EUGENE–University Theatre’s "Tribute to Horace Robinson" Season will present Thornton Wilder’s moving American drama, "Our Town," beginning Friday, April 9, in the Robinson Theatre at Villard Hall, 1109 Old Campus Lane on the University of Oregon campus.

The production will continue April 10, 15—17 and 23—24. Curtain time for all performances is at 8 p.m., and free parking is available nearby in the lot at East 11th Avenue and Kincaid Street.

A matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 18, will be a benefit for the Looking Glass Counseling Program. Tickets for this benefit performance are $10 for the general public and $5 for students.

"Our Town" stands as a pinnacle in the American theatrical tradition, full of simple warmth, humor and pre-war innocence, according to Director Ed Ragozzino.

" ‘Our Town’ is undoubtedly one of the ten great plays in American theater literature," he says. "The play’s appeal is about as American as you can get."

This Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is a treat for the imagination. Writing in an expressionistic style, Wilder has the actors, led by the character of the Stage Manager, tell a heartwarming tale of humanity without theatrical tricks.

"The ‘special effect’ in this play is its simplicity," Ragozzino says. "Devoid of scenery and most props, it forces the audience to focus on the characters of the play and what they are saying."

"Our Town" begins in 1901 in Grover’s Corners where the Gibbs and the Webb families are neighbors. During their childhoods, George Gibbs and Emily Webb are playmates and their lives are inextricably woven together.

One day, George proposes to Emily in the drug store over an ice cream soda, and they get married. But their happiness is short-lived, for Emily dies and is buried on a dreary, rainy day. In the most vitally moving scene in modern theater is shown the peace and quiet of death which can never be understood by the living.

"Our Town" has earned an impressive reputation as one of the most produced plays in the American theater. It reaches into the hearts of the audience and leads them on an enchanting voyage of humanity and spirituality.

The New York Post calls the play "beautiful and remarkable–one of the sagest, warmest and most deeply human scripts to come out of our theater … a spiritual experience."

"Beautifully crafted characters and good acting–not glitz or gimmickry–is what makes this play special," Ragozzino says. "In an amazingly simple way, it expresses the warmth and humor and the eternal truths of human existence. It is a heartening, compassionate glimpse of that time before the Great Wars; before our innocence was lost forever."

Besides director Ragozzino, the artistic staff includes set designer Jerry Williams, lighting designer Janet Rose, costume designers Rabiah Troncelliti and Esther Garcia, assistant director Kate Reding and stage manager Emily Westerman.

UO students in the cast include Daniel Dismuke, a junior theater arts major, 185 Almeda, Ashland, as Professor Willard; Ian Appel, a junior English and theater arts major, 98354 Thomas Lane, Brookings, as Assistant Stage Manager No. 2; Alex Pawlowski, a sophomore theater arts major, 23954 Butler Rd., Elmira, as Sam Craig; Adam Greene, a freshman theater arts major, 2895 Mill St., Eugene, as Baseball Player No. 2; Zo Silver, a sophomore undeclared major, 4603 Laurel Ave., Grants Pass, as Assistant Stage Manager No. 1; Ian Clayman, a junior theater arts major, 922 N.W. Coast St., Newport, as Baseball Player No. 1; Sam Super, a sophomore undeclared major, 17907 S. Edgewood Lane, Oregon City, as Howie Newsome; and as Townspeople, Erin Fix, a sophomore theater arts major, 92989 Templeton Rd., Cheshire; Connie Close, a sophomore theater arts major, 2331 S.E. Paloma Dr., Gresham; Hilary Williams, a freshman undeclared major, 89 Leisure Lane, Siletz.

Other UO students who are cast members include Brian Henderson, a sophomore philosophy major, 4751 Hillcrest Ave., Fair Oaks, Calif., as George; Elizabeth Flesh, a junior theater arts major, 10570 Canyon Lake Dr., San Diego, Calif., as Emily Webb; and Thomas Vincent Mele, a junior theater arts major, 2049 Woodland Dr., New Hampton, Iowa, as Baseball Player No. 3.

Community actors in the cast include Bob Friedman as the Stage Manager; Greg Foote as Dr. Gibbs; Robert Foster as Mr. Webb; Ben Edsall as Joe Crowell; Parker Koehn as Wally Webb; Jerry Williams as Simon Stimpson; Bob Loudon as Joe Stoddard; Alex Huntsberger as Si Crowell; Roxy Ragozzino as Mrs. Gibbs; Judi Weinkauf as Mrs. Webb; Terra Rothman as Rebecca; Mary Mason as Mrs. Soames; and Lindsey McClain as one of the Townspeople.

Regular performance ticket prices are $10 for the general public; $8 for UO faculty and staff, senior citizens, and non-UO students; and $4.50 for UO students.

For tickets and more information, visit the University Theatre Box Office in the lobby of Robinson Theatre, or call (541) 346-4191. Box office hours are noon—6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon—8:15 p.m. on performance days.

A taped message about current University Theatre performances is available 24-hours-a-day by calling GuardLine from a Touch-Tone phone at 485-2000, ext. 2533.

Tickets also are on sale at the ticket office at the Erb Memorial Union, 1222 E. 13th Ave., or call 346-4363.

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