The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present Edward Albee’s one-act play “The Zoo Story” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus.
Directed by Jackie Rosenfeld, a lecturer in the School of Theatre, “The Zoo Story” is about a conversation that occurs between two strangers in a New York City park. To escape his wife, two daughters and two parakeets, Peter sits on a bench in Central Park, reading and thinking, Rosenfeld explains. Jerry joins him, having just been to the zoo. He draws the unwilling Peter into conversation and extracts information from him. In return, Jerry supplies Peter with a curious medley of information about his wanderings in New York.
“‘The Zoo Story’ is considered to be the first absurdist play written by an American playwright,” Rosenfeld said.
The two-person cast includes Wichita Falls senior Travis Brasher as Jerry and Las Vegas, Nevada, senior Shane Reynolds as Peter. Stage manager is Dallas freshman Michael Nunez.
Originally from Abilene, Rosenfeld earned an M.F.A. in playwriting from Texas Tech University. She currently serves as the Region VI chair for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Playwriting Program and co-coordinator for the Scholar Debut Panel with the Texas Educational Theatre Association. Her plays have been produced across the country including several performances in Manhattan. Her play “keepingabreast” was recently published as an audiobook by Blunder Woman Productions.
The play is recommended for mature audiences. Tickets are $4. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit theatre.sfasu.edu.
