Director Rob Bullington talks about Skin Deep.

          "Skin Deep" by Paul Meade will make its university premier as the first play of Clarion University Theatre's 2009-10 season. This is only the fourth staging of this play since its development in 2003.

            Performances are scheduled Oct. 7-10 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. in Marwick-Boyd Little Theatre. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for children and $6 for Clarion University students with valid identification cards. Due to adult language and situations, the play is not suitable for young people under 15.  Tickets may be reserved by calling (814) 393-ARTS or on-line at http://www.clarion.edu/28193/.

            "This play was originally staged at Guna Nua Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, then in Europe, and earlier this year in Philadelphia," said Rob Bullington, associate professor of theatre and director of the play.

 

           Bullington and several Clarion faculty members and students went to see the play in Philadelphia during the 2009 Region II Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. Melissa Lynch, a 2005 Clarion University graduate, was one of the actors in the play

            "We had three of our plays selected for this season at that time," recalled Bullington. "After we saw it, we knew "Skin Deep" had to be the fourth. As soon as we got back to Clarion we pursued the rights."

            The four-character play follows the story of Karl, an artist, who pays a medical student, Susan, to steal him a body part. He uses the body part to make a very popular art installation. The popularity prompts Ruth, the journalist girlfriend, of Karl's landlord, Dan, a professional photographer, to start asking questions.

            "This is an Irish black comedy," explains Bullington. "The four characters by a series of betrayals manage to ruin each other's lives. It is about the whole artist scene in Dublin today and has dark, Irish humor and charming characters."

            For Bullington, "Skin Deep" is a return to one of his favorite genres, Irish plays. "Over the last 10 years there has been a resurgence of Irish plays," he said. "I have directed several Irish plays at Clarion but they were always set in the past, in rural areas. This one is different, set in modern time about modern people living in urban Dublin."

            While Bullington and the others from Clarion viewed "Skin Deep" in a black box theatre with minimum scenery, he plans to have more set and design in this production. Multi-media slides and film will be used to help indicate the location of each scene on a multi-level set.

            The cast for the play includes:

            Jamie Richard as Dan. Richard, a senior communication and theatre major, is a son of Randall and Gloria Richard of Reading and is a graduate of Exter Township High School. Richard is using this play as his graduation project.

            Connor Mrozowski as Karl. Mrozowski, a sophomore theatre major, is a son of John Mrozowski of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Winchester Thurston High School.

            Danielle Winterhalter as Susan. Winterhalter, a sophomore theatre major, is a daughter of Michelle Winterhalter of McDonald and is a graduate of South Fayette High School.

            Kate Quigley as Ruth. Quigley, a junior theatre major, is a daughter of Susan Quigley of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of North Allegheny High School.

            The understudies are Nic Barilar and Kate Laurie.

            Barilar, a sophomore theatre major, is a son of Tracy Smith of Punxsutawney and Al Barilar of Wilmington, Ohio, and is a graduate of Punxsutawney High School.

            Laurie, a senior theatre major, is a daughter of Mary Laurie of Stamford, Conn., and is a graduate of Westhill High School.

            The technical design for the production is in the hands of Clarion University students, who will be entering their work in the next ACTF.

            Sam Levy is the stage manager. Levy, a junior theatre major, is a son of Rober Levy o Shippenville and is a graduate of Clarion High School.

            Lauren Farine is the assistant stage manager. Farine, a sophomore theatre major, is a daughter of Leah Farine of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of North Hills High School.

            Amy Hartman is the lighting designer. Hartman, a senior theatre major, is a daughter of Terry Hartman of Greensburg and is a graduate of Greensburg-Salem High School.

            Victor Aponte is the costume designer. Aponte, a junior theatre major, is a son of Luz Aponte of Erie and is a graduate of McDowell High School.

            Kevin Lichty is the scenic designer. Lichty, a junior theatre major, is a son of Pat Lichty of York and is a graduate of York Catholic High School.

            Elizabeth Hultz is the props designer. Hultz, a junior theatre major, is a daughter of Joe and Ellen Hultz of Carnegie and is a graduate of Carlynton High School.

            Elizabeth Fisher is the sound/multimedia designer. Fisher, a senior theatre major, is from North Huntingdon and is a graduate of Norwin High School.

            Joseph Pettine is the dramaturg. Pettine, a senior secondary education/English major, is a son of Elizabeth McNamara of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Abington High School.

            Upcoming during Fall 2009 are:  "The Water Engine/Mr. Happiness," Nov.18-22; and the Dance Concert, Dec. 10-11.

            Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.