"Hush: An Interview with America" on Stage in March

The Fairmont State University School of Fine Arts and the Masquers theatre group present “Hush: An Interview with America,” a humorous and heartfelt play for young audiences. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4, in Wallman Hall Theatre on the main Fairmont campus. For tickets or additional information, contact the box office at (304) 367-4240 or visit www.fairmontstate.edu/tickets.

In this play by James Still and directed by Dr. Francene Kirk, the tiny town of Hush, Kansas, becomes the center of national attention when a news reporter, desperate for a story, reports that 12-year old Maggie Parks, played by Morgan Davis of Romney, sees an angel in her backyard.

As people flock to Hush to see what Maggie sees, her father Frank, played by Jay Lindsay of Morgantown, struggles to understand just how to protect his imaginative daughter from the media circus that ensues. Frank’s efforts are complicated by his relationship with the reporter, Jana Roberts, played by Lakyn Arrick of New Martinsville.

 “This play offers parents an opportunity to talk with their children about many interesting questions such as ‘what might be a disadvantage of being a celebrity?’ or ‘do you believe in miracles?’ The show is magical and fun, but it has a serious theme. Children will identify with Maggie’s fun-loving spirit, and adults will identify with Frank’s struggle to let Maggie grow up,” Kirk said.

As Maggie’s imagination runs wild, she meets a kindred spirit in a lion who has escaped from the zoo, played by Kurtis Dennison of Stonewood. Various other magical characters, as well as voices that represent how technology connects people around the world, are played by a chorus of actors that includes Beth Mills of Bud, Sara Greenfield of Martinsburg, Tyler Johnson of Charleston, Kaici Lore of Martinsburg, Bruce McGlumphy  of Hundred and Madison Whiting of Fairmont.

The public performances of “Hush: An Interview with America” will be followed by performances for school groups on March 5, 6 and 7. Educators who are interested in bringing groups to the school-day performances can contact the box office for additional information.

The cast and crew of “Hush: An Interview with America” will also be touring the show to schools in the Ohio Valley during spring break.

For more information about events of the School of Fine Arts, visit the Fine Arts Tatler: The Blog at http://fineartsfsu.wordpress.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/FSUfinearts.

MasquersSchool of Fine ArtsTheatre“Hush: An Interview with America”Francene Kirk