Jonathan McCarter, who graduated from The University of Memphisin May, is excited to already be doing what he loves -- directingtheater.
Bash, by Neil LaBute, will run July 29-31 and Aug. 1 at theGermantown Community Center.
The center is giving younger or lesser-known directors a placeto hold their shows, renting the space out for $300, far less thanmost performance areas charge, McCarter said.
"I came back to town after a vacation after graduation and heardabout this opportunity," McCarter said. "I had to put it alltogether in a little under two weeks."
As director and producer, McCarter said he cast friends StevenBrown, Jason Shook, Julianne Dowler and Samantha Butler into roleshe thought would suit them.
"We've had only a month and a half to rehearse, but the actorshave really worked hard," McCarter said. "It is very difficult toconvey the mental state the characters are in, but they havedeveloped them very well."
Bash is a series of monologues about human suppression, givingyou a look into other people's skeletons in their closets, McCartersaid.
"If you ever wonder what you really know about the personsitting next to you in class or wherever you are, this is a storyabout three people and what makes them who they really are," hesaid.
Dowler said she enjoys working with McCarter, who she workedwith two years prior in Women and Wallace. The main thing peoplewill take away from the play, Dowler said, is a better sense ofcompassion.
"This normal guy claims he knows right from wrong and severelybeats a man because he is gay and does not see anything wrong withthis," she said. "Sometimes you just don't see the anger inside ofsomeone."
McCarter said he feels very fortunate to such an excellentcast.
"No matter how many times I've seen it, Steven still has me onthe verge of tears, and Julianne's just been spot-on the wholetime," he said.
"I don't want to say, 'It's great, come and see it,' but reallyeveryone should come and check it out."
Bash opens 8:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m.Sunday.
Tickets are $12 at the door.
