Morningside College theatre department to present "The Dining Room"

Six actors will portray over 50 characters when the Morningside College theatre department presents the A.R. Gurney play “The Dining Room” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, November 20 to 22, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 23, at Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue.

The performances are sponsored by Morningside's Academic and Cultural Arts Series (ACAS).

“The Dining Room” is both a drama and a comedy set in a single dining room where 18 different scenes from different households explore the dynamic relationships of family life as they go about their daily routines. The play is unique in that the characters change around the scenery rather than the traditional format where the scenery changes around the characters. The actors change roles, personalities, and ages while they portray a wide variety of characters. The play was first produced in New York in 1981.

Cast members are Tyrel Drey, a junior from Storm Lake, Iowa; Whitney Gries, a junior from Onawa, Iowa; Athena Riesenberg, a sophomore from Sioux City; Andrew Gerodias, a sophomore from Laurens, Iowa; Jennifer Bechtel, a senior from Cherokee, Iowa; and Trey Blackburn, a senior from Knoxville, Iowa.

The play is directed by Bette Skewis-Arnett, professor and chair of the theatre department. The costume coordinator is Randy Peters, artistic director of the Betty Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series.

Members of the crew include Megan Parrish, a senior from Spencer, Iowa, scene designer; Beau Sudtelgte, a senior from Le Mars, Iowa, lighting designer, master carpenter, and props master; Catelin Hoistad, a junior from Huron, S.D., stage manager; Brittney Foxhoven, a freshman from South Sioux City, Neb., assistant stage manager; Tom Chilton, a sophomore from Sioux City, back stage manager; Madalyn Mardesen, a freshman from Elliott, Iowa, props assistant; Corinne Youngberg, a freshman from Blaine, Minnesota, props assistant; Katie Gorden, a junior from Le Mars, Iowa, wardrobe; Jamie Greenlee, a freshman from Anita, Iowa, wardrobe; April Parkison, a junior from Omaha, Neb., house manager; Maggie Konecne, a junior from Humboldt, Iowa, box office manager; and Jeremy Bauer, a senior from Lake City, Iowa, light board operator.

General admission is $5 for adults and $1 for students.