The Hartt Theatre Division Presents Ah, Wilderness! 12/2-5

The Hartt Theatre Division presents Ah, Wilderness! Thursday, December 2 through Saturday, December 4, at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, December 5, at 3:00 PM, in the Kent McCray Theater, in the Mort and Irma Handel Performing Arts Center, 35 Westbourne Parkway, Hartford. Admission is $20 with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. Admission is free for University of Hartford students, faculty, and staff with current University ID. For tickets and information, contact the University of Hartford Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 1.800.274.8587, or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

Taking place on the Fourth of July, 1906, Eugene O'Neill's comedy Ah, Wilderness! shares with Thorton Wilder's Our Town the depiction of an earlier, more innocent New England in a country yet untouched by world war and 20th century cynicism. The extended Miller family lives in a Connecticut town, much like O'Neill's New London, in a house very much like O'Neill's boyhood home. Instead of the tortured ghosts of his other plays, he has peopled Ah, Wilderness! with a loving family and some unforgettably robust characters. At the heart of the action is the seventeen year old Richard, whose passionate rebellious spirit and lust for life lead him into true dangers that test the family bond.

Guest Artist Terry Layman who directs this coming of age tale says, "This expertly crafty comedy gives the talented actors of The Hartt School an opportunity to travel to another era with one of the greatest American Playwrights as their guide."

The cast includes Hartt third-year actor training students Annie Bradford as Essie; Ben Cole as Sid David; Alana Fallis as Mildred; Mark Ford as Arthur; Morgan Hammel as Nora; Tom Rash as Nat Miller; Tim Rizzo as Richard; Alex Saffer as a Bartender; Sophia Watt as Lily Miller; and Sal Zullo as a Salesman. Third year music theatre students in the cast include Joel Dommel as David McComber; Michael O'Brien as Wint Selby; and Kristen Tarczynski as Belle. Fourth year music theatre student Lindsey Adkins joins the cast as Muriel.

The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. Founded 90 years ago, Hartt has been an integral part of the University of Hartford since its charter merged the then Hartt School of Music, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to create the University in 1957. 2010 marks Hartt's 90th year of providing world class performing arts education to students in Greater-Hartford and around the world. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions a year, performance is central to Hartt's curriculum. For more information about The Hartt School, visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

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