel Orchestra in Copenhagen on tour with the Schubert Octet. More humorous trifles will be heard with Ligeti's 6 Bagatelles. The 6 short dance movements for wind instruments are a delight to hear. The two pieces by John O'Riley and Saul Goodman
With appreciation to MetLife Foundation for making this series possible.
Talkback schedule for 25th Anniversary season shows
Once during the run of each production, we give audience members a chance to talk back to the cast and director after the show. It's an open forum for your questions and comments. Johnny Price of the Caleb Group leads our talkbacks which take place immediately after the show. Here's when talkbacks are scheduled for the 2007-2008 season
The Fantasticks: Sunday, October 21 after 3 p.m. matinee
It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play: Sunday, December 7 after 8 p.m. show
Sylvia: Friday, January 18 after 8 p.m. show
Wait Until Dark: Friday, March 7 after 8 p.m. show
Crimes of the Heart:Friday, June 13 after 8 p.m. show
Tomfoolery: Friday, August 15 after 8 p.m. show
AUDITIONS: Sylvia and It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Auditions have been scheduled for two upcoming productions. All auditions will be held at the theater, 501 River Street (Smith Barney building) in Greenville. Please call the theater at 864.233.6733 with questions. No perusal scripts are available at this time.
It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Director: John Fagan
Auditions: September 23 and 24 @ 7:30 PM
Production dates: November 29 - December 15, 2007
Notes: All actors read multiple roles. There will be no rehearsals November 21 - 24.
Actors needed:
Freddie Filmore (male, reads Announcer, Gower, Potter, Billy, Joseph, Peter Bailey, Ernie, Old Man Collins, Ed, Pete, Man at St. Martini's, Nick, Bridge Keeper, Binky, Cop)
Jake Laurents (male, reads George Bailey and Young George)
Sally Applewhite (reads Mary Hatch and Young Mary)
Lana Sherwood (female, reads Violet and Young Violet, Rose Bailey, Matilda, Ruth, Mrs. Hatch, Mrs. Thompson, Schultz, Zuzu, Janie, Sadie Vance)
Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood (male, reads Harry and Young Harry, Bert, Clarence Oddbody, Sam Wainwright, Martini, Dr. Campbell, Charlie, Man at run on bank, Horace the Teller, Mr. Welch, Tommy, Sheriff)
Sylvia
Director: John Fagan
Auditions: October 22 and 23 @ 7 PM
Production dates: January 10-26, 2008
Actors needed: Greg (male 50's), Kate (female 50's), Sylvia (female20's), Phyllis/Tom/Leslie (male 30's)
