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ESU Theatre Presents 'Late, A Cowboy Song' by Sarah Ruhl

Emporia, KS (02/20/2024) — Emporia State University Theatre presents "Late, A Cowboy Song" by Sarah Ruhl. Performances are scheduled for Feb. 29 and March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and March 3 at 2 p.m. in the Ronald Q. Frederickson Black Box Theatre, in Roosevelt Hall.

Mary, always late and always married, meets a lady cowboy outside the city limits of Pittsburgh who teaches her how to ride a horse. A story of one woman's education and her search to find true love outside the box

"When I stumbled on this play while browsing the drama section at the library, I knew that I needed to direct it. I could not put my finger on exactly why, except that I found the representation of Red as a 'lady Cowboy' absolutely fascinating," notes Aubrey Wilson, director of the production. "Shortly after we added it to the season at Emporia, I found out that I was pregnant with my first child, and the character of Mary became all the more real to me.

"This play may seem simple at first glance: at its core, it is a story of a marriage unraveling while one person finds solace in a new romance," she continued. "Written in 2010, the play tackles some very large issues that still resonate with audiences today, including self-discovery, LGBTQIA+ relationships, parenting of an intersex child, domestic abuse and what it means to be free in love - all in less than 90 minutes."

Visit emporia.edu/tickets and scroll down to the "Late, A Cowboy Song" event for additional information and to order tickets or call the box office at (620) 341-5256 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays with any questions.

The show runs approximately 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets will also be available at the Ronald Q. Frederickson Box Office one hour before the show.

The cast consists of Lexie Vega (Iola) as Mary, Lewis Trotter (Abilene) as Crick, and Rachel Shaffer (Moran) as Red.

The production team includes Director Aubrey Wilson, Assistant Director Ben Ziek (Emporia), Production Stage Manager Abby Tyler (Lawrence), Assistant Stage Manager Hannah Johnson (Potwin), Gender Consultant Stephanie Alaniz, Scenic/Lighting Designer Nic Wilson, Costume Designer Vaughn Lolley (Topeka), Projection Designer/Master Electrician Ashley Hill (Olathe) Sound Engineer/Technical Director Chris Lohkamp, Costume Shop Manager Matt Dempsey, Wardrobe Crew Head Libby Hitchcock (Olathe) and Properties Coordinator Colin Newland (Wichita).

Members of the crew are Board Operator Chloe Eubanks (Emporia), Soundboard/Projections Operator Eva Girard (Overland Park), and Running Crew Jarrett Davis (Rossville). The Wardrobe Crew consists of Aubrey Beebe (Olathe), Jyck Green (Lenexa), and JoyAnne Boutz (Topeka). Front of House Crew consists of House Manager Nicholas Thomas (Emporia), Box Office Austin Michaelis (Overbrook), and Box Office Ariam Mersera (Emporia).

About Emporia State Theatre

Emporia State University has one of the oldest and strongest theatre programs in the country, with well over 1,000 graduates. Many are working across the country in professional and academic theatre. At ESU, students can earn a BFA or BA in theatre or gain certification to become a secondary teacher in the BSE program in speech and theatre. The program is proud to be a part of the School of Visual and Performing Arts. ESU Theatre is an active participant of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.