“John and Jen” is a play that tells the story of a brother and sister who grow up in a broken home and the struggles faced throughout each lifetime.
Senior theater and broadcast journalism double major Joshua Cole Little and senior theater major Amanda Lane present a portrayal of the main characters for their senior seminar project.
“It is intense,” Lane said. “I don’t just mean just the story; I mean the process, my involvement and the story itself. Intense. I have been pushed to tears doing this.”
“That’s what theater is, it is supposed to be real,” Little said. “It is supposed to take you out of your own world, and say ‘hey this is life.’ “
The production has become very real to both performers through the research, the practice and the situations.
“It has a deeper sense to it that should resonate with some people,” Little said. “I see myself in parts of the show. I see myself in this situation that John is in or I see myself in this situation that Jen is in, or I know people that are in these situations, it is all just very real.”
Every senior theater major is required to do a senior seminar production, but Lane and Little said “John and Jen” has become more than just that for them.
“It is a lot of responsibility,” Lane said. “I have never been this involved in a show. I have been in so many shows, but I have never had this much stage time in a show where I speak and sing the entire time. It is difficult physically, mentally and emotionally, but it has definitely pushed us.”
“This is my 40th show,” Little said. “It has been one of the hardest because Amanda and I are out there the entire time and we have the entire show riding on our back.”
“John and Jen” was written by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald and was originally performed in 1995.
“John and Jen” runs this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The cost is $5 or free with the CAB pass. The show is held in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center and beginsat 7 p.m.each night.
