To Feature Guest Professional Actress “Ladyhouse Blues” A Bittersweet Tune of Life

Otterbein College Theatre will serve ‘‘The whole cast consists of only five audiences are given hints of the new actresses busily baking cornbread, up “a slice of life” when it offers local women: a young, earthy, widowed America coming. Houses are switching washing laundry, lighting kerosene audiences their first taste of ‘‘Ladyhouse mother from the hills, and her four on to electricity, the labor movement is lamps and wilting in the stifling heat, Blues,” February 6-9. According to director daughters,” Vaughan explained, ‘‘She is rising, and women are beginning to blends with a very impressionistic sft by Ed Vaughan, the Kevin Morrison play, set desperately trying to keep her family assert their independence. guest designer David Hammond,” in 1919 St. Louis, offers an honest view­ together and hang on to their old ways, ‘‘Ladyhouse Blues” is set in an explained director Vaughan, who feels point; as valid today as ever. ‘‘This is a in spite of changing times.” Street especially scorching St. Louis summer that blend is a particularly interesting naturalistic play,” he said, ‘‘that takes a vendors still sing out about their melons hot spell, exploring both the social and and satisfying aspect of Otterbein’s look at the fannily structure in post World and fresh fish in the production, psychological state of women during the production. He added that the set • •War I grassroots America, with so many refrigeration still comes from the period, the resulting painful solitude im­ extends a full eight feet over the edge of households having been without their iceman, and this family chooses to posed, the coming together of a family, the stage, bringing much of the action men, and now all eagerly awaiting the continue using oil lamps and gas for and the impending change of life’s ways. right into the audience. return of husbands, fathers, and brothers. cooking. But throughout the play Just scraping by with the help of two Less than 10 years old, ‘‘Ladyhouse teenage waitress-daughters, both on the Blues” grew out of the 1976 National verge of leaving home (the younger to Playwrights Conference in Waterford, elope to California, and the older to Connecticut. First presented in a staged serve as an advocate of working women) reading at the Eugene O’Neill Memorial is Liz Madden, the uneducated and Theater Center, the play opened for a stubborn protective matriarch of her limited engagement at the Phoenix disintegrating family. Visiting are two Theatre in New York in 1976, winning older daughters: Helen, who is dying of actress Jo Henderson an Obie award for tuberculosis and has been forced to her performance as the mother. leave her German husband and their Otterbein Technical Director-Lighting son back in Arkansas to save them Director Robert Fox will oversee tech­ from the contagious disease; and nical direction for this production, with insecure, pretty, and pregnant Dot, wife Otterbein Costume Designer Lucy Lee of a New York socialite who has begun Reuther charged with costuming the to look down on her. women in their simple ‘‘farm woman” As this issue goes to press, the versions of the period dress. David theatre department is in negotiations Hammond has designed the lighting. with a guest professional actress to The comic drama will be presented at play the role of the mother. 8:15 p.m. for three consecutive nights: Each of the daughters’ choices col­ Thurs., Feb. 6 through Sat., Feb. 8. A lides with Liz’s expectations. But despite Sunday matinee will also be offered at their individual interests, each is wedded 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 9. Tickets for to the ‘‘ladyhouse,” one of a number of ‘‘Ladyhouse Blues” go on sale at the St. Louis homes made temporarily Cowan Hall box office (890-3028) manless by the war. The ladyhouse has beginning January 23. Box office hours become a homestead, a bulwark. are 1 - 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays of ‘‘The realness of the play, with the Director Ed Vaughan (left) and guest set designer David Hammond discuss plans for performance weeks. Mail orders are processed in advance of counter sales. the set of '‘Ladyhouse Blues. ” Betty Miller is Liz in ‘Ladyhouse’

