Play by LSSU student to be performed this December

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR
STATE UNIVERSITY

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Play written by LSSU student to be performed on campus December 2-4

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - A Lake Superior State University liberal studies major will bring a play that he wrote as his senior project to the Arts Center's Black Box Theatre December 2-4.

Four Mondays, a comedy for mature audiences written by Michael D. Nelson of St. John's, Michigan, will be performed at 8 p.m. December 2-3 and 5 p.m. on December 4.

Tickets will be available at the Arts Center on the evenings of the performances, but seating is limited.

Nelson wrote the play to combine his two minor fields of study, creative writing and professional communication, with his bachelor's degree in liberal studies.

He is using the production as his senior project.

LSSU communication professor Gary Balfantz, Nelson's advisor, helped him develop the idea of writing the play, while LSSU creative writing professor Julie Barbour guided Nelson with his writing.

Nelson said that writing a play has been a drastic change of pace, since he is accustomed to writing short stories, mostly.

"Coming up with the idea wasn't easy. It took a long trip home to figure it out," he said.

Being a fan of comedic productions, he decided to write a story that revolves around him and a few friends later in life.

"The majority of the play takes place in a diner where the four friends try to grasp the adulthood aspect of growing up while talking about the impossible nature of women, life and the universe," he added. "They spend their Monday mornings drinking coffee, swapping outrageous ideas, and bantering back and forth with their favorite waitress, who is usually less than happy to see them."

The play is intended for a mature audience because of its strong language and adult humor.

The cast and crew members of include, in addition to Nelson, LSSU students Roxanne Morris, a communication major from Gobles; Eric Cairns, fine arts studies, Traverse City;  Steve Dishman, fisheries and wildlife management, Clinton Twp.; Eric Fleming, fisheries and wildlife management, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; and stage manager Emma Ringer, a forensic chemistry major from Kent City.

Two local friends of Nelson's, both from Rudyard, are also in the play - Nick Pavloski is one of the characters and Betsy McDonoff is the director.

Student admission for the play is $4 and general admission is $8.

For more information, contact Balfantz at 906-635-2659 or [email protected], or Nelson at [email protected] or 517-449-5250.
 
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Photo and news release by Deanna Riggs, LSSU PR Intern

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