Helias puts on "Our Town'

Students take on heavy subject matter in play

photo

Dan Limke

LaShawnDa Williams and Sheryl Jones enjoy music and dancing during Juanita's First Friday event held

As a 22-year-old first-time director, Amanda Riley relates with her cast of Helias High School students who are taking on the heavy issues that come with Thorton Wilder's classic "Our Town," where she is calling on teenagers to dive headfirst into the heavy issues of daily life, death, love, marriage and the hereafter.

"Our Town" tells the story of the fictional town of Grover's Corner at the turn of the century and follows the lives of the residents as they grow up, get married and die.

Riley said that while some argue that the show, which does not sensationalize or overdramatize the lives of its characters, is about nothing at all, she believes it is about life, which makes it about everything.

"Our Town" will run at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Miller Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults and can be purchased at the Miller Performing Arts Center from 5-7 p.m. beginning Oct. 26, or by contacting Helias Catholic High School's business office at (573) 635-6139.

Read more about Amanda Riley's direction and the production in our newspaper or e-Edition for Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010.