Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Theatre Department will present two plays from the World War I era as part of a season-long exploration of war, forgiveness, and healing. “War Brides” by Marion Craig Wentworth and “Behind the Lines” by Helen Bagg will be presented back-to-back in the Davis-Newport Theater on the campus of Southwest Baptist University on March 8-10 at 7:00 p.m.
Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Theatre and Director of “War Brides” Dr. Elissa Sartwell states, “As a society, we tend to collectively forget the parts of the past we no longer find useful or important.” Dr. Sartwell adds, “Both of the plays we’re presenting examine the war we’d rather forget (WWI), but they are also both written by women. They were written during an era that we also tend to forget – the era before women had the right to vote.” Dr. Sartwell goes on to suggest that the plays represent one way women could voice their positions on the most important public policy issues of the day.
Instructor of theatre, Jonathan Wehmeyer will be directing the evening’s second play, “Behind the Lines.” Wehmeyer points out that the two plays are very different from one another, reflecting the changing perception of the war from early isolationist policies to America’s entrance in the war. “’Behind the Lines’ is subtitled ‘A War Comedy in One Act,’ and the play’s comic elements provided a way for audiences to cope with the darkening cloud of war that was spreading from Europe to the United States,” Wehmeyer states.
Both Dr. Sartwell and Wehmeyer are excited to see how audiences today respond to these very different dramatic approaches to the reality of war. Sartwell invites the audiences to attend a post-show discussion following each performance.
Ticket prices are as follows: $5 for adults; $3 for SBU alumni, senior citizens, and students of other schools; $2 for SBU students; and complimentary for SBU faculty and staff. For more information, call (417) 328-1691 or visit www.sbuniv.edu/theatre.
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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.
