Student Theatrical Organization, Stage II to Present Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka

“What if you want to go home, but there’s no more home to go home to?” asks a young man, floating on the ocean.

The question, which could be taken from any current news story, is key to Naomi Iizuka’s drama, Anon(ymous), a piece that uses the classic story of Homer’s Odyssey to highlight the plight of contemporary refugees. East Stroudsburg University’s student theatre organization, Stage II, will be presenting the play November 17-20.

“This question is very relevant today,” noted John Lauri, president of Stage II and director of the production. “The play takes a pro-refugee, pro-immigrant stance, but its central focus—a mother and son searching for each other—is a universal one that everyone can relate to.”

Lauri, a senior from Long Pond, Pa. majoring in theatre with a concentration in directing, explained that Stage II is responsible for all aspects of this production–play selection, directing, acting, design and technical elements.

The drama follows a young refugee called Anon who journeys through the United States in search of his mother. Anon navigates a chaotic, every-changing landscape and encounters a wide variety of people, including a sinister one-eyed butcher, beguiling barflies and workers in a sweatshop on his journey.

“One reason that we selected the play is that it challenges us, as students on both the acting and technical levels,” Lauri said. “There is no ‘right’ way to do this script.  While some scenes are very realistic, others are symbolic and full of fantasy. The language is both lyrical and real.”

The need to be both real and unreal helped costume designer Cherval Royster, a junior from Philadelphia majoring in musical theatre, make choices for the characters in the play.

“One actor plays a bird,” Royster explained, “but, because the scene blends both fantasy and reality, we didn’t want to use a bird costume. I need to find clothes that suggest a bird without being literal.”

“Having a small budget helps you to be creative and improvise,” Lauri added. “We also talk with each other to come up with solutions.”

For sound designer David Kunz, a senior from East Stroudsburg majoring in technical theatre, the collaboration between the students working on production is key to staging the play.

“We’re taking giant risks,” Kunz said. “Our professors will give us advice, but we’re the ones in charge and we need to make things work. Because we’re a close-knit group who understands where everyone else is coming from, we trust each other. It’s hard to develop that kind of creative environment outside of a college production.”

Curtain times for Anon(ymous) are 7:30 p.m. November 17-19 and 2 p.m. November 20.  All performances are in the Dale Snow Theatre located on the ground floor of ESU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.

General admission is $10; senior citizens, faculty and staff (with ID) are $7; and students (with ID) are $5. The production is recommended for high school students and adults.

Advance ticket purchase is suggested due to limited seating in this intimate venue. Tickets are available online in advance at esu.edu/theatretickets (credit cards only online).  Remaining tickets are available at the box office one hour before curtain on performance dates (cash and checks only at the box office).

For reservations or other information, please email esuarts@esu.edu or call 570-422-3483.

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