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'Dream of a Common Language' opens The Southern Oregon University Theatre Department will open Heather McDonald's "Dream of a Common Language" at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 9 in the Center Square Theatre on the SOU campus. The play explores the results of the exclusion of women artists from an 1874 dinner party in Paris where the first impressionist exhibition was planned. Heather McDonald elaborates on events surrounding this evening and examines female artists' place in the 19th century. A poetic drama, "Dream of a Common Language" delves into a woman's struggle to balance her artistic pursuits along with her family and social obligations. It examines the necessity for humans to find each other - both for pure survival, and also for the transformation of all social institutions. The play was honored with six Helen Hayes awards for its production at the Theatre of the First Amendment at George Washington University. In an interview, the playwright talked about her inspiration for the play. "I was struck that you could be a painter, but you couldn't be part of the dialogue � I wanted to write about that invisibility and how it can cause crippling, self-doubt � fury." McDonald explained that she also wanted to write a love story, but one within a marriage: "I wanted to write about the longing, for women as well as men, to have a fusion of passion and work in their lives." The Department of Theatre Arts at Southern Oregon University is the designated Center of Excellence in Performing Arts in the Oregon University System. Teauna Brosseau directs this production as her thesis, to complete her BFA in directing. Casey Bates plays Victor, the host of the dinner party. Kristen Martz plays Clovis, his artist wife who is excluded from the Dinner. Carrie Immel portrays the earthy naturalist painter Pola, a close family friend. Brandon Saunders plays Marc, an artist friend of Victor. Clovis' nanny Delores is played by Larkin Boero. The set is designed by Sue Jaeggli and the costumes by Anna Williams. Performances will run at 8 p.m. Friday through Sundays, May 9 to 11, and May 16 and 17, with matinees at 2 p.m. May 10, 11, 17, and 18. Tickets are $15 for regular admission, $13 for seniors and $8 for students and are available at the theatre arts box office in the Theatre Building on the SOU campus in Ashland. All seating is reserved. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.to 4 p.m., and two hours before each performance. The box office phone number is 552-6348. LINKS: REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. DAILY TIDINGS: Main | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -