College of Fine Arts and Design

Nov 12, 2009

The University of Central Oklahoma will present "Three Sisters," a play where the director said emotions are so volatile "it charts like an electrocardiogram," at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-21 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at Mitchell Hall Theater.

The Anton Chekhov classic is directed by guest artist John Dennis, who formerly was the artistic director of the resident ensemble at the celebrated Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles and has directed more than 50 professional productions around the country, including The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

"It is just a beautiful, funny, charming play. Some people consider this the most important play of the 20th century. I do," said Dennis, who is now a professor for Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

The play revolves around three sisters, trapped in a small Russian town and longing to escape to the more cosmopolitan Moscow.

"Emotionally, it is up and down, up and down. They are always winning and losing. It's also funny and, of course, it's all Russian, so there are lots of tears," Dennis said.

Though it was written in 1900, Dennis believes "Three Sisters" resonates with a theme easy to relate to today.

"Everybody's got a Moscow in their lives," he said. "I did. I worked for many years in Los Angeles. I went there for professional reasons, but a lot of people go out there and wither on the vine.

"Of course, what we know, in the audience, is that the sisters were not even asking the right questions - the Russian Revolution is right around the corner," Dennis said.

Tickets to "Three Sisters" are $14 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and Central faculty and staff and $4 for Central students. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at (405) 974-3375. Tickets are also available at the door. For more information, contact the UCO Theatre Arts department at (405) 974-5511.