FSCC presents 'The Curious Savage' April 3-5

Several Fort Scott Community College students are preparing to test their acting chops for the upcoming spring theatre production at FSCC.

At the start of the spring semester, a cast of 11 FSCC students began rehearsing for the college's production of "The Curious Savage," which will run from April 3-5 in Zimmerman Hall at the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford St.

Cast members will continue to rehearse two days a week until the opening of the show, which people of all ages should be able to enjoy, according to FSCC fine arts instructor Greg Turner, director of the production.

"I think it will appeal to Fort Scott audiences," Turner said. "It's funny, but it has kind of a serious undertone. Younger people may not get the message it's delivering, but different people will like it for different reasons. It's humorous and thought provoking."

Turner said he chose to conduct rehearsals for the show during the morning hours rather than the afternoon or evening -- which had been tradition for many years with past FSCC productions -- to accommodate the schedules of a broader base of FSCC students who were interested in performing.

"It's a phenomenally talented group," Turner said of the show's cast.

The play marks the first theatre production at FSCC since last spring, when the FSCC Theatre Department produced the Neil Simon play "Proposals" at the FSCC Melodrama Theatre. That show was also the final production directed by Rod Peterson, a former long-time speech and theatre instructor at the college. Peterson, who was instrumental in the formation of a theatre department at FSCC several years ago, retired in May after a 31-year career teaching at FSCC.

"The Curious Savage" will be the first FSCC production directed by someone other than Peterson in the last 30 years, and the first play in several years that will not be presented at the FSCC Melodrama Theatre. Turner, the chairman of the FSCC Communications and Fine Arts Division, has also been a choral instructor at the college for several years.

Many of Turner's choir students have also been involved in drama and theatre in some way during their college careers, which Turner said made it easier for him to step in and direct "The Curious Savage."

"Almost all of the cast are in the choir -- that's why I did it," he said. "I think there's a tremendous overlap between music and theatre, and you tend to see the same group of students interested in both."

Turner said he is serving as an interim theatre instructor at the college until a permanent replacement for Peterson is found.

"I guess it kind of filtered to me by default," Turner said. "I think they will have a full-time person in place by next fall."

According to information provided by FSCC, "The Curious Savage," written by John Patrick, follows the curious actions of a wealthy widow after she gives away most of her estate to those in need. Her greedy children are infuriated that their eventual inheritance is given away to others. They have their mother committed to an asylum based on the reasoning that no sane woman would give so much money away. While locked away, the widow establishes funny and endearing relationships with the other inmates, and with the help of her new friends, she begins a journey to regain her freedom and teach her children a lesson.

The show's cast includes Sarah Conley, Fredricktown, Mo.; Matthew Blunt, Arma; Whitley Zandler, Fort Scott; Will Miller, Linn Valley; Sarah Karleskint, Fort Scott; Samuel Tiner, Arma; Benjamin Cole, Girard; Amanda Shotton, Baldwin City; Megan Peterson, Fort Scott; Kayla West, Fort Scott; and Paul Kirk, Overland Park.

For more information about tickets and showtimes, call FSCC at (620) 223-2700.