Betty Miller will portray needed them, but I was de­ “This is really the first Liz Madden in the Otterbein termined to-make my own. time in my career that 1 guest artist production of And I did,’' she recalled. have worked with college Kevin O’Morrison’s “Lady- ON BROADWAY, Ms. students. It’s extremely fas­ house Blues,” tonight Miller appeared in “The cinating,” she smiled, “but through Saturday at 8:15 Queen and the Rebels,” with also a little frustrating not to p.m., and a 2 p.m. Sunday Colleen Dewhurst, and “A have more time to prepare.” matinee in Cowan Hall. Touch of the Poet,” with Ms. Miller arrived in the Co­ Once in a while, New Jason Robards, directed by lumbus area Jan. 20, just a York-based actress Betty Jose Quintero, who also little more than two weeks Miller wishes she had in­ directed Ms. Miller in seven vented a glamorous stage before the opening of “Lady­ productions at the Circle in house Blues.” name to use in her career. the Square. She is excited about her Usually though, the veteran She received an Obie of Broadway, off-Broadway, role in “Ladyhouse Blues,’* award for her performance although the “mountain” television and regional in James Joyce’s “Exiles” at theatre is too busy acting to flavor of the dialogue is the St. Mark’s Theatre in somewhat of a departure for think about using anything New York. Ms. Miller, who seems to other than the name her She has many New York parents gave her. have made a habit of playing credits, has been with the genteel, educated, upper- The actress is currently in New York Shakespeare Fes­ town helping Otterbein Col­ middle-class matriarchs. To tival, had four seasons with help her prepare the proper lege Theatre celebrate the the APA Phoenix Repertory silver anniversary of its phrasing and distinctive Company, and appearances flavor of the part, she rented guest artist program. in “Before the Dawn” at the Otterbein was fortunate the classic film, “The Grapes American Place Theatre and of Wrath,” before coming to to catch up with Betty Miller “Eminent Domain” at Circle in her home in Greenwich Ohio. “I felt Jane Darwell’s in the Square. role of the mother was simi­ Village, N.Y. Most recently She was also seen as Lady she spent nine weeks with lar to the role I would be MacDuff at the Cambridge playing at Otterbein, in its the Seattle Repertory Com­ Drama Festival and was pany playing the lead of lack of education and sophis­ directed by Douglas Hughes tication,” she said. Kate Kellar in “All My in Edward Bond’s “Summer” Sons.” at the Manhattan Theatre Next for the actress, fol­ Club. lowing ‘Ladyhouse,’ is “a She appeared in several small film” called “Dottie.” different productions of Ms. Miller will make the film Peter Schaffer’s, “Equus,” with Elizabeth Franz. “We performing in regional pro­ begin shooting my scenes in ductions in Florida, Los An­ mid-February,” she said, “on geles, and Chicago, working location at a big old house in with Brian Bedford, Brian the Pennsylvania country­ Murray, and Ken Howard. side.” She toured with the na­ A favorite project for Ms. tional company of “Death­ Miller was “You Can’t Take trap,” with Brian Bedford, It With You.” She appeared and toured in “The Price” in two different Broadway with Joseph Buloff. productions, with Colleen At the Guthrie Theater Dewhurst, Jason Robards, she appeared in “Eve of Re­ and later Eddie Albert. tirement,” directed by Liviu Although she loves live Ciulei. Last summer the ac­ theatre, the film she made tress worked with Robert will always stand out in her Redford’s Sundance Insti­ Betty Miller mind. “I never cried so many tute. tears as in ‘The Pope of Greenwich Village. Director Stuart Rosenberg kept tell- he could help me out WECAREI ’ al tears if I That’*' to star in Once in a while, New York-based seven productions at the Circle in the and appealing" in ^ "Ladyhouse actiess Betty Miller wishes she had Square. She received an Obie award Blues," the versatile actress may inveited a glamorous stage name to for her performance in James already be remembered by some as use in her career. Usually though, Joyce's "Exiles" at the St. Mark's another, not-so-warm long lost the vtteran of Broadway, Off-Broad- Theatre in New York. mother who got stabbed in the back way, television and regional theatre She enjoys appearing in several two years igo in the popular daytime is too busy acting to think about different productions of the same drai^ "Another World." using anything other than the name play, as was the case with Peter Performances of "Ladyhouse her parents gave her. Schaffer's "Equus," in which the Blues" are set for 8:15 tonight The actress — that's right, her actress performed in regional pror through Saturday witii a special real name is Betty Miller — is ductions in Florida, Los Angeles, 'matinee performance on Sunday, at currently in town helping Otterbein and Chicago, working with Brian 2:00 p.m. Tideets are available at the College Tkeatre celebrate a banner Bedford, Brian Murray, and Ken * Cowan Hall box erffioe (890^3028) I year — the silver anniversary of its Howard. She toured with the na­ weekdays (and Saturday) frbm 1^:30 guest artist program. The visiting tional company of "Deathtrap," p.m. : I actress will play the leading role of working again with Brian Bedford, Liz Madden In the school's upcoming and toured in "The Price" with production of Kevin O'Morrison’s Joseph Buloff. At the Guthrie Thea­ I "Ladyhouse Blues," opening to­ ter she appeared in "Eve of Retiie- night at 8:15 in Otterbein Cowan ment," directed by Liviu Ciulei. Last Hall. summer the actress worked with Otterbein was fortunate to catch Robert Redford's Sundance Insti­ up with the Colleen Dewhurst look- tute. alike back home in Greenwich Vil­ "This is really the first time in my lage, New York. Most recently she career that I have worked with spent nine weeks on the West Coast college students. It's extremely fas­ with the Seattle Repertory Company cinating,'* she said, "but also a little playing the lead of Kate Kellar in frustrating not to have more time to "All My Sons," until the play closed prepare." Miller arrived In the Co­ Dec. 28. lumbus area on Jan. 20, just a little Next on tap for the actress after more than two weeks before the Feb. the Otterbein play closes, is "a small 6-9 weekend run of Otterbein's; I film" called "Dottie," which Miller "Ladyhouse Blues." With 3-4 hour, will be making with feUow New York nightly rehearsals at the College, 1 actress Elizabeth Franz. "We iJegin this schedule is a far cry from the shooting my scenes in mid-Feb­ usual four weeks of full-day reheat- ruary," she said, "on location at a sals called for in most of her con- ^ big old house in the Pennsylvania tracts. She is not overly concerned countryside." though, because she's "so impres­ Hard-pressed to name one favorite sed with the caliber of students and project over the years. Miller cited how prepared they are." The Otter­ "You Can't Take It With You," in bein cast was in rehearsal together which she appeared in two different for two weeks prior to the guest Broadway p^uctions, with Colleen actress's arrival. Dewhurst, Jason Robards, and later She is excited about her role in Eddie Albert. "Ladyhouse Blues," although the Although she loves live theatre, "mountain" flavor of the dialogue is the film she made will always stand somewhat of a departure for Miller, out in hir mind. "I never cried so who seems to have made a habit of many tears as in ‘The Pope of playing genteel, educated, upper- Greenwich VUlage.' " she remi­ middle-class matriarchs. To help her nisced. "Director Stuart Rosenberg prepare the proper phrasing and kept telling me he could help me out distinctive flavor the part, she rented with artificial tears if I needed them, the classic film, "The Grapes of but I was determined to make my Wrath," before coming to Ohio. "I own. And I did." felt Jane Darwell's role of the mother On Broadway, Miller appeared in was similar to the role I would be such plays as "The Queen and the playing at Otterbein, in its lack of Rebels, ' with Colleen Dewhurst, education and sophistication," she and "A Touch of the Poet," with SAid. Jason Robards, directed by Jose Although Betty Miller wants aud(- Quintero, who also directed Miller in ences to remember her as "warm ^ B»tfy Milter, in the leading role of Liz Madden, dreams lor better days with henteughter Dot, played by Junior Liana Peters, in “LadyhouseBHjes.’^/.r

