NGU to Present ‘The Last Night of Ballyhoo’ Through Nov. 18
Posted on: November 8, 2023
Tigerville, SC (Nov. 8, 2023) NGU Theatre will present Alfred Uhry’s Tony award-winning play ‘The Last Night of Ballyhoo’ on November 9–11 and November 16–18 at The Billingsley Theatre in Tigerville.
Directed by Joshua Scott, assistant professor and theatre education program coordinator at NGU, the charming family “dramedy” deals with issues of loyalty, prejudice, and faith.
“The selection of Alfred Uhry’s ‘The Last Night of Ballyhoo’ for NGU Theatre was a result of a deliberate process,” Scott said. “The objective was to curate a production season that would engage and enthrall our audience while offering valuable educational opportunities for our students.”
Uhry’s play won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1997.
“In the world of Ballyhoo, set against the backdrop of Atlanta in 1939, we witness how individuals grapple with their identities in the face of cultural expectations and societal pressures,” Scott said. “The characters you will meet are all on their own personal journeys to discover who they truly are. They face questions of ethnicity, religion, and social status, which challenge their very sense of self. It is a timeless exploration, one that mirrors our own struggles with identity in today’s world.”
The Cast features Dylan Thompson (Adolph Freitag); Rebecca Panagiotacos (Boo Levy); Jenna Hansard (Lala Levy); Anslee Johnson (Reba Freitag); Sadie Beaumont (Sunny Freitag); Elijah Scott (Joe Farkas); and Chappie Stanley (Peachy Weil).
The production team includes MJ Greene (stage manager); Liam Riley (assistant stage manager); Cyndi Lohrmann (costume design); David Vierow (scenic design); Dr. Bess Park (lighting design); Isabelle Western (lighting assistant); Grace Turner (light board operator); Jaylan Brinson (scenic charge); Alyse Barrett (master electrician); Renee Drake (props master); Carmen Wells (hair/make-up crew); Anna Faith Major (house manager); Joshua Scott (sound design); Payten Anderson (soundboard operator); Daniel Johnson, (crew); Rachel Forester (crew); and Isabelle Western (crew).
“The Last Night of Ballyhoo” is one of four NGU Theatre mainstage productions during the 2023–24 school year. Other selections include “A Year with Frog and Toad,” “On the Verge,” and “Jane Eyre the Musical.”
“All four of the mainstage productions being produced at NGU share central themes of family, faith, friendship, and forgiveness. Among the four productions, Alfred Uhry’s script for ‘The Last Night of Ballyhoo’ stands out as an exceptionally realistic portrayal of everyday life,” Scott said. “Uhry’s story digs down deep into the themes of family and faith, and it has been a joy to see the actors find elements of relatability, perhaps recognizing aspects of themselves or their own family members within the characters on stage.”
Scott said, “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” offers a challenge to audiences.
“Having the capacity to view ourselves the way our Heavenly Father sees us and championing a healthy identity can become twisted by lies when fear overcomes our faith. In the characters’ pursuit of truth, they confront the consequences of deceit, the destructive power of fear, and the profound impact it can have on their own identities and relationships. Through laughter, tears, and self-discovery, ‘The Last Night of Ballyhoo’ invites each audience member to examine the roles we play and the truths we hold onto in the face of fear.”
