Department of Theatre Presents 'The Foreigner' by Larry Shue

Robert Flaherty Hart and James Taylor Odom.

Stephanie Faatz Murry and Robert Flaherty Hart.

Stephanie Faatz Murry, James Taylor Odom, and Robert Flaherty Hart.

Kelsey Cain, Colin Bennett, James Taylor Odom, and Stephanie Faatz Murry.

Bill Rogers and James Taylor Odom.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Department of Theatre in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will present the comedy The Foreigner by Larry Shue. The show will open Friday, Feb. 20, and will continue through Sunday, March 1, in the University Theatre in the Fine Arts Building.

The play has earned two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. The most recent New York revival of The Foreigner starred Matthew Broderick as main character, Charlie.

In the play, Charlie, a painfully shy Englishman, pretends not to speak English during his stay at a rural Georgia fishing lodge. Thinking he can’t understand them, the locals reveal all sorts of secrets. In addition to its comic premise, there’s also romance, action, intrigue and social commentary in this perennial favorite.

The production is directed by Michael Landman, head of directing for the University of Arkansas theatre department. The cast features Masters of Arts students Robert Hart, James Odom, Faatz Murry, Bill Rogers and Nate Stahlke. Also in the cast are undergraduate students Kelsey Cain, Rachel Boekhaus, Matt Clothier, Flex Coreas, Elijah Dewitt and Erin Dosher.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Feb. 20-21 and 25-28 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 and Mar. 1. All performances are in the University Theatre in Fine Arts Center. The Wednesday and Thursday performances are free to students with a valid University of Arkansas ID. Audience members are encouraged to make reservations in advance. Students must make their reservations in person at the University Theatre box office to receive student prices.

Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and University of Arkansas faculty and staff and $5 for students. The box office is open from 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Monday-Friday and two hours prior to each performance. Tickets are also available online or by phone at (479) 575-4752.