**Ladyhouse Blues,” Kevin ^he. actresses will^ i be O’Morrison’s bittersweet Junior Liana J^ers is story of a family in 1919 St. washing laundry, lighting * Dot, a former modeTj^^ti- kerosene lamps and wilting Louis, left temporarily man­ ‘ but also very insAcur^. less by World War I, opens in the stifling heat, but he^ is married to a^^w throughout the play, next Thursday through Feb. York socialite, now pregbant 8 at 8:15 p.m., with a 2 p.m. audiences are given hints of with their second child, and the new America coming. matinee Feb. 9 in Cowan home ioT a “visit.” Contem­ Hall. Houses are switching on to plating divorce from the electricity, the labor move­ Five women, a. widowed uppity husband who has mother and her four daugh­ ment is rising, and women grown tired of her, Dot is are beginning to assert their ters, carry the play that turning more and more to pivots around the return of independence. the bottle she keeps hidden Guest set designer is the one man in their lives—a in her bedroom. Navy son and brother~^ue David Hammond, Director Terry, a waitress, playe^l of Theatre at Upper Arling­ back from Europe any mo* by jhnior Gina Grogg, and \ ment. ton High School, who has banner carrier for labor and designed a “very impres­ A special guest profes­ feminism, she shocks her sional actress, Betty Miller, sionistic set,” according to mother by announcing that Vaughan. The set extends a of New York City, will play she has been elected to the lead role of the mother. full eight feet over the edge - travel to Washington'; to of the stage, lf>ringing much It was for this role that speak for women’s rights/' actress Jo Henderson. won of the action right into the t Eylie, the spunky young- audience. an Obie award iiri97T for esl daughter, is played by her performance at the Otterbein Technical Di­ jreahman Cathy Coffins. A rector-Lighting Director Phoenix Theatre in New local waitress, she is itching York. Robert Fox will oversee Junior Cath^he Rani to escape the confines Of the technical^ direction for this dazzo, a junior. Is the under! ladyhouse by eloping to production.' with btteffeeih ^ California with her Greek Costume Designer Lucy Lee—'• study for the lead role of the boyfriend. mother, Liz Madden, a Reuther charged with c^- proud, feisty matriarch used tuming the women’^ ih'fBeir Director Ed Vaughan, as­ to hardship, but now strug­ simple “farm woman” ver- | sistant professor of theatre, gling against the times to sions of the period dress. calling the production a keep her daughters on an David Hammond has de­ even moral keel. “slice of life” play, says its signed the lighting. lessons are as valid today as Junior Todd Freeman is Each of the daughters is ever. “It is a story of a stub­ on the brink of a major stage manager, assisted by born mother from the hills Chris Cox, also an Otterbein change in her life. Helen, the desperately trying to keep oldest, who will be played by junior. < her family together,” he ex­ Otterbein junior Nancy Fox, Tickets for “Ladyhous^ ^ plained, “and haxig on to Blues” are on sale at the is a ravaged beauty who has their old ways, in spite of come home to die of tuber­ Cowan Hall box office, 1-4:30 changing times.” Vaughan p.m. weekdays, and 1-4:30 ^ culosis, cast away b^a ”for-.^ promises an exciting eigner” husband, who wants* p.m. Feb. 8. Mail orders are i ^-nesy;. to' the Otterbe^ri pro­ processed in advance of A to protect himself and their duction. small son from the disease. counter sales. i Guest actress Miller veteran of stage, screen and soap page ^4 ■ January 30, 1986> ^ * Otterbein College Theatre ij Miller has been here since January 20, somewhat gruff exterior of a busy woman celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversarj but is not too worried because she’s “so always giving her daughters direction, a matinee performance on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available in the with next weekend’s of “Ladyhouse impressed with the caliber of students and there is a special warmth that emerges at Cowan Hall Box Office, which is open Blues” by Kevin O’Morrison, and actresj how prepared they are.” odd moments.” weekdays from 1-4:30 p.m. Tickets are Betty Miller will step into the spotlight “I like Liz Madden,” said Miller about Pferfbrmances will be 8:15 p.m. Thurs­ free with student ID. to help celebrate the anniversary. her character in the play. “Underneath the day, Feb. 6 through Saturday, F^b. 8 with

