BWW Previews: OLEANNA at Evening Star Productions

"We can only interpret the behavior of others through the screen we create."
~ David Mamet, Oleanna

Evening Star Productions presents David Mamet's Oleanna. Who is right, and who is wrong? David Mamet's play, Oleanna, asks this question, and leaves its audiences searching for, and often even arguing about the answer. Evening Star Productions will present Oleanna, at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton, from September 22 - October 8. (There will be a preview performance on September 21.)

A powerful and thought provoking two-character drama, Oleanna is a play about academic politics, student/teacher relationships, and sexual harassment. The play explores the power struggle between John, a university professor, and Carol, one of his female students, who accuses him of sexual exploitation and, by doing so, spoils his chances of being accorded tenure. The play's title, taken from a folk song, refers to a 19th-century escapist vision of Utopia*.

* Oleanna (Oleana) is a Norwegian folk song that was translated into English and popularized by Pete Seeger. The song is a critique of Ole Bornemann Bull's vision of a perfect society in America. (Bull was a Norwegian virtuoso violinist and composer). Oleanna was the name of one of Ole Bull's settlements in the New Norway colony of Pennsylvania. His society failed, and all the immigrants moved away since the dense forest made it hard to settle there. The lyrics concern the singer's desire to leave Norway and escape to Oleanna, a land where "wheat and corn just plant themselves, then grow a good four feet a day while on your bed you rest yourself." ~ Wikipedia

Rosalie Grant, Evening Star's founder and artistic director will helm the production: "Oleanna premiered in 1992, shortly after the infamous United States Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas brought the term "sexual harassment" into the national spotlight," Grant explains. "The play deals with a male professor and a female student who are arguing over her grade in his class. By the play's end, both of their lives have changed forever - and not for the better.

"Every time I have seen Oleanna, the audience members are arguing about it in the lobby after the show," she continues. "It really pushes some buttons. It's hard to believe that in 2017 a story about sexual harassment is once again relevant. I look forward to eavesdropping on audience conversations after the show."

Sara Grant and Todd Bruno will portray the play's two characters, Carol and John. Director Grant has enlisted Ardean Landhuis to design and construct the Oleanna set and lighting. Scenic art is by Kate McVay, with an assist by intern Kayla Asuoty, and costume design is by Mj Baum. The production's stage manager is Sean Smyth.

Oleanna will run from September 22 - October 8 at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton. (There will be a preview performance on September 21 at 8 pm.) Tickets are $30 and $20 for students. Group rates are available. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling 561-447-8829 or on line at www.eveningstarproductions.org.

Oleanna
September 22 - October 8, 2017
(Preview performance - September 21)
By David Mamet
Tickets: $30 / $20 for students
Tickets: 561-447-8829 / http://www.eveningstarproductions.org
Performances:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 8 pm, Sunday: 2 pm
Sol Theatre
3333 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33431