EUGENE–"The Dreamer Examines His Pillow," a striking, surreal comedy about the often bizarre byways that love between men and women can follow, opens on Wednesday, Jan. 19, in the Arena Theatre at Villard Hall, 1109 Old Campus Lane, as the third production of the University Theatre Second Season.

The play, from the award-winning author of "Moonstruck," John Patrick Shanley, continues on Jan. 20—22 and Jan. 27—29. All performances begin at 8 p.m., and no late seating is permitted. Free parking is available nearby in the University of Oregon lot at East 11th Avenue and Kincaid Street.

Tickets cost $6 for the general public; $5 for senior citizens, UO faculty and staff, and non-UO students; and $4 for UO students. A $1 discount is available to UO students for Wednesday and Thursday performances.

Tickets for all University Theatre events are now available at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, One Eugene Centre, as well as at the Ticket Office in the Erb Memorial Union (EMU), 1222 E. 13th Ave., and the University Theatre Box Office in the Robinson Theatre Lobby.

"The Dreamer Examines His Pillow," directed by Jonathan Cole, a doctoral degree student in theater arts from Thompson Falls, Mont., is told in three related scenes. The play uses indirection and richly evocative language to make its unsettling but ultimately illuminating points.

"This play will speak to anyone who has fallen in love with the ‘wrong’ person," he says. "Dreamer speaks volumes about the addictive qualities of love."

Cole says he chose to produce this play because of Shanley’s poetry.

"His rich, earthy, evocative text, mixed with his uncanny ability to write brilliant comedy, makes this play an exciting project!"

Writing about the original production in New York, The Village Voice described "The Dreamer Examines His Pillow" as "…a philosophic dream-comedy about love, marriage, and maturity." The NewYorker claimed, "…Mr. Shanley is a born playwright…."

The production team working with Cole includes the resident set designer of the University Theatre, Jerry Williams; costume designer Beth Christensen, a graduate student from Austin, Texas; lighting designer René Garza, a graduate student from San Antonio, Texas; the resident technical director of University Theatre, Janet Rose; and stage manager Michael Dickman, a senior theater arts major from Portland.

The cast features Joe von Appen, a junior theater arts major from Eugene, as Tommy; Jessica Grindell, a senior theater arts major from Portland, as Donna; and Curtis Williams, a junior theater arts major from Gresham, as Dad.

For more information about performances of "The Dreamer Examines His Pillow" and other Second Season productions, browse http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~theatre or call the University Theatre Box Office, (541) 346-4191; the EMU Ticket Office, 346-4363; or the Hult Center Box Office, 682-5000.

A taped message about University Theatre productions and activities also is available 24 hours a day by calling GuardLine from a Touch-Tone phone at 485-2000, ext. 2287.

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