Miller is a veteran of stage and screen, having worked in just about every medium possible for an actress. Her roles include everythino from soap opera and film work to Broadway and regional theatre productions.

On Broadway. Miller has appeared in “The Queen and the Rebels,” with Col- ecn Dewhursi and “A Touch of the PtKt,” with Jason Robards. Off-Broadway she w'on an Obie award for her performance in “Exiles” by James Joyce at the St. Mark Theatre in New York. She has also appeared in two different Broadway pro­ ductions of “You C'an't Take It With You.”

She has also appeared with the New York Shakespeare Festival and spent four seasons with the APA Phoenix Reportory Company. —Photo b/ Dan Bravard ■Hi Guest actress Betty Miller is seen on the set of **Ladyhouse Blues. ”

“Equus ” “Deathtrap,” and “The Price ” She has ap>peared at the Guthrie Theater in **Bve of FtetirBfneht,’| '

She has also appeared in a film. “I Columlius»E^ttlj 22JctUcubcr l^tll never cried so many tears as in ‘The Pope of Greenwich Village,’ ” said Miller. “Director Stuart Rosenberg kept telling me he could help me out with artificial ' College serves ^slice of life’ tears if I needed them, but I was deter­ mined to make my own. And 1 did.” Otterbein College Theater will serve up “a slice p.m. performance on Feb. 9 also is scheduled. , -i of life” when it offers local audiences their first ^ste ‘ Tickets can be purchased at the Cowan I tall box! of Ladyhouse Blues on Feb. 6. The play, writt%l^fcr office, 890-3028. The box office is open from !(to 4:30f Miller also has worked in the world of Kevin O’Morrison, is being directed by Ed weekdays and the Saturday before the perform-p soap of)eras. Her character on “Another of the Otterbein theater faculty. ances. ______’ Ladyhouse Blues is set during an World” was stabbed in the back two yean scorching St. Louis summer hot spell, and explor^ ago. “This is the first time in my cai : the sociaTand psychological state of women duringtf that I have worked with college students,’ the period; the resulting painful solitude imposed by I siud Miller. *’It’s extremely fascinating, so many men being away at war; the coming together | but also a little frustrating not to have of a family; and the impending change of life’s ways. more time to prepare.” The cast consists of five women: a young, wi- _1 dowed mother from the hills, and her four (^gh> VP 3.

