The Lab Theatre premieres this outlandish original comedy, written and directed by MA candidate Ryan Stevens, February 23-26.
The UofSC Dept. of Theatre and Dance
presents
Outlaw Song
Written and Directed by Ryan Stevens
February 23-26, 2017
Lab Theatre
1400 Wheat St.
Show Times:
8pm nightly
Tickets:
$5, available only at the door
UofSC student Ryan Stevens directs the premiere of his outlandish original comedy Outlaw Song in the Lab Theatre February 23 -26.
The story follows U.S. marshal Roberta Weiss as she tracks the antics of outlaw Billie Baxter through a serene western town. Driven largely by female actors, the play explores power relationships and exploits typical hero-villain tropes.
“The first half is primarily about the cat-and-mouse game between Billie and Roberta,” Stevens says. “As they get closer and as we as an audience learn more about them, we see that the roles of hero-cop and outlaw-criminal are a lot to live with. We see the cost of trying to make yourself into something larger than life.”
The production is underscored by another unexpected element: Mexican wrestling. Wrestler “El Soso” adds yet another layer to the chaos inflicted on the Old Western town. Stevens says he was inspired by the artistry of the profession.
“The professional wrestling in Mexico, Lucha Libre, is a very revered and respected discipline. Marrying yourself to a pursuit like that, especially to a pursuit that is on your body and is very physically demanding, was really fascinating,” he says.
In addition to the antics of the outlaws and theatrical wrestling matches, the play features live music, building from a single musician to a small band led by musical director Lochlan Angle.
While this is the play’s first full staging, Stevens organized a reading of the script last year at the University. Stevens, a BA graduate of the English program, is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Theatre. In 2015, another of his original plays, Player King, was picked up for publication by the British publisher Stagescripts, Ltd. Player King was first staged at the Lab Theatre in April of that same year.
According to Stevens, directing a piece he also wrote is not without its challenges. However, he views the play as a “collaborative piece” between himself, the cast and the crew.
The cast features undergraduate actors Carrie Chalfant, William Quant, Abigail Lee McNeely, Sam Traquina, Rachael Bates, Anna Percuoco, David Neil Edwards, Lochlan Angle, Susanna McElveen, Lane Christopher, and Jon Whit McClinton.
“We’re looking at the wild, Wild West, these American folk tales, a type of expression where it’s really about the size of the personality,” Stevens says. “It’s a piece about knowing your enemy, about appreciating people you disagree with and understanding their ideology even when you still don’t agree with it. It’s about trying to fight for legends.”
For more information on Outlaw Song or the theatre program at the University of South Carolina, contact Kevin Bush by phone at 803.777.9353 or via email at bushk@mailbox.sc.edu.