'Moon Over Buffalo' Presented as 'Love Letter to Theatre'

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Contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (March 4, 2016) – Meet George and Charlotte Hay, a pair of fading stars who have one more shot at making it big in Hollywood but can't seem to get their act together.
That's the subject of "Moon Over Buffalo," the slapstick comedy Baylor Theatre is presenting to continue the spring 2016 season.
Written by Ken Ludwig, the play is set in Buffalo, New York in 1953. It is directed by Nicholas Hoenshell, who is earning an M.F.A. in directing.
"I enjoy theatre for its uniqueness as an artistic medium and its potential for catharsis," Hoenshell said. "I believe the living theatre possesses the ability to emotionally touch and affect its audience in ways that speech, writing and even film simply cannot. In my opinion, there is no greater form of satisfaction or fulfillment than creating a theatrical experience that invites its spectators to begin a dialogue with themselves and/or others."
Hoenshell chose "Moon Over Buffalo" for two reasons: its humor and its message.
"It's one of the only farces I’ve encountered that I believe has a message worth presenting," Hoenshell said. "Ultimately, the play tells the story of a family consciously making the decision to stay together despite the odds. 'Moon Over Buffalo' has been critically labeled a farce, but I’m not sure that is the right word for what Ken Ludwig has written with this play. There is an emotional 'heart' and sensitivity to this so-called farce that is absent in most traditional versions of the genre."
Hoenshell had the chance to speak with Ludwig about his production of the play. Hoenshell said Ludwig wants the audience's "spirit to soar" when watching.
Ludwig said there is something uniquely important about comedy and its role in our everyday lives. His play tries to capture the laughter, wonder and sheer delight that draws people in to the world of the theatre in the first place.
"Ludwig calls this play his personal attempt at composing a 'love letter to theatre,'" Hoenshell said. "Our production then sought to exploit this terrific metaphor and really explore what it means for an audience to witness a love letter to theatre."
"Moon Over Buffalo" is the only comedy the theatre will present this spring. The show will run at 7:30 p.m. each night from Tuesday, March 15 to Sunday, March 20, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20, in the Jones Theatre of the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center.
Tickets for the play are $20 for the public; $17 for students with a Baylor ID; and there is a group discount for groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased online at baylor.edu/theatre or over the phone at 254-710-1865.
The Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center is located at 60 Baylor Ave, Waco, TX 76706.
by Jenna Press, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.