Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 9/18/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   52L

Editors: Photo accompanies release -- Please note local interest
PROTEANS PROVIDE COMIC RELIEF IN COMICAL "FORUM" 
     HAMMOND -- They call themselves "the Three Stooges of Old Rome" and
claim--tongue-in-cheek--to be "the unofficial stars" who "steal the show." 
     But the program for the SLU Opera-Music Theatre Program s Fanfare production of  "A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" lists the three young men, who are making
their Southeastern stage debuts, as "the Proteans." 
     Huh?
     Jonathan James, Peter Simon and Jason Fisher didn t know what a "protean" was either
when they auditioned for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," which will run
Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium. 
     The dictionary defines "protean" as "readily assuming different shapes or roles" and
"displaying great diversity."
     Director Larry Gray says the written explanation perfectly fits the trio s contribution to
the Stephen Sondheim, Larry Gelbart, Burt Shevelove musical classic. The Proteans are the
cast s jack-of-all-trades: an energetic, improvising, madcap chorus of three.
     "Protean means "changeable,"  said Gray. "The Proteans play all the unnamed parts. It s a
physically demanding, but fun role. The Proteans always get a lot of laughs." 
     As all-purpose soldiers, sailors, citizens, slaves, and -- to their chagrin -- eunuchs, James,
Simon and Fisher are on stage for most of the play. They chase, grab, trip, drop and get dropped,
fall,  slam into doors -- all that kind of physical humor," said Gray. When they re not frenetically 
in action on stage, they re in the wings ripping off one costume and zipping into another.
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FORUM PROTEANS   Add One

     "We open the show," said James, a freshman (almost a sophomore, he says) from
Prairieville. "We're on and off the stage throughout the entire thing. There s hardly any kind of
main scene in which we re not on stage, since we play so many people."
     "There are a lot of places where it s just the three of us running around being stupid," said 
Simon, laughing. The Hammond freshman admitted that when playing a Protean, "You definitely
have to leave your pride at the door! 
     The plot of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" revolves around what
happens when the slave Pseudolus, portrayed by Keith James of Baton Rouge, attempts to obtain
a fair virgin for his master, Hero (David Mitchell of Covington). Success means his freedom.
Pseudolous' Rome-in-the-days-of-old is full of lecherous old men, domineering wives, seductive
courtesans and soldiers (the Proteans!) who keep the slaves (the Proteans!) in line.
      Producer and vocal coach Scharmal Schrock said the men won their parts by having
good voices and a definite theatrical flair. Plus, she said, "They are really serious about being on
stage and doing the best that they can. They have one of the most demanding roles in the show.
They ve been an absolute delight to work with -- and they are absolutely hysterical."
     While all three are new to the Southeastern stage, they each had an assortment of pre-
college theatrical experience, James in plays at his church; Simon at Ponchatoula High School
and with the Columbia Players and Fisher with Covington's Playmakers.           
     Strangers originally, they have become friends as rehearsals progressed and James and
Fisher, who is also a freshman and lives in Mandeville,  are working on "converting" Simon, a
communication major, to a music major. He, like his fellow "stooges," has thoroughly enjoyed
the production's comradery and craft. 
     "Everyone in the music program is extremely nice," James said. "People support each
other. I'm so glad to be in this play. I'm learning so much just watching the cast. They re
awesome people."
     Like the lyrics of its famous opening song claims, the Proteans say Southeastern's
production will have "something for everyone." Why should people come see the musical?
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FORUM PROTEANS   Add Two

 "Because they just have to!" said Fisher. "It will be the best thing they ll see in a long time."
     Curtain time for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum  is 7:30 p.m.
Reserved seat tickets are $10 general admission, and $5 senior citizens, SLU faculty and staff
and non-SLU students. Southeastern students are admitted free with their university I.D.
     Tickets are available at the Fanfare box office, 504-549-2323, located at Gate 1 of the
SLU University Center on University Ave. Box office hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,
weekdays. Additional information on all Fanfare events is available on the Fanfare web site,
www.selu.edu/fanfare.
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