By Mike Greife,
November 17, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO - The University of Central Missouri Department of Theatre and Dance
presents its mainstage production of the award-winning play Not Waving by Richard
Manley at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 2 in the Black Box Theatre in Nickerson Hall.
Directed by UCM senior theatre major Dalton Pittenger, the play is this year’s winner
of the Theatre for Young Audiences Playwriting Competition hosted by the UCM Department
of Theatre and Dance. Written for high school and adult audiences, Not Waving tells
the story of Crandal, a quirky, insecure young girl who is having trouble fitting
in. As an outsider and freshman, she struggles to find friends, and complicating matters
is the fact that she must also come to grips with the realization that her grandmother
and best friend, Nanna, is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Using poetry as an
outlet, Crandal finds a way to let go, express herself, and stand on her own.
As part of the Meredith Harmon Sauer Guest Artist Series, playwright Richard Manley
visited the campus in September, sitting in on rehearsals, working with the production
team and presenting a playwriting workshop. Manley is a professional playwright from
San Francisco whose works have received numerous awards, including the John Gassner
Memorial Playwriting Award, the Pillars Prize, the Getchell Award, and the Woodward/Newman
Award.
Not Waving is Pittinger’s honors project, and he also received a Speech and Theatre
Association of Missouri Grant to tour the production to four regional high schools
throughout the month of October. Performances were presented at Warrensburg High School,
Olathe West High School, Raymore-Peculiar High School and Truman High School.
The cast includes Heather Marsh as Crandal; Gabby McDuffy as Nanna; Justin Panacchia
as Tyler; Samantha Davin as Mom; Travis Hampton as Dennis; Ellie Port as Madison;
Kelsey Reynolds as Amber; Jessica Perry as Billie; and Serik Davidson as Nathan. Anna
Coday is scenic designer, Cody Nelson, lighting designer, Elza Poynter, sound designer,
Nehemiah Campbell, production manager, Caitlin Hahn, stage manager, Allyson Latham,
assistant stage manager and Alex Houston, technical director. Faculty member Kayla
Jestila serves as costume designer and Dr. Richard Herman is production supervisor.
General admission tickets are $7. Online tickets can be purchased online at ucmo.edu/theatre/calendar,
or at the Highlander Theater box office, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
or by phone at 660-543-8811. The Highlander Theater Box Office will be closed during
Thanksgiving Break, but online ticket sales will still be available.
