by George Bernard Shaw  
Fall, 2007


When Shaw completed Mrs. Warren’s Profession in 1893, it was censored for eight years. When it was finally produced on the London stage in 1902, the public was outraged by its controversial content. Reviewers overwhelmingly condemned the play as immoral, citing its focus on prostitution and incest. Today, however, the play is applauded for its astute view of the corruption at the heart of Victorian society. The play centers on Mrs. Warren, who, forced by the economic realities of nineteenth-century London, becomes a prostitute and later runs several successful brothels. Through her characterization, Shaw exposes the corruption and hypocrisy of the ‘‘genteel’’ class. He also explores the personal consequences of such a profession as Mrs. Warren struggles to gain the respect and love of her daughter after she discovers the truth about her mother. Modern audiences admire the play’s artistry as well as its subject since, as Shaw notes in his ‘‘Apology,’’ ‘‘Mrs. Warren’s defence of herself and indictment of society is the thing that most needs saying.’’  "Mrs. Warren’s Profession: Introduction." Drama for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 19. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 11 August 2007. <http://www.enotes.com/mrs-warrens-profession/45826>.


Cast__________________________
Rev. Sam Gardner...................Tom Camacho
Frank.......................................Kyle Young
Praed.......................................David Mitchell
Vivie........................................Megan Bubley
Crofts......................................Jeff Roll
Mrs. Warren............................Cheryl Lyman
Message from the Director________________
 
“I am convinced that fine art is the subtlest, the most seductive, the most effective instrument of moral propaganda in the world, excepting only the example of personal conduct; and waive even this exception in favor of the art of the stage, because it works by exhibiting examples of personal conduct made intelligible and moving to crowds of unobservant, unreflecting people to whom real life means nothing.”
From “The Author’s Apology” to Mrs. Warren’s Profession (1902)
by George Bernard Shaw
 
Shaw wrote Mrs. Warren’s Profession at a time when prostitution, with all the associated social problems of sexual abuse, sexually transmitted disease, drug addiction and poverty, was widespread. It wasn’t Shaw’s choice of topic that was innovative, for the “fallen woman” character had frequented the English stage in the past. What was new and brazenly risky was his depiction of prostitution as a social problem reinforced by government, church and the popular public attitudes of the time.
 
Shaw contended that many women in England were forced to choose prostitution over acute poverty or starvation because the opportunities for employment were so dismal. In tonight’s comic play you will be introduced to one Mrs. Warren who chose prostitution as a way out of poverty and then used some of her earnings to provide an education for her daughter, Vivie. An education which would give Vivie opportunities Mrs. Warren never had.
 
Vivie steps into adult life as a self-sufficient, independent-thinking woman of a new century. She embodies characteristics of the “new woman”: gainfully employed, smoking in public and almost certainly endorsing women’s right to vote. For Vivie, her work is her life; her life is her work. Has she “made it,” as we would say today? You decide as you see our main stage season’s opening production of Shaw’s comedy, Mrs. Warren’s Profession.
Rodney Higginbotham, Director

 

Production Staff__________________________
 
Producer…………………………….....……….…..Anna Antaramian
Director...……………………...….…..Rodney Higginbotham
Stage Manager..……………...………..…....…Rachel Backing
Scenic Designer/Co-Tech Director…...…..Jessica Kuehnau
Light Designer/Co-Tech Director..…….….John Rodriguez
Costume Designer....……………………..…...Jana Anderson
Sound Designer………………….……….…Nikola Ranguelov
Dialect Coach…………………..……….Christopher Leonard
Master Electrician………..……………………….…Eric Senne
Makeup/Hair Assistant……………………..Ambreen Arshad
Public Relations Director………………...….Bridgid Pulliam
Poster/Brochure Designer……………..…….....Jason Kranz
Theatre Manager……………….………..…...Bridgid Pulliam
Box Office Manager……………..………….……Marjie Kranz
Theatre Bookkeeper………….….Becca Raven Uminowicz
Set Crew……....Anthony DeAsa, Lisette Munoz and  Carla Velazques
Light Board Operator………………..….….….Steve Tsiamas
Props……………………………..…………..…...Holly Hoffman
Set Construction…….…………..…Theatre Practicum class

