Gamut Theatre to Present UNDER MILK WOOD, 5/3 & 5

Gamut Theatre Group today announced the next installment of its Stage Door Series initiative for the 2011-2012 season: Dylan Thomas’ "Under Milk Wood", which will be presented on May 3 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Gamut Theatre Group’s Studio Theatre.  Please note that there is no performance on May 4.

The Stage Door Series began last season, and offers diverse, exciting, classically-themed programming with simpler technical elements than a Mainstage season production, focusing simply on the words and emotional journeys in a piece.  All productions in the Stage Door Series are Bring Your Own Price, where any size donation buys admission to the show.  The Series’ motto is “Come as you are, pay what you will.”

"Under Milk Wood" was completed just before Dylan Thomas’ death in 1953.  This “play for voices” is revered as a moving and hilarious account of a spring day in a small Welsh town, Under Milk Wood begins with dreams and ghosts before dawn, moving through the brilliant, noisy day of the town folk, and ends as the “rain of dusk brings on the bawdy night”.

"Under Milk Wood" is directed by Dan Burke, who also directEd Harrisburg Shakespeare Company’s recent production of Tom Stoppard’s "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead".  Burke is a longtime fan of Dylan Thomas, who was introduced to the poet’s work by a high school girlfriend.

“I had no idea until I got to college that he had written a "play" and when I read it I fell in love with the story and the language,” Burke said.

"Under Milk Wood" will be presented as a staged reading, with live sound effects.  The cast, comprised of 20 area actors, will undertake the challenge of playing  68 different roles.

"Under Milk Wood" is sponsored by Oxford Hall Celtic Shop. More information about Oxford Hall can be found at www.oxfordhall.com

Additional info on Gamut Theatre Group’s Stage Door Series can be found at www.gamutplays.org.