OTC bringing ‘Our Town’ to Gillioz

Putting on the iconic play “Our Town” can be a challenge for any theater troupe but the Ozarks Technical Community College’s Fine Arts department is ready to present its version at the end of the month.

“It’s been a real challenge,” said director Jon Herbert. “It’s exciting. I’ve been really stretched and grown a lot through the process of directing this play.”

Paul Newman once played the main role, and it is the most produced play in American theatre history. The OTC theater department will have four performances at the Gillioz Theatre — April 29 and April 30 at 7:30 p.m., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. and May 7 at 7:30 p.m.

“Our Town” centers on the lives in Grovers Corners, a northeast farm community. Narrated by the Stage Manager, “Our Town” introduces the audience to two families—the Gibbs and the Webbs—through whom the serenity of their daily lives, the joining of their children in marriage and the struggle with leaving the world in death is experienced.

“Our Town is anybody’s town,” Herbert said. “Both for the actors on stage and those in the audience. The play will speak to anyone. Everyone will come away with something different from the play.”

While Thornton Wilder’s play is a period piece set at the turn of the 20th century, Herbert said, “The actors are going to dress as they normally dress today; they will speak in their own speech patterns and move in their own natural rhythms. There are some really magical moments from the cast.”

Herbert said the play would be inspiring and leave people with a good feeling, but also the play issues a serious challenge.

 “I think people will come away reminded of the many opportunities we have to experience how much beauty there is in the world if we only take the time from our busy lives to stop,” he said.

Visit www.otc.edu/videofeatures for more insight into “Our Town.”

Tickets are $10 and are available at the Gillioz box office or call 863-9491.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College. Contact him at koehlers@otc.edu.