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GRANTHAM, Pa. (August 19, 2004) — The Messiah College School of the Arts will present A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” a play starring film and television actress Betsy Palmer and Pennsylvania State Senator Hal Mowery, on Saturday, September 11, at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, September 12, at 2 p.m. Both performances will be held in Miller Auditorium, located in the Climenhaga Fine Arts Center on the college’s Grantham campus. Tickets are $15 and can be obtained by calling the college’s ticket office at (717) 691-6036. All proceeds from the performances will benefit the Allied Arts Fund and its current $1 million capital campaign. Audiences should note that “Love Letters” contains some adult language and situations that may not be suitable for younger viewers. About the Play “Love Letters” chronicles the life-long relationship between a man and a woman who grow up together, go their separate ways, and stay in touch through writing. The play tells the story of the friendship and ill-fated romance of characters Melissa Gardner, played by Betsy Palmer, and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, played by Senator Hal Mowery. The play is a unique and imaginative theatre piece which, in the words of the author, “needs no theatre, no lengthy rehearsal, no special set, no memorization of lines, and no commitment from its two actors beyond the night of performance.” As the actors read the letters aloud, what is created is an evocative, touching, frequently funny but always telling, pair of character studies in which what is implied is as revealing and meaningful as what is actually written down. “ Messiah College is delighted to bring Betsy Palmer to our campus,” said Richard Roberson, dean of the college’s School of the Arts. “In addition to her performances, she will be working with our students, bringing to them over 50 year’s experience at the highest level of her profession. This is an outstanding opportunity for our students, and a wonderful opportunity for the rest of us to enjoy her work in ‘Love Letters.’ ” Due to the play’s unique style, “Love Letters” is often performed publicly by cast members who are not professional actors. Betsy Palmer, who has performed the play with non-professional actors in the past, suggested that the college consider asking a local elected official to play the part of Ladd. “I am equally delighted that Senator Mowery has accepted our invitation and agreed to join Betsy Palmer in these performances. This will be an excellent time for both the College and the community to pay tribute to him for his long and distinguished career of public service,” said Roberson. Andrew Makepeace Ladd III (Senator Mowery) and Melissa Gardner (Betsy Palmer), both born to wealth and position, are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale and law school, while Melissa flunks out of a series of “good schools.” While Andy is off at war, Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa drinks more than she should, and becomes estranged from her children. Eventually she and Andy do become involved in a brief affair, but it is too late for both of them. However Andy’s last letter, written to her mother after Melissa’s untimely death, makes it eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave to, each other over the years. About Betsy Palmer Betsy Palmer has been in show business for 54 years, most notably as a panelist on the 60s television quiz show “I’ve Got a Secret” and as Mrs. Voorhees in the film “Friday the 13 th.” She has enjoyed an extensive career in every area of the business. Highlights of her career include appearances on Broadway in Tennessee Williams’ “The Eccentricities of a Nightingale,” as well as “Same Time, Next Year,” “ South Pacific,” “Cactus Flower,” “Roar Like A Dove,” “The Grand Prize,” and “Affair of Honor,” while working with stars such as David Selby, Don Murray, Ray Middleton, Lloyd Bridges, Charlie Ruggles, June Lockhart, and Denis King; appearances in film include John Ford’s “The Long Gray Line,” “Mr. Roberts,” “The Tin Star,” “Queen Bee,” “The Other Life of Lynn Stewart,” “The Last Angry Man,” while working with stars such as Tyrone Power, Maureen O’Hara, Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, James Cagney, Tony Perkins, Joan Crawford, Jack Lord, Paul Muni, Luther Adier, and Billy Dee Williams. Television appearances include “The Today Show,” “I’ve Got a Secret” (with Garry Moore, Billy Cullen, Henry Morgan, Jane Meadows), “Playhouse 90” (with Jackie Gleason, Buster Keaton), “Studio One” (James Dean, Richard Kiley, James Daly), “US Steel Hour” (Walter Slezak, Wally Cox, Dick Moore), “Knot’s Landing,” “As The World Turns,” “Columbo,” “Write Me A Murder,” and “The Love Boat,” among many others. About Senator Hal Mowery “Love Letters” at Messiah College marks Senator Hal Mowery’s theatrical debut. “I have been an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in the greater Harrisburg area and I am particularly pleased to be able to participate in this fundraiser for the Allied Arts Fund with Betsy Palmer. Her generous contribution of her time and talent is gratefully appreciated,” said Senator Mowery. Prior to his involvement in the political arena, Senator Mowery served on numerous boards and committees in the greater Harrisburg area including Camp Hill School Board where he served as president during the 70s. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 87th District, in 1976 serving 14 years from 1977 until 1990. After a brief retirement, he was asked to run for Lieutenant Governor. Senator Mowery was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1992, 31st Senatorial District , which encompasses all of Cumberland and Northern York Counties . Senator Mowery will be concluding his fourth term of Senatorial duties in December, 2004. He has announced he will not seek another term. Senator Mowery is the chairman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee and serves as the vice chairman of the Education Committee. He is also a member of the Aging and Youth, Banking and Insurance, Communications and Technology, and Rules and Executive Nominations committees. He co-chairs the Legislative Arthritis and Osteoporosis Caucus and also serves on the Capitol Preservation Committee, vice chairman of the Legislative Data Processing Committee, the Children’s Health Advisory Council, the Senate Firefighters and Emergency Services Caucus, the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, the Intergovernmental Council on Long Term Care, and the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention. He is also a board member of the Keystone Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and a proud recipient of the Keystone Council’s Silver Beaver Award for Scouting. About Allied Arts Fund Established in 1985 by the business and community leaders of Central Pennsylvania , the Allied Arts Fund is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to raise both dollars and awareness for local arts and culture. The Fund conducts an annual campaign on behalf of the region’s most established cultural providers, and raises dollars for new and emerging, culturally diverse arts organizations through the Allied Arts Venture Fund. In its 17-year history, the Allied Arts Fund has invested over $11 million in the arts of Central Pennsylvania . The Allied Arts Fund supports a total of 42 arts organizations in Cumberland , Dauphin, Lancaster , Lebanon , Perry and Northern York counties. In the past year, the Fund’s affiliate organizations conducted nearly 17,000 cultural programs and events that reached more than 787,000 people. About Messiah College 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 . # # # ARTICLE
DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2004 |
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