WCU’s School of Stage and Screen will present their fall production of the classic play “Once in a Lifetime” beginning Thursday, Nov. 8.
Credited as George Kaufman and Moss Hart’s first collaboration, “Once in a Lifetime” premiered in 1930 at New York City’s Music Box Theatre.
“Once in a Lifetime” is the story of a vaudevillian team in New York City whose act is beginning to fail. The trio, Jerry Hyland, May Daniels, and George Lewis, decide to head west to Hollywood and try their hand at teaching silent stars to speak on camera.
Life isn’t as easy as it would seem and the trio often have misadventures, including teaching the beautiful Phyllis Fontaine and Florabel Leigh how to speak on camera when their voices are dreadful.
The WCU production is directed by Claire Eye, theatre program director.
The cast of students has been rehearsing for “Once in a Lifetime” for weeks. Amanda Wilson, who is playing May Daniels, shared her thoughts about the experience so far.
“We spend so much of our time in school focusing on the way the industry is now that we sometimes forget those whose shoulders we stand on,” Wilson said. “This show has helped to remind us of where we have been and what it took to get where we are today. And most importantly, it emphasizes how friends become family, which is an aspect we, as actors, designers and technicians, have been taught since day one.”
“Once in a Lifetime” will be held in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center Theatre at 7:30 p.m. from Thursday, Nov. 8 through Saturday, Nov. 10. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for faculty, staff, and senior citizens. Student tickets are $10 at the door and can be purchased for $7 in advance.
Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at (828) 227-2479. Between the three nights there are 2,712 tickets available.
