Community arts group to launch Late Night series

CONWAY — Late Night theater is coming to Conway.

The Conway Community Arts Association, which has offered a variety of theatrical entertainment to the community for more than 35 years, and the Lantern Theatre will begin the 2012 Late Night series with Sam Shepard’s True West at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Lantern Theatre, 1021 Van Ronkle St. in downtown Conway. Because of the play’s language and subject matter, the play is recommended for adult audiences only.

“We thought this Late Night series might be a good avenue to take in order to bring in a younger crowd,” said Cindy Romeo, a former president of the CCAA Board of Directors. “We do know that people still expect more family-oriented productions, and we intend to keep offering those. But we are a town of three colleges and want to get these students more involved. We thought by offering more edgy productions we might attract them, as well as young adults throughout the community.

“These productions will be offered later at night so people will know they are for adult audiences only.

“We’re also offering a program this summer that will be geared toward children. We are trying to reach different segments of the community with our productions.”

True West is the tale of Austin, who is writing a screenplay he has sold to a producer. When his brother, Lee, a demented petty thief, drops by, he insists that Austin drop his idea and write Lee’s trashy, Western tale instead.

The play was presented at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 1982 and featured Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. It was also a finalist for the 1983 Pulitzer Prize in drama.

The Lantern Theatre production cast includes Brady Ness as Austin, Levi Horne as Lee, Kelly Webber as the mother, and Greg Antley as Saul, the producer. All are of Conway. The production is under the direction of Antley.

Ness, who will continue his studies in theater in the fall at the University of Central Arkansas, said, “I have done a Sam Shepard play at UCA. There are not a lot of playwrights like Sam Shepard, who is also an actor. I think he is one of the best American playwrights of the 20th century. True West is probably his most well-known play.

“True West is part of his family cycle of plays,” said Ness, a 2005 graduate of Conway High School-West and a son of Ernie and Amy Ness of Conway. “These plays deal with family issues - issues with an alcoholic father, issues with sibling relationships. Although there is no actual father figure in this play, it feels like there is.”

Ness also described the relationship between the brothers in the play.

“Austin is a screenwriter in California,” Ness said of his character. “His brother, Lee, is a drifter who comes back to town after three months in the desert. He makes his living stealing appliances. Lee has his own idea for a story, and the producer decides to do Lee’s story instead of Austin’s story. It’s a role-reversal - Lee becomes the writer, and Austin descends into criminal mischief.”

Horne is a 2005 graduate of Jessieville High School in Garland County and a 2010 graduate of UCA. Playing the role of Lee, this is Horne’s first time to act with the Conway Community Arts Association, although he was active in theater at UCA.

“My character is pretty complex,” Horne said. “He’s having a hard time figuring out what he wants out of life. He hasn’t quite found it yet. He’s unhappy with the situation with his father, who is an alcoholic and destitute, and does not want to end up like him.

“I was in a lot of comedies at UCA. This is only my second serious role. It’s a challenge, but I like challenges very much.”

During his days at UCA, Horne was also involved in student films.

“I was in the film Tomahawk at the UCA Film Festival in 2010, and I acted in a few five-minute student films,” he said.

Antley, a 2011 UCA graduate, is making his directorial debut with CCAA. He also plays Saul, the producer, in True West.

“I directed several plays at UCA,” he said, adding that he has appeared in one or two CCAA productions. “I really didn’t have time to do community theater while I was at UCA.”

Antley recently spent three months in India, where he directed a play with an Indian theatrical group, the Samahaara.

“I also directed two Bollywood screenplays,” he said with a smile.

Antley is a 2005 graduate of Conway High School-West and is the son of Greg and Tina Antley of Conway. He is coordinating the Late Night series, which includes three productions this season.

Webber, who has taught drama at Conway High-West for 25 years, has been involved with the community theater group “off and on” for several years. Her role in True West is the mother of Austin and Lee.

“‘Mom’ has been to Alaska and does not realize both of her boys will be there when she returns home,” Webber said of her character in True West. “It is a definite surprise for her.”

A graduate of UCA, Webber said this is a “very different role” for her.

“[The play] has adult themes,” she said. “I’m used to doing much more family-oriented plays.

“I am enjoying it. It’s a challenge.”

Webber taught both Antley and Ness at Conway High School-West. “Both at the same time,” she said with a laugh.

All four actors are excited about the Late Night series.

“This gives us a chance to reach out to develop and attract the younger crowd,” Ness said.

“I think the community will accept something a little more edgy,” Horne said. “We have enough college students who will appreciate something more complicated and, perhaps, controversial.”

Webber said she thinks it is “a wonderful idea. Anything that gives more people a chance to see and do shows is an excellent choice for the community,” she said.

“It’s a great opportunity to present alternative, mature theater,” Antley said. “The artistic commitment of Conway Community Arts in the community has thrived over the last few years. We do it really efficiently, keeping the costs as low as we can. We will see how this inaugural [Late Night series] goes.”

Admission to True West is $10 at the door. Reservations are not required, and seats are not reserved. Doors will open at 7:30 each night. Lantern season-ticket holders are reminded that the Late Night at the Lantern series is not included in the season-ticket package.

For more information, call (501) 428-0475 or visit www.conwayarts.org.