NGU Theatre to Present “On the Verge” February 15-24 at The Billingsley Theatre
Posted on: February 9, 2024
Tigerville, SC—North Greenville University (NGU) Theatre will present “On the Verge; or The Geography of Yearning” February 15-17 and February 22-24 at The Billingsley Theatre.
The play, written by Eric Overmyer, follows Victorian explorers on an adventure that takes them to Africa, Himalaya, and Terra Incognita. The mirthful safari spins into time travel as the three sisters sojourn through the wilderness.
“I fell in love with the play and felt like it would be a great exploration for our students,” said Dr. Bess Park, NGU theatre professor and director of ‘On the Verge.’ “It’s a deep look into one’s future, one’s destiny, and one’s faith—exploring what God’s plan is for us and fearlessly stepping towards that and surrendering to it.”Park said NGU’s third major production of the academic year provided a challenge for the cast and crew.
“This is a very tough production because Eric Overmyer is a master wordsmith. We spent a lot of time nailing down the pronunciations of these five and six-syllable words. The language of the play is absolutely comprehensible, but the actors and actresses have done a remarkable job of diving into that aspect of it and making it their own.”
The Cast of “On the Verge” includes Alyse Barrett (Mary), Kat Liederbach (Fanny), Keely Lyons (Alex), Dylan Thompson (Grover et al), Rebecca Panagiotacos (Mary), Rachel Forester (Fanny), Grace Turner (Alex), and Logan Stewart (Grover et al).
The show’s crew includes Cynthia Lohrmann (costume designer), David Vierow (technical assistant), Anna Faith Major (stage manager), Marnie Daniel (theatre assistant), Chappie Livdahl (assistant stage manager), Dylan Thompson (assistant sound designer), MJ Greene (projection designer), Mikey Murray (lightboard operator), Daniel Johnson (projection operator), Morgan Madden (projection operator), and Payten Anderson (sound board operator).
“On the Verge” takes the audience on an enjoyable journey that warps time and space.
“The play is set in 1888 and travels up until the 1950s,” she said. “It’s an interesting journey for the three actresses. Time and space are a little warped, but what’s occurring is pushing them toward their divine destiny. It requires a lot from the actors and performers. They have to really embrace the movement and language of space and time. There’s just a level of complexity to the show that makes it unique.”
Nightly showtimes begin at 7:30 p.m., with a special matinee performance available on February 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students/children, $15 for adults, and $20 for premium seating. NGU students may receive one free ticket with an NGU ID on the Monday of the date chosen to attend.
“It’s a fun production,” Park said. “There are so many cultural references and iconic images and music. It’s just a fun show, and audiences are really going to enjoy it.”
