Two plays by David Mamet, "The Water Engine" and "Mr. Happiness," will continue the 2009-10 Clarion University Theatre season with performances, Nov. 18-21 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 22 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. Tickets may be reserved by calling (814) 393-ARTS or on-line at http://www.clarion.edu/28193/. Some scenes in the play are intense and may not be suitable for small children, but otherwise both are suitable for all ages.

            "These plays are early works by the award winning Mamet, which premiered in 1977," said Robert Levy, chair of the theatre department and director of the play. "He was just finding his voice as a playwright and developing his style. Mamet is known for his hyper-realistic dialogue, compared to overhearing people talking and for taking his dialogue to poetic levels."

            Both plays are set in radio studios in 1934. "The Water Engine" takes place during the 1934 Chicago World's Fair, which focused on how technology would benefit everyone. It follows a laborer, Charles Lang, who while tinkering in his garage develops an engine that runs on water and the subsequent efforts by the forces of business to silence him.

Performing in the “Water Engine” from left to right are: Marcus DeAngelo, Benjamin Geibel, Adam Huff, and Joseph Vaiana.

            "Lang becomes stuck between the forces trying to gain his invention and those trying to destroy his invention," said Levy. "He is the little guy in the middle."

            "Mr. Happiness" follows the story of a man providing on-air radio advice at a time that radio was the primary news medium. It tells about people in need of an answer, who are willing to go on air to get it. In the process, millions trust him.

            "Mamet wrote both of these scripts for radio and realized later the other possibilities on stage," said Levy. "Today radio is mostly information, talk, and music, and the idea of staging a radio play is only realized in a different way by "Prairie Home Companion." It was a totally different media in the past, when families gathered around the radio to listen and imagine. The power of sound and the spoken word doubles the immediacy of theatre."

            With all of this as background Levy's cast and crew did their research on how radio plays were produced and sound effects added, and about the 1934 World's Fair.

            "This is a play for voices, performed as a traditional play," said Levy. "Audrina Zaczyk has designed a set recalling 1930's in an Art Deco style that serves as the locale for the plays as well as the radio studios. Samuel G. Levy has developed sound effects that will mostly be handled live on stage."

            Radio plays almost always had performers doing multiple roles. That will be true of the stage production too. The cast includes:           

            Shawn Arnold as Mr. Happiness. Arnold, a senior secondary education/social studies and theatre major, is a son of Mary Arnold of Philipsburg and is a graduate of Philipsburg-Osceola High School. This is his B.F.A. graduation project.

            Adam Huff as Charles Lang, inventor. Huff, a senior theatre and mass media major, is the son of Roger and Marian Huff of North Huntingdon and is a graduate of Greensburg Central Catholic High School. This is his B.F.A. graduation project.

            Josef Gates as Mr. Wallace. Gates, a senior theatre major, is a son of Gary Gates of Titusville and is a graduate of Titusville High School.

            Jonah Powell as Bernie. Powell is a son of Julie and Jeff Powell of Emlenton and a student in the AC Valley School District.

            Joseph Vaiana as Morton Gross, attorney. Vaiana, a junior marketing and theatre major, is a son of James Vaiana of Bellefonte and is a graduate of Bellefonte High School.

            Marcus DeAngelo as Lawrence Oberman, attorney. DeAngelo, a junior theatre major, is a son of Paul and Jennifer DeAngelo of Ridgway and is a graduate of Ridgway High School.

            Danielle Winterhalter as Rita Lang, Charles' sister. Winterhalter, a sophomore theatre major, is a daughter of Michelle Winterhalter of McDonald and is a graduate of South Fayette High School.

            Nicholas Dittman as the announcer. Dittman, a junior theatre major, is a son of Peter Dittman of Philipsburg and is a graduate of Philipsburg-Osceola High School.

            Victor Aponte as the postal inventor. Aponte, a junior theatre major, is a son of Luz Aponte of Erie and is a graduate of McDowell High School.

            Shernee Bellamy as Mrs. Varec. Bellamy, a senior theatre major, is a daughter of Jessica Bellamy of Erie and is a graduate of Central High School, Erie.

            Benjamin Geibel as Chainletter. Geibel, a senior theatre major, is a son of Deborah Weber of Jacksoncenter and is a graduate of Lakeview High School.

            Jordan Cyphert as Dave Murray, reporter. Cyphert, a junior theatre major, is a son of Roberta Cyphert of Leeper and is a graduate of North Clarion High School.

            Kaitlin Laurie as Gross' secretary. Laurie, a senior theatre major, is a daughter of Marggie Laurie of Stamford, Conn., and is a graduate of Westhill High School.

            Understudies are Nic Barilar, Jamie Richard, and Brittany Tague.

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.

            Richard, a senior film and theatre major, is the son of Randall and Gloria Richard of Reading and is a graduate of Exeter Township High School.

            Tague, a freshman theatre major, is a daughter of Bonnie Tague of Verona and is a graduate of Pittsburgh High School for Creative and Performing Arts.

            The standby for Mr. Arnold is Connor Mrozowski, a sophomore theatre major, is a son of John Mrozowski of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Winchester Thurston High School.

            The technical side of the production includes:

            Philip Wass, studio floor manager. Wass, a junior communication major, is a son of David and Marcy Wass of Addison and is a graduate of Turkeyfoot Valley High School. Wass is also an assistant stage manager for the production.

            Samuel G. Levy, sound design and sound effects. Levy, a junior theatre major, is a son of Robert Levy of Shippenville and is a graduate of Clarion High School.

              Audrina Zaczyk, set design. Zaczyk, a junior theatre major, is a daughter of Mary Zacyk of Yatesboro and is a graduate of West Shamokin High School.

            Ronald Johnson, costume design. Johnson, a senior theatre major, is a son of Judith Miller of Mckees Rocks and is a graduate of Sto-Rox High School.

            Elizabeth Hultz, lighting design. Hultz, a junior theatre major, is a daughter of Joe and Ellen Hultz of Carnegie and is a graduate of Carlynton High School.

            Breanne Slocum, production stage manager. Slocum, a senior theatre major, a daughter of Ronald Slocum of Franklin and a graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School.

            Kathryn Quigley, assistant stage manager. Quigley, a junior theatre major, is a daughter of Susan Quigley of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of North Allegheny High School.

            University Theatre winds up this semester with the annual Dance Concert, December 10 and 11 in Marwick-Boyd Auditorium.

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