Campbellsville University to present 'Machinal' Feb 23-26

by Elinor Keck, student news writer, Office of University Communications

Campbellsville, KY (02/09/2023) — Campbellsville University's Department of Theatre and Dance, Town Hall Productions and Heritage Children Services will present "Machinal" Feb. 23-26 in the Russ Mobley Theatre, 114 University Drive, Campbellsville.

Show times are 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday Feb. 25; and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26.

Machinal is a 1928 expressionist drama by American playwright and journalist Sophie Treadwell.

A synopsis of the play explains: "A young woman works as a low-level stenographer and lives with her mother. She follows the rituals that society expects of a woman, however resistant she may feel about them. She subsequently marries her boss, whom she finds repulsive.

"After having a baby with him, she has an affair with a younger man who fuels her lust for life. Driven to murder her husband, she is convicted of the crime and is executed in the electric chair."

Machinal, inspired by the real-life case of convicted and executed murderer Ruth Snyder, explores the dependent status of women in an increasingly mechanized society.

The show contains adult themes and is recommended for audiences age 13 and older.

The cast list is as follows: Emma Kait Grider, junior from Columbia, Ky., plays the role of the young woman. SinJin Fuchs, senior from Eubank, Ky., plays the role of the first man. Jon Carey, freshman from Bowling Green, Ky., plays George H. Jones.

Carynne Ritter, sophomore from Campbellsville, Ky., plays the role of mother. Gavin Johnson, junior from Campbellsville, Ky., plays the roles of the filing clerk, doctor, man at table no. 1, prosecution attorney, barber and the husband's voice.

Nicholas Hardin, freshman from Hodgenville, Ky., plays the roles of the second man, attorney of defense, barber, the boy's voice, hospital and office staff.

Colin Harris, sophomore from Campbellsville, Ky., plays the roles of adding clerk, a man, the man at table no. 2, bailiff and priest. Emily Burchett, freshman from Campbellsville, Ky., plays the roles of stenographer, woman voice, nurse and matron. Elinor Keck, senior from LaGrange, Ky., plays the roles of telephone girl and first reporter.

Kassey Sylvester, freshman from Valencia, Trinidad and Tobago, plays the roles of office staff, woman, wife, hospital staff, woman at table no. 1, court reporter and singer. Channing Young, junior from Lebanon, Ky., plays the roles of office staff, young doctor, Johnny, boy at table no. 2, judge and jailer.

Emily Whitehurst, sophomore from Liberty Ky., is playing the roles of office staff, girl voice, girl at table no. 3, hospital staff, clerk and third reporter.

Lucas Soedring, freshman from Southampton, United Kingdom, is playing the roles of garbage man, bell boy, man at table no. 3 and second reporter.

Christie Connolly, assistant professor of theater, is the director of the production. Star Garrett, theater director and professor of theater, is the show's technical director and will oversee set and costume design.

Lauren Phillips, senior from Campbellsville, Ky., is the stage manager, sound designer and sound board operator. Priscilla Wilson, sophomore from Lebanon, Ky., is the assistant stage manager and on the costume crew.

Alia McClendon, community theater manager, will oversee the lighting and projection design. Abigail Tollison, senior from Glasgow, Ky., is in charge of property design.

Isaac Rogers, freshman from Campbellsville, Ky., is light board operator and on the properties crew.

Savanna Sharp, junior from Liberty, Ky., is the microphone technician, projectionist and on the properties crew. Alexandria West, freshman from Burnside, Ky., is also on the properties crew.

Gabe Taylor, senior from Taylorsville, Ky., is the set technician and front of house manager. Emily Burchett, freshman from Campbellsville, is on the set crew. Lacey Miller, sophomore from Radcliff, Ky., and Sydney Harlan, freshman from Mt. Washington, Ky., are on the costume and wardrobe crew.

Harlan is also the hair and makeup supervisor. Whitney Bowden, sophomore from McKee, Ky., and Gina Popplewell, freshman from Russell Springs, Ky., are spot operators and on electrics.

Students in Dr. Wendy Wood's women's history course and Dr. Emily Hayden's criminal justice corrections course are responsible for the dramaturgy. The lobby display is designed by Calvary Sposato, sophomore from Bowling Green, Ky., and Malarie Drake, sophomore from Bowling Green, Ky., advised by Professor Tori Christgen, assistant professor of art.

Corporate sponsors are Community Trust Bank, Brothers, Ken Keltner: State Farm, Parrot & Ramsey Funeral Home, Kerr Office Group and The Anxious Baker.

General Admission is $12. Admission for children under 12 and seniors 65 and over is $8. Cost of admission for Campbellsville University employees is $8. Current Campbellsville University students can attend for free with their student ID and receive chapel credit.

Tickets are available at https://townhallpro2013.ticketleap.com/machinal/.

Online ticket sales will end at noon the day of the production. Afterward, tickets can be reserved by calling (270) 283-0566 or purchased at the door while supplies last.

To make special requests for handicapped seating, call (270) 789-5266.