February 23, 2007

Dana College has chosen an award-winning off-Broadway musical for its next production, opening Friday, March 2. Performances will be Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in the Lauritzen Theater of the Madsen Fine Arts Center on the Dana College campus in Blair, Neb. The same schedule will be repeated the following weekend.

This show takes place in 1964 and centers on a young woman, Violet, who bears a facial scar from a childhood accident. She boards a bus from her small mountain town in rural North Carolina and heads towards Tulsa, where she hopes to be healed by a TV preacher. In the end, Violet receives an emotional and spiritual healing far more important than the physical transformation she sought. The music consists of many soaring melodies full of passion and color including various song styles such as gospel, 60s pop, country, and blues, all of which are appropriate to the time period, and the result is a funny, rich and powerful musical score.

“ Violet” is directed by Professor Brandon Higdem, recent winner of the Omaha Entertainment Award for his performance of the role of Brother in “Ragtime.” Choreography is by Dana College Theater regular Michelle Higdem.

The orchestra includes Adam Martin ‘01, conductor and various instruments; Clare Cowing, principal keyboard; Susan Steinke ‘03, keyboard; and Josh Cogan (FR, Salisbury, N.C.), percussion.

The cast includes Nick Albrecht (JR, Omaha, Neb.), Sara Andrews (SO, Omaha, Neb.), Joy Augustine (JR, Omaha, Neb.), Joe Blackstad (SR, Andover, Minn.), Brooke Fencl (FR, Elkhorn, Neb.), Thomas Gjere (SO, Omaha, Neb.), Jenna Gray (JR, Omaha, Neb.), Christopher Lunbeck (FR, Omaha, Neb.), Bailey Newman (12-year-old from Omaha, last seen in the Blue Barn production of “The Pillowman”), Greg Rickenbacher (SR, Tacoma, Wash.), George Roath (SR, Kansas City, Kan.), Kirk Schjodt (JR, Blair, Neb.), Luther Simon (SO, Omaha, Neb.), Samantha Triplett (SO, Creighton, Neb.), and Paige Vaughan (SO, Coon Rapids, Iowa).

Tickets are $7. To reserve tickets, call Sandy Sonderup at 402-426-7255. For additional information, call Dr. Paul Schneider at 402-426-7249.

---------------------------------

For more information, contact:

Carrie L. Reed, Director of College Relations and Marketing,
402-426-7385, creed@dana.edu