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Louisville play based on book by Centre professor features Danville native

'BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS'

February 17, 2012|By JENNIFER BRUMMETT | jenb@amnews.com

Photo contributed

LOUISVILLE — Looking for Lilith Theatre Company is celebrating Women’s History month with a theatrical adaptation of “Beyond the Blue Mountains.” It is based on Kentucky writer Jane Wilson Joyce’s book of poetry by the same name. Joyce is the Charles J. Luellen Professor of Classics at Centre College.

Danville native Dawn Schulz Campbell performs in the production. Schulz plays the part of the youngest daughter, Nancy.

“Beyond the Blue Mountains” is about a family from Boyle County setting out for the Oregon Trail in 1851. Gabe Clay has Oregon fever; 13-year old Nancy is filled with impatience; teen Abby anticipates how her life will change with Gus Whittier part of the wagon train; and mother Sarah has a sense of foreboding at the journey’s upheaval.

“It is a beautiful piece that includes lots of Lilith-devised movement and soundscaping,” said Campbell.

Director Kathi E. B. Ellis said she’s known about Joyce’s book of poetry for many years, after teaching a semester more than a decade ago at Centre.

“Lilith’s mission is to create theatrical works based on re-examining history through the women’s experiences,” Ellis explained. “We’ve created seven original shows in the 10-year history of the company. And in recent years we have also taken already-existing text and created productions based on the text infused with Lilith’s aesthetic.

“Jane’s poetry in ‘Beyond the Blue Mountains’ is inspired by the writing in pioneer women’s journals, so her work is already one re-examination of history through those primary sources. Taking the poems as the basis for a theatrical adaptation was a logical choice for Lilith. And to produce it as our women’s history month (offering) was an easy choice.”

Looking for Lilith Theatre Company is a Louisville-based, not-for-profit, ensemble theatre company, founded in New York City in 2001 by Shannon Woolley Allison and Trina Fischer, both Louisville natives, along with Jennifer Thalman Kepler of Winchester, Va. The company has grown to include Kathi E. B. Ellis, Sara G. B. Canary, Typh Hainer Merwarth, Kelly McNerney and company associates Karole Spangler, Laura Ellis and Dawn Schulz.

LFL is on the touring rosters of the Kentucky Arts Council, the Kentucky Center for the Arts, Alternate ROOTS and the Southern Arts Federation. They are members of Theatre Alliance of Louisville, Kentucky Theatre Alliance and Network of Ensemble Theatres.

IF YOU GO

“Beyond the Blue Mountains” By Looking for Lilith Theatre Company

Feb. 23-March 3, The Rudyard Kipling, 422 W. Oak St., Louisville

Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23-25 and March 1-3; 3 p.m. March 3

Show only reservations: (502) 638-2559 /Dinner and show reservations: (502) 636-1311

Website: www.lookingforlilith.org/

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