nicholls lagniappe

The Nicholls Worth 01.27.11 page 11

Nicholls Players to perform “A Lesson Before Dying”

By Ross Landry
Lagniappe Editor
The Nicholls Players will be
performing “A Lesson Before
Dying” March 17-20 in place of
“The Great American Trailer Park
Musical” that has been moved to
October.
Daniel Ruiz, speech instructor
and director of the Nicholls Play-
ers, said the musical was pushed
back because of financial reasons.
“As I was looking around for
musicians and a music director,
it came to my attention that this
would be too expensive for what
we currently have the money for,”
Ruiz said. “When I came into this
job, there was very little money
left for me to actually use.”
Holding the musical in October
will give the Nicholls Players time
to raise more money to pay for the
needed resources.
“The whole cast will come back
in the fall,” Ruiz said. “We had au-
ditions during the break so that ev-
eryone could practice their music.
The musical should be really good
now since the cast will have sev-
eral months to practice. When we
come back in August, that whole
same cast will be performing the
show in October.”
Two performances will replace
the musical this semester. One will
be a main stage performance of “A
Lesson Before Dying,” by Romu-
lus Linney, a southern playwright
who passed away last Saturday.
“He adapted ‘A Lesson Before
Dying’ from the Earnest Gaines
novel that a lot of students read
in their English 1 and English 2
classes in high school,” Ruiz said.
Melvin Harrison (left), assistant director for the Student Union, listens as Warren Snowden, freshman from Harvey,
reads his part during Monday’s rehearsal for the upcoming Nicholls Players production “A Lesson Before Dying.”
The story takes place in 1948
Louisiana where a young African
American man named Jefferson,
played by Gary Baker, freshman
from Crowley, is on death row
for a murder that he did not com-
mit.
“Unfortunately he will be con-
victed and has no chance of re-
demption,” Ruiz said. “His god-
mother, Ms. Emma, played by
Maya Kennedy, Nicholls graduate
student from Thibodeaux, wants
him to get an education before dy-
ing.”
Ms. Emma hires Grant Wiggins,
a young black man, played by
Warren Snowden, freshman from
Harvey, who she helped raise as a
child and paid through college, to
teach Jefferson.
“He owes her a debt of grati-
tude,” Ruiz said. “He really doesn’t
want to teach him, but Ms. Emma
wants Jefferson to know who he is
and why he is dying before he ac-
tually dies.”
Grant agrees to teach Jefferson,
but there are several characters
that cause complications.
photo by Tressa Lafont
One character who intervenes
is reverend Ambrose, played by
Melvin Harrison, director of the
Student Programing Association
and assistant director of the Stu-
dent Union, believes that Grant
should not teach Jefferson.
“He believes that only God can
save Jefferson, and there is no
need for an education,” Ruiz said.
Amber Pappillion, freshman
from Lake Charles, will be playing
Vivian, Grant’s girlfriend.
“She is a teacher in the area
but in a city with a much bigger
school,” Ruiz said. “Vivian keeps
Grant from quitting.”
The cast is primarily African
American except for two mem-
bers. One is deputy sheriff Paul
Bonen, played by Nathan Egnew,
freshman from Springfield, who
sympathizes with Jefferson and
Grant and does everything he
can to make accommodations for
them.
“The other white character is
Sheriff Guidry, played by Shalyn
Pierre, freshman from Houma,
who is not happy with making
these accommodations,” Ruiz
said. “He also owes Ms. Emma a
favor, however, so he lets it carry
on.”
Ruiz said this production will
be a good reflection of the social
and political climate in small town
Louisiana in the 1940s.
“The reason I chose it was main-
ly because it is a beloved novel,”
Ruiz said. “Part of my ambition
each year is to do some theater that
reflects Louisiana’s local culture.”
Two matinées will be on March
17 and 18 for two high schools in
the area.
“This is really going to bring in
some money,” Ruiz said. “We are
projecting about $3,000 of extra
income that will help pay for the
musical in October.”
The show will begin on March
17 and play through March 20.
Each show will be at 7:30 p.m.
with a 2:00 p.m. matinée on the
final day. Admission is $5 for stu-
dents with a school ID. Tickets
will be available at the door, and
reservations will be taken in ad-
vance through the mass communi-
cation office.

Submit your Donny reviews the Owl City gets What do you think of
roommate horror Bubble Ball recogonition the smoking policy?
stories by Monday for iPhone game in in this week’s 5% think it’s bogus.
13% will smoke anyway.
next week’s paper at “Geekly Weekly.” “Notes on Notes.” 26% want designated areas.
nw@nicholls.edu. 56% love it.
graphic by Justin Robert