American Southwest Theatre Company Closes THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, 5/2

The American Southwest Theatre Company at New Mexico State University Theatre Arts will close Nikolai Gogol's, THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, May 2 at the Hershel Zohn Theatre On the NMSU campus. It is the final production of the 2009 - 2010 ASTC/NMSU Season.

A classic satire from 19th c. Russia, THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR combines cutting political commentary with plenty of laughs. Director Mike Wise sees plenty of contemporary parallels, observing "The play seems particularly timely; at the point at which we chose to present this play, political scandal was rife from South Carolina to Illinois to Alaska. Although the play is set in the middle of nowhere in 1830's Russia, the scandalous bribes, use of political influence, secrecy, lies & greed resonate in twenty-first century America."

Wise, a leading member of the NMSU Department of Theatre Arts, heads an experienced production team. NMSU Theatre Arts faculty members take important design & production roles, including Jim Billings (scenic designer), Deb Brunson (costume designer), and David Hereford (props designer). NMSU Theatre Arts students Daniel Aguilar (lighting designer) and Erica Powell (stage manager) fill out the production staff.

The cast features a number of talented NMSU students including Matt Jones (Mayor), Mandolynn Browning (Anna), Michelle Atencio (Mayra), Jordan Kelley (Grusha), Sean Dolan (Hospital/Charity Director), Carlos Aranda (School Principal), Natasha Sanchez (Postmistress), Aldo Maldonado (Doctor), Anthony Barcena (Svetsunov), Christopher Rivas (Khlestokov), Grady Easterline (Osip), Roxanne de Luna (Innkeep's Wife/Corporal's Widow), Jessica Thierry (Waitress/Locksmith's Wife), Austin Dennis (Constable/Pentelaeyev), Trevor Nazario (Constable/Chernaeyev), Ken Berba (Constable/Abdullin), and Ben Adams (Imperial Messenger). Community performers Richard Rundell (Judge), Trevor Hodgkins (Dobchinsky), & PJ Waggaman (Bobchinsky) round out the cast.

Director Wise sees the play as very relevant and funny, asking audiences to "imagine Jon Stewart in a Marx Brothers' movie...then come see THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR!"

For more information, visit www.theatre.nmsu.edu/astc.

 

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