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	Messiah at-a-Glance

	Joanna Pfistner (L) as Julia Gibbs and Paula Sherick as Professor Willard in a scene from Theatre Messiah's "Our Town" production Click on image to obtain print-quality version

GRANTHAM, Pa. (March 29, 2004) —Theatre Messiah will perform Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize- winning drama "Our Town" in Miller Auditorium, located in Climenhaga Fine Arts Center on Messiah College's Grantham campus. The show will run from April 15-18 and 22-25. All shows begin at 8 p.m. except Sunday, April 18 and 25, which begin at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $4 for students. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact the ticket office at (717) 691-6036.

	Paula Sherick plays Professor Willard in Theatre Messiah's production of "Our Town" Click on image to obtain print-quality version

"Own Town," narrated by a stage manager, transports the audience to Grover's Corners, N.H., at the beginning of the 20th century. Here, the audience witnesses everyday events of small town life, following the love and the losses of two families. Wilder's production is widely regarded by many as an American classic that communicates how precious every moment of life is and how important it is to live each moment fully. Wilder based this play on the idea that "living people occupied with their petty occupations and small thoughts know little of true joy or happiness."

For this production, Theatre Messiah enlisted the artistic input of several Harrisburg-area theatre practitioners. Lighting design is provided by Ryan B. Gibbs, the resident production stage manager and lighting designer for Allenberry Playhouse. Gibbs has worked throughout the East Coast as a director, designer, stage manager, actor, company manager, sound technician and technical director. He has previously worked with Theatre Messiah designing lights for "1984," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," and "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."

Costumes are designed by Nathan Martin. Martin is a freelance costume designer based in Central Pennsylvania, and a 1999 graduate of the Messiah College theatre program.

Frank McCullough is the set designer. Regionally, McCullough's work has been seen at the Arrowrock Lyceum Theatre and the Repertory of Saint Louis. In New York City he assisted the designers on productions including "The Full Monty," "Radio City Christmas Spectacular," and "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Current projects include the Broadway production of "Sly Fox," and Disney on Ice's "Finding Nemo."

"Our Town" is presented as part of the college's Spring for the Arts festival—a community celebration of the arts at Messiah College that showcases the Grantham campus' busy calendar of spring cultural events.

Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls more than 2,900 undergraduate students in 60 majors. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg. A satellite campus affiliated with Temple University is located in Philadelphia.

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ARTICLE DATE: MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2004
ARTICLE NUMBER: MC-057-04