FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"Living Out" Brings Global Issues to the Stage at Saint Mary's College
Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
(574) 284-4579
April 11, 2011 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Diversity, global citizenship, intercultural dialogues, and immigration are all themes that emerge throughout the play, “Living Out.” The play, written by Lisa Loomer, will be showing at 7:30 p.m. on April 14-16 and at 2:30 p.m. on April 17 in O’Laughlin Auditorium. It is the story of Ana, an illegal alien from El Salvador, working for Nancy, a high-powered Hollywood attorney just going back to work after the birth of her first child. The play is open to the public.
The play takes the audience through scenes between Ana and Nancy, their husbands, and a group of Central American nannies and the mothers who hire them. Through these scenes, the modern world of pressures on women to “do it all,” to work, take care of their children, support their husbands, all while trying to remain true to their own visions, emerges. As Ana and Nancy start to step away from the stereotyped ideas they hold of each other and begin to forge a friendship they didn't expect, an event occurs which changes everything and takes the audience from laughter to tears.
Melissa Lopez, ‘11 debuts as Ana in her first theatre production at Saint Mary's. Victoria Flees ’12 plays opposite her as Nancy. Flees has starred in past Saint Mary's College productions like “Confessions of the Chaff” and “Into the Woods.” The play expresses various viewpoints about important issues such as immigration and single parenthood. “I believe that this play explores the issue of immigration in a bigger context by establishing the difficult assimilation that immigrants have to go through in the United States,” says Lopez. Through Ana, the audience is able to experience what it is like to leave a child in another country, and the costs of that decision.
Katie Sullivan, associate professor of theatre at Saint Mary's College, believes that mothers will be able to identify well with the dialogue of the play. “An aspect of this play which I feel is really important to explore and acknowledge is the notion of modern motherhood and the preconceptions, beliefs, prejudices, guilt, judgments and attitudes which accompany our roles as mothers and the way we view the mothers around us,” says Sullivan.
Sullivan also feels that this play can be used as another outlet to explore different cultures. “The playwright addresses many multi-cultural questions and I feel it is particularly important to use the play as conversation about issues facing America today,” says Sullivan. Lopez adds, “Immigrants, such as Ana, pay a high price for their American Dream. The pressure of her status as an immigrant forces Ana to work long hours. Eventually it is a tough decision which forces Ana to live a tragedy that only a mother can experience.”
To purchase tickets, visit the Moreau Center Box Office or call (574) 284-4626.
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary’s College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” in the U.S. News & World Report 2011 College Guide. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.