GREENEVILLE – Rehearsals are underway as Theatre-at-Tusculum prepares for a three-show run of “The Sneeze and Other Plays” at Tusculum University in November.
Left to right, Michael Fillers, Nakara Baldwin, James Sams, Shelly Skelly-Ramos and Sam Garland perform a scene in one of the plays.
Erin Hensley Schultz, the production’s director, recently selected a 20-person cast to perform the collection of eight plays, written by Anton Checkov, following two days of auditions. The group is now working in earnest in Behan Arena Theatre for shows Friday, Nov. 14-Sunday, Nov. 16, in that venue.
“We have assembled an outstanding cast, most of which has extensive acting portfolios, which will result in a high-quality production,” Schultz said. “We pride ourselves on presenting compelling material that audiences will enjoy and uphold our standards of excellence, and ‘The Sneeze and Other Plays’ will meet that threshold. It is thrilling to have rehearsals up and running.”
“The Sneeze and Other Plays” consists of a collection of short plays by Checkov that was translated by Michael Frayn, another playwright. All of the plays in this show except one are comedies with a satirical element, and the other is insightful. Each play within the production is five to 15 minutes long.
Steve Schultz, director of Tusculum Arts Outreach, who is also one of the performers. said the humor and caliber of writing embedded in “The Sneeze and Other Plays” will appeal to audiences.
The cast features four Tusculum students – Emme Foster, Sam Garland, James Sams and Izzy Wilson – and 16 other actors who hail from Newport to Johnson City. Many of them have performed and directed in Tusculum theater productions in the past and will be recognized by people who have been regulars in the audience. People can view the entire cast list at https://bit.ly/3KxRx7k.
Left to right, Sam Garland, Michael Fillers and Shelly Skelly-Ramos work on a scene.
Shelly Skelly-Ramos, left, and Michael Fillers rehearse for “The Sneeze and Other Plays.”
The eight plays in this production are “Drama,” “The Alien Corn,” The Sneeze,” “The Bear,” “The Evils of Tobacco,” “The Inspector General,” “Swan Song” and “The Proposal.”
“It’s important that we are connecting theater and literature and celebrating the works of such a great author,” Steve Schultz said. “People will really be impressed by what we’re capable of presenting and the way we will match what Checkov wanted to achieve. Audiences can be ready for a thoroughly enjoyable experience when they come for one or more performances.”
Theatre-at-Tusculum is part of Arts Outreach and Tusculum’s Center for the Arts and is supported in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and many generous donors. To learn more about the Center for the Arts and Arts Outreach, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/center-for-the-arts/. Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.