PANOLA COLLEGE THEATRE TO PRESENT “ DARK OF THE MOON” 

The first play of the spring semester to be produced by the Panola College Theatre Department is the thought-provoking play by Howard Richardson and William Berney, “Dark of the Moon.”  The play premiered at the Cambridge Summer Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts and later opened on Broadway in the spring of 1945.  Since that time it has been a favorite of high school, college and university theatres. 

Audiences and Broadway producers were excited by the quality of the folklore of the Appalachian mountain people. The story, containing a liberal sprinkling of folk songs, tells the tale of a mountain witch boy who falls in love with a mortal girl named Barbara Allen.  When a conjur woman agrees to make him a mortal so he can marry Barbara, the witch boy agrees he must renounce his humanity if Barbara fails to remain faithful for one year.  But a jealous witch girl and the superstitions of the mountain people contrive to upset his plans.  The play is at times amusing and in the next moment seat-squirmingly uncomfortable. 

Originally written by two students from Iowa State University, “Dark of the Moon” won the Maxwell Anderson award for verse-drama before its production.   The “New York Times described it as having  “Gusto, vitality, humor, and a natural and easygoing way of introducing folk songs that add up to an engaging evening of theatre.” The New York World-Telegram said, “Weird, fascinating theatrical entertainment.  Daringly experimental, it is an enriching and pleasurable experience.” 

The haunting atmosphere of the Panola production is  designed to be presented at the Texas Community College Play festival as well as for home town audiences.   Performances will be held in Q. M. Martin Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 26, 27, and 28.   Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students. For additional information call 903-693-2064. 

The company includes:   John, the witch boy, Frank Weskamp (Tyler), Barbara Allen, Alisha Jones (Tyler), Conjur Man, Bobby Watson (Jefferson), Conjur Woman, Monique Borens (Gilmer), Dark Witch, Jessica Garner (Elysian Fields), Fair Witch, Krystal Deaton (Elysian Fields), Witch Girls, Julia Long (Beckville) and Shawn Woodruff (Marshall), Marvin Hudgens, Joe Wall (Beckville), Floyd Allen, Steven Fox (Gladewater), Mr. Jenkins, Renier Taylor (Pine Tree), Miss Metcalf, Andrea Alexander (Marshall), Greeny Gorman, Michelle Stutes (Gary), Mr. Allen, Ben Patalinghug, (Beckville), Mrs. Allen, Courtney Lynch (Elysian Fields), Ella Bergen, Julia Long (Beckville), Mrs. Bergen, Melanie McEwen (Carthage), Mr. Bergen, William Weeks (Tenaha), Edna Summey, Lyndee Rayls (Chireno), Mrs. Summey, Nikki Gillard (Waskom), Mr. Summey, Jeremy Weaver (Marshall), Preacher Haggler, Andy Reynolds (Gladewater). 

Student Designers are Alisha Jones, Nikki Gillard, Jessica Garner, William Weeks,  Jarrod Kendall, Melanie McEwen, Courtney Lynch, Frank Weskamp, Shawn Woodruff, Joe Wall, Andy Reynolds, James Morgan and Julia Long. 

Production Assistant is Alisha Jones.  Choreographer is Bobby Watson. 

The show will also be presented at the Texas Community College Play Festival held at Lamar University in Beaumont on March 3 – 6, 2004.