October 12, 2007

Purdue Theatre to present 'Six Degrees of Separation'

Evening performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25-28. Matinee performances will be 3 p.m. Oct. 27-28.

Directed by Kristine Holtvedt, associate professor of theater and head of acting, the title of the play refers to the theory that any two people in the world can be connected through only six other people.

"As the population of the world continues to expand, through technology and increased ease of travel, our world becomes smaller and our interconnectedness to others increases," she said. "That is the theory the play is based upon. 'Six Degrees of Separation' also features the Purdue Theatre debut of four of our new MFA actors. Every three years a new class comes in, makes its mark and then enters the professional world. We are excited to have this talented acting class beginning their careers with us here."

Inspired by a true story, the play follows the trail of a young con man, Paul, who gains access to the lives of a well-to-do New York couple, Flan and Ouisa Kittredge, by claiming he knows their son at college. He goes on to claim that he is the son of Sidney Poitier and that he has just been robbed and beaten. This is just the beginning of the deception that allows Paul access to the lives of the well-to-do. Paul uses the ways that people connect to one another to continue his scam. 

"The unraveling of this deception, though painful for all involved, shows much about the nature of relationships," Holtvedt said. "The play addresses this issue both comically and seriously."

"Six Degrees of Separation" won the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The play also was made into a 1993 movie starring Will Smith as Paul, Donald Sutherland as Flan and Stockard Channing as Ouisa.

"Six Degrees of Separation" will be on stage in the Carole and Gordon Mallett Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25-28 and at 3 p.m. Oct. 27-28. Admission is $10.50 for the general public and $8.50 for students. Tickets are available at the Stewart Center, Elliott and Yue-Kong Pao Hall box offices or by calling (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW.

The play is part of October's Experience Liberal Arts, which will feature a variety of lectures, films, performances, events and exhibits that reflect the college's ongoing coursework and research in the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences. Information about upcoming events is available online at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/experience or by calling (765) 494-7884 to request a program guide.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Kristine Holtvedt, (765) 494-3083, holtvedt@purdue.edu

David Lageveen, director of marketing and donor relations for Purdue Theatre, (765) 494-3084, lageveen@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Photographers are invited to take photos at rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23. To make arrangements, contact David Lageveen, Purdue Theatre director of marketing and donor relations, (765) 494-3084, lageveen@purdue.edu.

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