EUGENE–One of the best American plays of the 1980’s comes to the Arena Theatre when "Hurlyburly" opens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, for a four-day run on the stage in Villard Hall,1109 Old Campus Lane on the University of Oregon campus.

The production, which is Gregory Thorson’s Robert Donald Clark Honors College thesis project and partially fulfills his degree requirements, will run through Saturday, Oct. 7. Tickets are $3 apiece and are available only at the door.

Playwright David Rabe’s "Hurlyburly" mixes intelligence, cynicism and wit into a compelling and extremely interesting night of theater, according to Thorson, a senior theater arts major from Medford.

The play concerns three Hollywood men and their exploits. In their condo atop the Hollywood Hills, Eddie (Luke Hamilton), his roommate Mickey (Cameron Carlisle) and his friend and would-be actor Phil (Curtis Williams), engage in a wild life of partying and late nights of sex, lies and self-obsession. However, Eddie’s life in the fast lane comes to a screeching halt as a series of encounters with destiny, decadence and death convinces Eddie he must plunge under humanity’s surface and discover his soul.

Thorson has acted in many University Theatre shows over the past three years, from "Design For Living" to "Nicholas Nickleby." His previous directing experience includes "Play On!," "Last Call at the Apocalypse Lounge" and "Marvin’s Room."

In addition, Thorson has trained with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the University Theatre in Great Britain program.

Thorson, who sees this production as the culmination of his work at the university, is mounting this production under a concept that dictates it will be unique.

The set will be different every night. The couch, tables, chairs and other assorted set pieces will be moved at random and without the actor’s knowledge. Thorson says this forces the actors to create their blocking in the moment, giving the performance a spontaneous feel.

"In addition, the production’s set, lighting, costume, props and sound design make the audience feel like they’re inside Eddie’s condo, which serves as a crucible for discoveries about modern society," he says.

According to Thorson, the cast–all of whom have completed the UO sequence of acting courses–includes many very talented acting students. Cumulatively, they have appeared in more than 40 University Theatre productions.

Cast members include Sarah Linder, a sophomore theater arts major, Corvallis; Cameron Carlisle, a Community Education Program student, and Luke Hamilton, a senior theater arts major, both of Eugene; Curtis Williams, a junior theater arts major, Gresham; Darlene Dadras, a junior theater arts and Romance languages major, Milwaukie; Sam Super, a junior theater arts major, Oregon City; and Lindy Anderson, a junior English major, The Dalles.

John Peter Breaden, a senior history major, Eugene, is the assistant director, and the stage manager is Jackie Jacobus, a senior theater arts major, Walnut Creek, Calif.

For more information about this production, produced in association with the Robert Donald Clark Honors College and University Theatre, call Gregory Thorson, (541) 349-8956.

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