Walk in the footsteps of ‘Everyman’ at Saint Martin’s theatrical presentation

April 11, 2011

LACEY, WASHINGTON — The timeless morality tale of Everyman, who is summoned by a displeased God to account for a misspent life, will be staged outdoors by the Saint Martin’s University Theatre Arts Department. The presentation will be April 20-23 and April 27-30 on the Saint Martin’s Lacey campus.

The pilgrimage of Everyman begins each evening at 6:45 p.m. at the sidewalk crossroads in front of the University’s O’Grady Library. It continues around campus, ending at the Saint Martin’s Abbey cemetery as dusk falls. Tickets are $5, and can be purchased the night of the play or in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/168490. Reservations are not necessary.

Entertaining and dramatic, morality plays were encouraged by medieval church and civic leaders to stress moral values. Everyman is thought to have originated in 15th-century England.

The outdoor setting — traditional staging for morality plays — provides a distinctive and memorable experience, says theatre arts adjunct faculty member Judy Turner, the show’s producer and director.

As the audience follows Everyman on the lonely pilgrimage to face Almighty God, he pleads with Death for a companion. His pals — Friends, Family, Worldly Goods and others—refuse to go. Only Death and his faithful friend, Good Deeds, accompany him, giving Everyman time to reflect on his life.

“Mirrors are a theme for this year’s production,” said Turner. “I believe if we woke up every day with death as our mirror, we would live a fuller, richer life. If we can learn that we don’t necessarily need to fear death, then it can be something that’s a blessing — something that reflects our need to live more thoughtfully, make better choices and build stronger relationships.”

A perennial Saint Martin’s favorite, Everyman has been staged periodically at the University since 1991. Turner, a 2001 Saint Martin’s theatre arts graduate, played the main role in the 2001 production.

Saint Martin’s University is an independent four-year, Catholic, coeducational university located on a 380-acre wooded campus in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 18 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through its 21 majors and six graduate programs spanning the liberal arts, business, education and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes 1,250 students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its main campus, and 650 more to its extension campuses located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Everett College, Centralia College and Tacoma Community College. Visit the Saint Martin’s University website at www.stmartin.edu.

For further information:

Judy Turner
360-790-8308
jturner@stmartin.edu

Jennifer Fellinger
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Saint Martin’s University
360-438-4332
jfellinger@stmartin.edu
www.stmartin.edu