North Central College students perform “Speech and Debate” Oct. 10-12

North Central College students stage three performances of the dark and biting contemporary comedy “Speech and Debate” Oct. 10-12.

The performances will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday Oct. 10-12 in the College’s Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $5/adults and $3/students and senior citizens; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. The play contains strong language and mature content.

Playwright Stephen Karam captures the awkward mix of irony and earnestness of three intelligent and quirky Salem, Oregon, teenagers who are brought together by a local scandal. Their connection grows stronger as they set out to expose the truth. The edgy play also includes a musical adaptation of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

The production is directed by North Central College senior Colin Loeffler of Sun Prairie, Wis., a theatre and English literature major.

“‘Speech and Debate’ is a challenging production that explores sexuality, political corruption and what happens when young people feel the adults in their life aren’t listening to them,” says Loeffler. “I wanted to direct this play both because I think it’s a fun show and because it has a strong message about the value of opening up.”

The cast for “Speech and Debate” features (role, actor):

Howie: Brian Warren, a senior theatre major from Glendale Heights
Solomon: Mark Yacullo, a sophomore musical theatre major from Naperville
Teacher/Reporter: Natasha White, a junior theatre major from Elk Grove Village
Diwata: Rae Lindenberg, a junior theatre major from Wilmette

North Central College offers majors in theatre or musical theatre and a minor in dance. A full range of acting and dance classes is available, as well as opportunities to direct a full-length production. Students of all majors can participate in musical and nonmusical performances, actor showcases and one-act plays and performances in the College’s four theatre venues. Full-time professors and active professionals who are artist-teachers serve as faculty.