Pulitzer Prize Winning “Crimes of the Heart” Opens April 18 at Berea College

4/1/08

Crimes of the Heart tells a funny and heart-warming story of the Magrath sisters whose family secrets have made them the talk of Hazlehurst, Mississippi for years.  The story opens when the sisters gather around the youngest one, Babe, who has just been arrested for shooting her husband because she “didn’t like the way he looked.”  Nosey cousins, a past lover with a limp, and a letter from the Lonely Hearts of the South dating club all enter this quirky Southern family comedy.  Frank Rich of the New York Times says of the production, “This play overflows with infectious high spirits,…a pure vein of Southern Gothic humor worthy of Eudora Welty and Flannery O’Connor.”

Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize winning play premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 1979.  It is currently being produced on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company directed by Kathleen Turner.

Director of Theatre Deborah Martin is directing Berea College’s production.
“This play has been a favorite of mine for years,” she states.  “It is filled with some of the most complex and hilarious characters ever written for the American theatre, especially for women.  It’s a delight to be able to work with six highly talented and creative students.  Crimes of the Heart is refreshing, funny, heart-breaking and heart-warming.  I think the audience will hope there’s a bit of the Magrath sisters in each of them.”

Performances are April 18, 19 and 23-26 at 8 p.m. in the McGaw Theatre.  Tickets range in price from $5 to $10 and can be reserved by calling the Berea College Theatre Box Office at (859) 985-3300 Monday through Friday, 1-5 p.m.  Admission for Berea College students is free, but reservations are highly suggested.

As a service to our community, a sign interpreted performance will be Friday, April 25.  Listening devices for the hearing impaired, enlarged programs for the sight impaired, and special parking and seating privileges for those needing physical assistance are also available.   Advance reservations are strongly suggested as most performances may be sold out.

Deborah G.Martin
Director of Theatre
Phone: 859-985-3419
Email:
Fax: 859-985-3873