February 25-27, March 4-6 Tea and Sympathy Touching and timeless drama by Robert Woodruff Anderson Director: Mark Henry Tea and Sympathy will strike a sensitive harmonic chord with anyone who has ever been picked on or bullied because they didn’t match others’ definitions of what was “normal.” Timeless and thought-provoking, it follows the plight of a lonely, misunderstood, teenaged boy whose interests in music and theater don’t fit his boarding school’s long-standing culture of “guyhood.” The distressing relationships with his father, classmates, and teachers serve as both backdrop and reinforcement for an emotional attachment to the sympathetic wife of a faculty member. The play is as timely and relevant now as it was 50 years ago. Today’s “Stop the Bullying” and “Stop Bullying Now” campaigns and “It Gets Better Project” directly address the issues that this drama so poignantly portrayed decades ago: judging people through stereotypes…the plight of young people who don't fit in with the majority…and the dilemma of those who do, but aren't strong enough to resist peer pressure for conformity. A major subplot also illustrates how holiday romances can turn sour when exposed to real life. Oscar-nominated playwright and screenwriter Robert Anderson (I Never Sang for My Father, The Nun’s Story, The Sand Pebbles) introduced Tea and Sympathy to Broadway in 1953. It became a huge hit, setting a record for any Playwrights Company production with 712 performances; subsequently went on tour; was adapted for a 1956 MGM film; and provided modern theater with one of its most quotable last lines. Some “old” dramas of the era of well-made plays still have plenty of emotional resonance…this is one of them. "It restores the theatre to an art again…a fine play put on the stage with great skill and beauty."—New York Times Cast (in order of appearance) Laura Reynolds ...............Terri Upton Lilly Sears......................... Allison Pressley Tom Lee.............................Andy Thompson David Harris......................Joseph Martin Ralph..................................Clinton Roberts Al ........................................Steven Berry Steve..................................Elijah “TJ” Crite Bill Reynolds................... Mark Thompson Herbert Lee......................Joe Narsavage February 25th*, 26th at 8 PM (Doors open 7 PM) February 27th at 3 PM (Doors open 2 PM) March 4th, 5th at 8 PM (Doors open 7 PM) March 6th at 3 PM (Doors open 2 PM) *Complimentary opening night reception after February 25th performance provided by Earthshine Mountain Lodge TICKETS: $16 (adults) & $10 (full-time students); season tickets will apply to this production. Reduced rates available for groups of 10 or more; call (828) 884- BLTReservations [884-2587]. ADVANCE SALES: Theater box office, in American Legion Hall at 55 East Jordan Street in Brevard, will be open Thursdays and Fridays, 10 AM - 1 PM, starting February 17th. PHONE RESERVATIONS: Call (828) 884-BLTReservations [884-2587] after February 1st for phone reservations; anytime for other BLT information. |
| Student Special, Saturday, February 26th: All student tickets only $8 |
| Due to mature themes and language, parental guidance advised for children under the age of 13 |