marlene karas/VIEWFrom left, Scott Ast, Kate Lowenhar and Mark Brunton act in a scene from "Mister Roberts," now playing at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive.
From left, Kathryn Affentranger, Alana Brown, Cindy Bixby and Don Hayworth, crew members for "Mister Roberts," are photographed backstage at Las Vegas Little Theatre, May 4.marlene karas/VIEW
Advertisement
"Mister Roberts," a play co-written by Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan showing at the Las Vegas Little Theatre this weekend, is predominantly male, but is not entirely without its women.
Those associated with the Las Vegas Little Theatre looked to even out the testosterone in the playhouse by implementing a mostly female backstage crew.
"The guys are probably on their best behavior with the girls there," said Katie Affentranger, stage manager for "Mister Roberts."
The backstage crew consists of five members, four of whom are female, who control the sound and lights within the theater. Alana Brown is the backstage manager.
"Typically, when you think of a backstage crew, you think of men," Affentranger said. "It's nice to see women in those positions. It's been really interesting to see."
As the final show this season at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, "Mister Roberts" is in the midst of its last week on stage. The classic play, originally performed on Broadway in 1948, takes place aboard a World War II backwater cargo ship. During the performance the audience listens to the sounds of the sailors' banter and stand witness as they rise against their tyrannical captain to help Roberts, the ship's first officer, see some real war action for a change.
Scott Ast is playing the title character, who feels like he's not contributing to the war effort during the first part of the play. Because his crew likes Roberts, they help him gain what he wants most -- a little time in a war zone.
The play consists of 15 men in the production compared to only one female, hence the estrogen-filled backstage crew. The play's director is Jim Williams and actress Kate Lowenhar plays Lieutenant Ann Girard, the only female part in the show.
"I think that she basically serves as a brief shot of estrogen in an entirely male show," Lowenhar said of her character. Girard, an army nurse who works on an island that the crew discovers while looking through binoculars. Her character sports high heels, full makeup, stockings and pin-curled hair during the play.
"She is bold, sophisticated in some ways, and provincial in other ways," Lowenhar said.
Tickets for "Mister Roberts" are $20 for general admission and $17 for seniors and students. They can be purchased in person at the theater or online at www.lvlt.org.
"I'd like to encourage people to come down and experience live theater," Ast said. "It's always nice to see younger people go and see live theater."
Those interested in becoming a part of the Las Vegas Little Theatre's acting community can view next season's show list and audition schedule on the Web site.
Archived Editions| Advertising | Contact The Staff
