POMPEY: The Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Department of Theatre and Dance

University of Michigan - Flint

303 E. Kearsley St.

Flint, MI 48502

Box Office: (810) 237-6520

UM-Flint to Stage POMPEY

The University of Michigan - Flint Department of Theatre and Dance will stage the premiere of POMPEY, a new play based on Measure for Measure by UM-Flint alumnus Sean Michael Welch (Flint author of the award-winning play, Earl the Vampire) and William Shakespeare.

Directed by Janet Haley (Flushing), UM-Flint alumna.

An eye for an eye, a trick for a trick....never underestimate the power of a pimp.

Shakespeare's minor character Pompey the pimp, intervenes in the plot of Measure for Measure, and ends up as an unconventional hero as he takes the fight for freedom and justice into his own hands.

This comic and thought-provoking production contains mature content and sexual situations (intended for audiences ages 16 and up).

CAST INCLUDES: Bret Beaudry (Fenton) as Pompey, Josh Carrizales (Flint) as Mistress Overdone, Jason Briggs (Grand Blanc) as the Duke, Don Hillaker (Flint) as Officer Elbow, Kody C. Jones (Clio) as Claudio and Jennifer Amble (Davison) as Isabella. Also features the talents of UM-Flint dance students Justine Burks (Flint), Ashley Mikulenas (Fenton), and Vanessa Napolitan (Grand Blanc).

Scenic Design by Stephen D. Landon, Costume Design by Seunghye Cho, and Lighting Design by Doug Mueller.

PERFORMANCE DATES: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-FLINT THEATRE

Friday March 30, Saturday March 31 and Thursday April 5, Friday April 6 and Saturday April 7 at 8:00pm.

One Sunday matinee, April 1st at 2:00 features a post-show talk-back with the playwright, Sean Michael Welch.

For tickets, directions to the theatre, and other information please call 810.237.6520.

UM-Flint Department of Theatre and Dance website at: http://www.umflint.edu/departments/theater-dance/

Forsooth! Mine bodkin!

Yes, I'm pretty sure that means nothing. And if it did, my bodkin is none of your business anyway.

In the midst of reading one of my new favorite authors, Italo Calvino, I became inspired and wrote a short story. And since the good people at freewebs have granted me additional pages, I see no reason to hoist it up and see who salutes, if that could at all be considered the proper metaphor.

I have created a new link entitled Storytime! which I hope to keep busy with new works here and there. For those who don't wish to wade through my ever-growing website, the link has been provided at the mere mention of a mouse. Or a click. Whatever works.

I apologize to those of you who have been waiting for the Good Sir Pepin stories to appear, but Shaolin Webmaster Rob has been a bit busy and hasn't had the proper time to put them all up.

In other news, good ol' U of M Flintown is experiencing what we in the business like to refer to as "tech week"for POMPEY. In but ten days I will be home and watching how this thing actually plays on stage. Ah, Flint, the only place where I am considered somewhat, in a superficial kind of way, a celebrity of sorts. I shall bask in the warm glow of a Torch Burger and see old friends to boot, and in some cases, the offspring they have wrought, who apparently are already looking at colleges.

No place like home.

The final results are in...

... I think.

After a rigorous editing process in order to get POMPEY down to a suitable viewing time for a U of M audience, it appears that we have finally reached a good place. Starting tomorrow, the cast and crew of POMPEY will have the final draft to work with.

I don't think I can ever fully express my gratitude to my old theatre department for giving me this opportunity. Being able to showcase a play for the first time in the place where I got my start... there are just no words for it. I would call this a highpoint.

Now, if I could just prepare myself for the cutting remarks of Shakespeare purists and people bringing Stoppard up to me, then all should be well. But then, I trust Carolyn, Lauren, and Janet implicitly. If they didn't think it was worth the time and effort, then it would have never come up in the first place.

Break many legs, cast and crew of POMPEY. I will see you all very soon.