The Nicholls Players will be performing “A Lesson Before Dying” March 17-20 in place of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” that has been moved to October.
Daniel Ruiz, speech instructor and director of the Nicholls Players, said the musical was pushed back because of financial reasons.
“As I was looking around for musicians and a music director, it came to my attention that this would be too expensive for what we currently have the money for,” Ruiz said. “When I came into this job, there was very little money left for me to actually use.”
Holding the musical in October will give the Nicholls Players time to raise more money to pay for the needed resources.
“The whole cast will come back in the fall,” Ruiz said. “We had auditions during the break so that everyone could practice their music. The musical should be really good now since the cast will have several months to practice. When we come back in August, that whole same cast will be performing the show in October.”
Two performances will replace the musical this semester. One will be a main stage performance of “A Lesson Before Dying,” by Romulus Linney, a southern playwright who passed away last Saturday.
“He adapted ‘A Lesson Before Dying’ from the Earnest Gaines novel that a lot of students read in their English 1 and English 2 classes in high school,” Ruiz said.
The story takes place in 1948 Louisiana where a young African American man named Jefferson, played by Gary Baker, freshman from Crowley, is on death row for a murder that he did not commit.
“Unfortunately he will be convicted and has no chance of redemption,” Ruiz said. “His godmother, Ms. Emma, played by Maya Kennedy, Nicholls graduate student from Thibodeaux, wants him to get an education before dying.”
Ms. Emma hires Grant Wiggins, a young black man, played by Warren Snowden, freshman from Harvey, who she helped raise as a child and paid through college, to teach Jefferson.
“He owes her a debt of gratitude,” Ruiz said. “He really doesn’t want to teach him, but Ms. Emma wants Jefferson to know who he is and why he is dying before he actually dies.”
Grant agrees to teach Jefferson, but there are several characters that cause complications.
One character who intervenes is reverend Ambrose, played by Melvin Harrison, director of the Student Programing Association and assistant director of the Student Union, believes that Grant should not teach Jefferson.
“He believes that only God can save Jefferson, and there is no need for an education,” Ruiz said.
Amber Pappillion, freshman from Lake Charles, will be playing Vivian, Grant’s girlfriend.
“She is a teacher in the area but in a city with a much bigger school,” Ruiz said. “Vivian keeps Grant from quitting.”
The cast is primarily African American except for two members. One is deputy sheriff Paul Bonen, played by Nathan Egnew, freshman from Springfield, who sympathizes with Jefferson and Grant and does everything he can to make accommodations for them.
“The other white character is Sheriff Guidry, played by Shalyn Pierre, freshman from Houma, who is not happy with making these accommodations,” Ruiz said. “He also owes Ms. Emma a favor, however, so he lets it carry on.”
Ruiz said this production will be a good reflection of the social and political climate in small town Louisiana in the 1940s.
“The reason I chose it was mainly because it is a beloved novel,” Ruiz said. “Part of my ambition each year is to do some theater that reflects Louisiana’s local culture.”
Two matinées will be on March 17 and 18 for two high schools in the area.
“This is really going to bring in some money,” Ruiz said. “We are projecting about $3,000 of extra income that will help pay for the musical in October.”
The show will begin on March 17 and play through March 20. Each show will be at 7:30 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m. matinée on the final day. Admission is $5 for students with a school ID. Tickets will be available at the door, and reservations will be taken in advance through the mass communication office.
