Ithaca College Theatre Opens New Season with Etta Jenks

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FOR RELEASE: Upon Receipt (9-21-06-183)

ITHACA COLLEGE THEATRE OPENS NEW SEASON WITH ‘ETTA JENKS’

ITHACA, NY—Ithaca College Theatre will kick off its 2006–7 season with Marlane Gomard Meyer’s “Etta Jenks.” Evening performances will take place at 8 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 5–7. Matinees will be offered at 2 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 8. All performances will take place in the Clark Theatre, Dillingham Center. Because of its themes, “Etta Jenks” is appropriate for mature audiences. Tickets range in price from $4.50 to $10 and can be purchased at the Ithaca College Theatre ticket office in Dillingham Center or by calling (607) 274-3224. Tickets may also be purchased by calling the Clinton House ticket center at (607) 273-4497 or visiting www.ithacaevents.com. Group discounts are available. This production is not included in the season subscription package; tickets for the subscription series will be sold through Nov. 11. First produced in 1988, “Etta Jenks” garnered playwright Marlane Gomard Meyer the Joseph Kesselring Award, given annually to playwrights of exceptional promise. She was also a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, awarded annually to a woman playwright who has written a work of outstanding quality. Meyer’s drama chronicles the title character’s quest to become an actress in Los Angeles and follows Etta on her tumultuous immersion in the labyrinthine porn industry. The production examines the dilemmas posed when sex becomes an industry and the struggles women face when trying to preserve their integrity while finding a place in the workforce. This striking, intriguing, and often gritty play explores love, betrayal and the dehumanization of women as sex objects. The director of “Etta Jenks” is Greg Bostwick, professor of theater arts. The design team includes scenic designer Samantha Yaeger ’08, costume designer Katie Delaney ’08, lighting designer Teresa Sears ’08, sound designer Nathan Rosen-Share ’07, and technical director Mike Baczek ’07. Julie Starr ’08 is the stage manager. The cast includes Christina Smith ’07 as Etta Jenks, Ben Hart ’08 as Burt and Sherman, and Bryan Plofsky ’08 as Ben. Other cast members include Catherine Stephani ’09 as Shelly, Laura Jo Trexler ’07 as Sheri, Jared Zirilli ’08 as Spencer, Patrick Prudent ’08 as Clyde, Alex Krasser ’09 as Max, Gillian Glasco ’07 as Dolly, Stuart Fingeret ’07 as Dwight, Michael Crouch ’07 as James, and Jeff Crosley ’09 as Alec. Heather Frase ’09 and John Michael Miller ’09 are the understudies. #####