•is:-^ ■ :v.vv-r. ’*1 ; ' '■■^'1 aughnto ‘Ladyhouse ’ Kevin O’Morrison’s bitter­ ..M ^ five Women, a young widow- sweet “Ladyhouse Blues*’ mother is desperately trying 't i ed mother from the hills, and to keep her family to­ '.will be performed Feb. 8-9 ^ her four daughters. “The at 8:15 p.m., with a 2 p.m, gether,” Vaughan explained, “and hang on to their old matinee Feb. 9, in^ Otter- Each of the daughters’ choices in life collides with ways, in spite of changing vK;tu a AAiwan '' HaU, “Ed her mother’s expectations, times.” Vaughan is the director- of from the two teenage wait­ Arkansas to save them from the first Otterbein College ress-daughters, both on the the contagious disease. The Feb. 6-9 —• Otterbein College Theatre production of 1988. Theatre . presents Ladyhouse verge of leaving home (the other daughter, pretty, but Blues, set In St. Louis In 1919. Five 3 Less than 10 years old, , ; older one to serve as an ad­ insecure, the pregnant wife women await the return of the family co “Ladyhouse Blues” grew out ■; vocate of working women of a New York socialite who men from the war in Europe. Curtain • , of the 1976 National Play-3f. > g. and the younger one to elope has begun to look down on 8:15 p.m., except Sunday matinees.^* wrights Conference li>| 2 p.m. Otterbein College, Wester-^^i X toj California), to the protec- her mother, a situation her vine. 890-3028. . ,, ) Waterford, Conn., and w i ; live matriarch’s two older V mother escapes by sneaking ^ubarlv^ JL/ccs 7*^ first presented as a S _ ^ ^Xvisiting” daughters. One is back to the bottle she keeps reading at the Eugene^ dying of tuberculosis and hidden. . O’Neill Memorial Theatt^ has been forced by her But despite their indivi­ Center. ; ^ .German------husband.. to leave^ . dual interests, each is / The cast consists pf only* fr-him and their son back in wedded to the “ladyhouse,” v,.-^ ■ M one of a number of St. Louis ; homes made temporarily manless by the war. The ^ladyhouse has become a , homestead. The story’s tum­ ping point comes when the X family is notified of the only son’s death from cholera, V, ' ' ...... ' ■ . . and the mother, out of stub- 12 Westerville SUBURBIA NEWS January 29, 1986 , born pride, refuses to claim , his insurance from the Navy, i Tickets for “Ladyhouse Otterbein College to show ; Blues” go on sale at the Cowan Hall box office today. ^ Box office hours are 1-4:30 play ‘Ladyhouse Blues’ Vp.m. weekdays arid the ^ Saturday before the perfor­ Otterbein College Theater sional actress will play the will present Ladyhouse mances. Mail orders Will be lead role of the mother. processed in advance of Blues, Kevin O’Morrison’s ^The coitiic drama run bittersweet story of a family counter sales. More informa­ through Saturday, Feb. 8 A tion is available at the box >n 1919 St. Louis, left tern- Sunday matinee will also be poranly manless by World office. > , v : ^ ij War I. offered at 2 p.m. on Feb. 9. ■ Tickets are ladyhouse Blues ’> The play opens at 8:15 are on sale at the Cowan p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 in Hall box office (890-3028).* Cowan Hall. Box office hours are 1-4:30 A special guest" profes-" .p.m. weekdays and 1-4:30 . p.m. on Saturdays. r X Otterbem to present play

Otterbein College Theatre will gical state of women during serve up “a slice of life'' when it‘ period; the resulting painful solitu offers local audiences their first taste imposed by so many men being aw of “Ladyhouse Blues" Feb. 6. ‘ at war; the coming together of A special guest professional family; and the impending change actress will travel from New York life's ways. City to play the lead role of the The cast consists of five women mother in Otterbein's production. It young, widowed mother from tl was for this role that actress Jo , hills, and her four daughters. Henderson won an Obie award in The comic drama will be presentc 1977 for her performance, at the at B:15 p.m. Feb. 6-8. A Sund.' Phoenix Theatre in New York. matinee will also be offered at 2 p.T Less than 10 years old, "Lady- Feb. 9. hpuse Blues" grew out of the 1976 Tickets for "Ladyhouse Blue? National Playwrights Conference in are on sale at the Cowan Hall b Waterford, Ct., and was first pre­ office from 1-4:30 p.m. weekda sented as a staged reading at the and the Saturday before the p< Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theatre formances. Center. : ' Mail orders will be processed ^‘Ladyhouse Blues" is set in St. advance of counter sales. For m^ Louis summer hot spell, and ex­ information, call the box of! ice plores both the social and psycholo­ 890-3028. - A <