Purdy grad snags role
in Crowder theater production
October 21, 2020
Sheila Harris
Shana Whisman, a 2020 graduate of Purdy High School, was sure she’d tanked her audition for the Crowder College theatrical production of “Turning Off The Morning News,” a play which takes hilarious aim at the absurdities of our modern world.
“I’m attending Crowder on a theater scholarship,” Whisman said, “so I’m required to audition for all of the theater performances.
“When I walked into the audition, my expectations were not high since I’m a first-year student and had no experience with community theater productions,” she continued. “There were probably about 25 people from the community and college auditioning for the various parts, so I felt like I had no real chance of getting a part. I was handed a generic script - nothing at all to do with the play - and told to read it. I did, but I was sure I’d blown it.
“The next day I checked the school’s Facebook page. When I saw my name listed next to the character of Polly in the play, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I was at work, but I didn’t let that stop me from hollering and running around in excitement.”
According to Polly - er, Shana - play practices began on September 18. The first performance is scheduled for Thursday night, October 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Elsie Plaster Community Center on Crowder College’s Neosho campus. Performances will also be held Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, at 7:30 p.m. nightly.
Whisman said she looks forward to auditioning for future Crowder performances as well, including the upcoming musical, Junie B. Jones, one of her favorite characters from her childhood chapter books.
“Turning Off The Morning News” is written by by Christopher Durang and directed by Crowder College Theatre’s NaTasha O’Brien-Davies.
Additional cast member are: Clifford, played by Jeremiah Murphy, of Nevada; Rosalind, played by Dora Gilreath, of Neosho; Jimmy, played by Greyson Lamp, of Neosho; Timmy Peabody, played by Jeremiah Daniel Blotter, of Diamond; and Salena, played by Taylor Adams, of Goodman.
Tickets for the performance are available at the door, but seating is limited. Reservations may be made by calling 417.455.5458. Ticket prices are $10 each for general admission, $7 each for senior citizens, $6 each for students and staff. Tickets are free for dorm residents.
Shana Whisman, a 2020 graduate of Purdy High School, was sure she’d tanked her audition for the Crowder College theatrical production of “Turning Off The Morning News,” a play which takes hilarious aim at the absurdities of our modern world.
“I’m attending Crowder on a theater scholarship,” Whisman said, “so I’m required to audition for all of the theater performances.
“When I walked into the audition, my expectations were not high since I’m a first-year student and had no experience with community theater productions,” she continued. “There were probably about 25 people from the community and college auditioning for the various parts, so I felt like I had no real chance of getting a part. I was handed a generic script - nothing at all to do with the play - and told to read it. I did, but I was sure I’d blown it.
“The next day I checked the school’s Facebook page. When I saw my name listed next to the character of Polly in the play, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I was at work, but I didn’t let that stop me from hollering and running around in excitement.”
According to Polly - er, Shana - play practices began on September 18. The first performance is scheduled for Thursday night, October 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Elsie Plaster Community Center on Crowder College’s Neosho campus. Performances will also be held Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, at 7:30 p.m. nightly.
Whisman said she looks forward to auditioning for future Crowder performances as well, including the upcoming musical, Junie B. Jones, one of her favorite characters from her childhood chapter books.
“Turning Off The Morning News” is written by by Christopher Durang and directed by Crowder College Theatre’s NaTasha O’Brien-Davies.
Additional cast member are: Clifford, played by Jeremiah Murphy, of Nevada; Rosalind, played by Dora Gilreath, of Neosho; Jimmy, played by Greyson Lamp, of Neosho; Timmy Peabody, played by Jeremiah Daniel Blotter, of Diamond; and Salena, played by Taylor Adams, of Goodman.
Tickets for the performance are available at the door, but seating is limited. Reservations may be made by calling 417.455.5458. Ticket prices are $10 each for general admission, $7 each for senior citizens, $6 each for students and staff. Tickets are free for dorm residents.