ASU-Beebe Theater Department presents Ruthless! The Musical

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

BEEBE - The Arkansas State University-Beebe Department of Theater and Speech presents Joal Paley's and Marvin Laird's murderous dark comedy, Ruthless! The Musical.

Eight-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born to play Pippi Longstocking and she will do anything to win the part in her school musical. Anything includes murdering the leading lady. This aggressively outrageous musical hit garnered rave reviews during its long Off-Broadway run, which opened with Brittany Spears in the title role.

The production is directed by Bruce Cohen. Vocal direction is by Arlene Biebesheimer. Orchestra direction is by John Bristow. Ruthless! features ASUBeebe students Hali Free, Keba Rogers, Shauna Haslip, Sarah Rawlinson, Lisanne Kalthoff, Heather Utley and Brittney Christian.

Performances for Ruthless! The Musical will open at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The show will also play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Owen Center Theater. Seating is unreserved, and the theater will open 30 minutes prior tocurtain. Ticket prices are $8 for general admission and $4 for seniors, students and military. ASU-Beebe students, faculty and staff are entitled to one free ticket to any performance with an ASU-Beebe ID card. For more information, call (501) 882-8351 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

There will be a special Halloween promotion for opening night. Come dressed in a costume and get 50 percent off admission. After the show on Friday there will be a masquerade social hosted by ASU-Beebe's chapter of Delta Psi Omega.

Three Rivers, Pages 60 on 10/30/2008