Eastern Oklahoma State College, Press Release, Theatre Eastern Presents "To Kill a Mockingbird"

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD opens the theatre season at Eastern Oklahoma State College, Oct. 9, 10, & 13, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. in Mitchell Auditorium on the Wilburton campus, according to Ruth Askew Brelsford, artistic director. The beloved story by Harper Lee, made famous in the film starring Gregory Peck, will feature Theresa Raunikar, formerly of Wilburton and now a professional actor in Los Angeles, returning to the Eastern stage in the narrator role of "Jean Louise." Megan McElroy, sophomore from Holdenville, will play Jean Louise as the child, "Scout." Brenton Duncan, sociology/psychology professor at Eastern, plays "Tom Robinson" while veteran actor and Eastern alum Terry Wilson, Yukon, takes on the role of "Atticus."

Cody Henry and Charles Chaney, Antlers freshmen, play Scout's brother "Jem" and pal "Dill" in this play adaptation of the novel read by most high school students. The Eastern Psycho Club/NAACP are sponsoring the Friday night performance as a fund-raiser. An "informance" is planned for Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. in Mitchell Auditorium where a panel of students and guests will discuss the topic "Race Relations: Then and Now." The award-winning video MIGHTY TIMES: The Story of Rosa Parks will be shown. The public is cordially invited.

A matinee performance is planned for 1 p.m. on Thursday for high school students. Call Ruth Askew Brelsford for more information, 918-465-2361 x 216. Others in the cast include Erin Hallman, Denton, sophomore; Christina Bentley, Muldrow, sophomore; Pam Sims, Wilburton, sophomore; Beth Fields, Wister sophomore; Timmy Clemmetsen, Atoka, freshman; Mike Battiest, Idabel, freshman; Ryan Sliger, McAlester, freshman; Issac Jones, Moses Lake, WA, freshman; Vanessa Miller, Haileyville, freshman; Clif Loman, Haileyville, freshman; Richard Allen, Oleta, freshman; Daniel Smith, sophomore, McAlester. Also in the cast are: T'erra Combest, Holdenville, freshman; Dawn Wallis, Pittsburg, freshman; Heather Bambeck, Wilburton, freshman; Gus Palmer, Drumright, sophomore; Laura Butler, Whitefield, freshman; Brandy Purnell, New Orleans, freshman; Vernecia Devance, Longview, TX, sophomore, and Katrisha "Red" Dunn, Dallas, sophomore. Vanessa Corson, sophomore from Broken Arrow, is the stage manager. Lights are by Lauren Helmke, Nashoba sophomore, and sound is by Daniel Smith.

General admission is $3 at the door.

Theresa Raunikar, Megan McElroy
Left: Theresa Raunikar in the narrator role of "Jean Louise." Right: Megan McElroy, will play Jean Louise as the child, "Scout."