Renowned Professor Cecil O'Neal to direct South Carolina student actors in Doubt
November 13, 2011
GREENVILLE, SC – November 13, 2011 – Renowned Professor Cecil O’Neal to direct South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities (SCGSAH) drama students in Doubt by John Patrick Shanley.
As Chair of the Theatre Division for SMU, one of the leading university programs in the country, O’Neal knows the importance of educating young people. Many of his former students of the last 20+ years are working steadily in film, television and in major theaters across the country.
With O’Neal as the guest director, these high school students are getting the rare opportunity to work with someone of such high esteem. The play chosen, Doubt, offers perfect fodder for their instruction.
The 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play, Doubt, depicts an epic clash of values between a conservative nun and a progressive young priest in a Bronx, NY Catholic School. Sister Aloysius suspects the attention Father Flynn pays to a fragile student. A young nun and the unseen student are caught in the crossfire. The story has no resolution to whether Father Flynn is trying to provide support and nurture for a student in an impossible situation or if his intentions are more sinister. The audience is left to wonder what really happened.
O’Neal believes in making people think. The students are learning, with this play in particular, how to instinctively interpret stories but still question motives on all sides. What is amazing about this show is that the audience gets to do the same.
I have always believed that one of the primary responsibilities of the artist is not to provide answers, but ‘to question’. A lack of questioning is, by definition, complacency and complacency is deadly to both art and society, says Professor Cecil O’Neal, SCGSAH guest director. A play like Doubt, which raises many questions but provides no answers, can make us very uncomfortable. Thought and questions replace comfort, leading to a greater appreciation for each other’s humanity. It is through thinking, questioning and action that we progress as a people.
The free performances will take place in Sakas Theater on SCGSAH’s campus. The play runs November 17-19 at 7:30pm with an additional matinee on November 20 at 2:00pm. A reservation is strongly encouraged, although walk-ups are accepted. Reserve up to four seats by calling 864-282-3737.
Cecil O’Neal is directing, with set design by Erin Kiernan, light design by Tony Penna and costume design by Debi Jolly.
The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities
The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities is a public residential high school located in Greenville, South Carolina, providing a unique arts and academic education to the state’s emerging artists. Young artists, usually in 11th or 12th grade, study creative writing, dance, drama, music, or visual arts during the academic year and rising 9th and 10th grade students attend summer programs in these areas, with summer dance programs open to rising 7th through 12th grade students. For more information, visit www.scgsah.org or call 864.282.3713.