 

Tom Camacho (Reverend Samuel Gardner)appears in his first production at N.E.I.U. and is in his first year as a graduate student in the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre. Outside of acting and taking classes, he is dedicated to creating possibilities for youth, particularly in the areas of arts and arts based education. He founded, developed and directed The Serendipity Youth Theatre, a 501-C3 organization which has produced multiple productions since 2003, including the Senn Nutcracker at Nicholas Senn High School in Edgewater, an endeavor that involved 8 community organizations and had 120 youth on stage performing for an audience of 1200 parents, teachers and students.  He also writes curriculum based education programs and collaborates with youth and community development organizations to bring arts to education in Chicago Public Schools.

 

Kyle Young (Frank) may be remembered as the “masked fellow” in Rodney Higginbotham’s last show The Three Cuckolds.  Kyle would like to take this time to thank Rodney and Anna for giving their support, guidance, and time, and for being great and wonderful individuals to be around.  Kyle would also like to thank the cast and the audience for attending and straining their eyes to see him make a fool of himself on stage.

David Mitchell (Praed) is very pleased to be appearing in his first Stage Center production in his first semester as a transfer student to N.E.I.U.  He was most recently seen in Attic Playhouse’s production of Cactus Flower.  His favorite roles include Mesrou in The Dispute, Daniel Webster in The Devil and Daniel Webster, and Thurio in Two Gentlemen of Verona.  Thanks to Rodney, the cast and the crew for a great experience.  More thanks to the magnificent group of people David has the privilege of calling his family and friends: Mom, Dad, Mike, Becky, Tommy, Jackie, Nicole, Michelle, Joy, Heather, Matt, and Josie. David would like to point the finger of comedy at the fact that all these bios are written in third person even though we all know darn well that they are bring written by the actors themselves.  David finds that amusing for no good reason

Jeff Roll (Sir George Crofts) appears in,  what will perhaps be, his final appearance on the stage at N.E.I.U.  Jeff is thrilled to be working with this cast.  You may have seen him this summer in The Heidi Chronicles and The Lady’s not for Burning.  He desperately hopes to get his degree soon in Communication, Media and Theatre.  Also, he wants to learn Japanese so he can go to Japan and become a Kaiju-ologist.  He wants to thank M&D, all the C.M.S in the A.C. and all his friends here and abroad.

 

Megan Bubley (Vivie) is a transfer student from the University of Nebraska, though she was born and raised in Skokie. Megan is majoring in Secondary Education and is very excited to make her stage center debut in Mrs Warren's Profession, as well as having the opportunity to play such a unique and complex character in her first ever performance. Megan would like to thank her supportive family especially her mother who pushed her to pursue theatre, along with friends and her boyfriend Michael who made the point to attend her performance and support her, "It truly means the world to me".

 

Cheryl Lyman (Mrs. Warren) is appearing for the first time with the Stage Centre Theatre.  She is 41 years old and a full time freshman at NEIU with her eye on a C.M.T. major.  Growing up in Crystal Lake, IL, she was very active in theatre, readers theatre, and individual events in high school.  Currently a member of Red Ink Productions of First Free, she was recently seen in Neil Simon’s God’s Favorite as Rose Benjamin.

 



















 
Mrs. Warren (Cheryl Lyman) prepares to do battle with her daughter Vivie (Megan Bubley) the “new woman” in Bernard Shaw’s comedy, Mrs. Warren’s Profession playing at the Stage Center Theatre of Northeastern Illinois University.


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Special Thanks………….
The Department of Communication, Media and Theatre Faculty and Staff; the departments of  Accounts Payable, Budget, and Purchasing, Russ Grovak and Printing Services.


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