Virginia Tech’s School of the Arts and Department of Theatre Arts present Caryl Churchill’s one-act play Far Away in Squires Studio Theatre on Virginia Tech's campus. The show runs April 14–16, 21-23 at 8 p.m. and April 17 at 2 p.m.

Directed by faculty member Bob Leonard, Far Away is a haunting tale of a world in which the comforts of home come to blows with the horrors of war. Contemporary playwright Caryl Churchill spins a nightmarish vision of the apocalypse through simple dialogue and compelling characters. The story centers around Joan, a woman who weaves a web of somber beauty as she comes of age in a world engaged in total war.

Kate Raines, bachelor's candidate in Theatre, takes on the challenging task of playing Joan, a woman tormented by her childhood memories and troubled by the her adult-life reality. Alexandra Cohill will play the young Joan. Community actor Gail Evans portrays Joan’s timid and secretive Aunt Harper who fears the fight that is ahead of her. Junior Theatre Arts major Barry Kidd plays Todd, Joan’s friendly colleague thrusted into a turbulent world.

Far Away’s tragic story is told in three scenes, including a human parade of community members that will fill the theatre with the chilling image of humanity preying upon itself.

Caryl Churchill’s plays have molded the contemporary theater landscape. Her bodies of work show her strong commitment to socially-conscience topics. As a playwright, she creatively expresses her ideas and concerns for a world crumbling under global capitalism. One of Churchill’s works, A Number, examined the effects of human cloning and was performed this past fall on the Virginia Tech campus as part of a Choice and Challenges conference.

Theatre Arts faculty members Randy Ward, Lisa Liebetrau, and David Wedin have designed the set, costumes and sound. Master's candidate Junko Yamada is the lighting designer.

Far Away is being produced as part of the main stage season by Virginia Tech’s Department of Theatre Arts. Tickets are $8 general and $6 student/senior citizen. Purchases may be made online and at the Squires Ticket Office in the Squires Student Center on campus at (540) 231-5615. Ticket office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For further information, contact the School of the Arts at (540) 231-5200.

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