Grambling State News

Grambling State University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts will present its fall stageplay “Misery” at 7 p.m. nightly from Tuesday-Friday, Sept. 26-29 along with a matinee showing at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29.

The play will be presented in the Floyd Sandle Theatre inside the Conrad Hutchinson Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are free for GSU students with a valid ID and $10 for non-students.

In this classic thriller based on the novel by author Stephen King, Paula Sheldon is biting the hand that feeds her.

After building a successful career as a writer of romance novels, she is killing off her title character. Paula has grown to hate the romantic heroine of her best-selling “Misery” book series. She has written his final romance and hopes to publish a gritty realistic novel that will take her career in a new direction.

Unfortunately, Paula crashes her car in a remote mountain area and is rescued by Annie Wilkes, a lonely nurse who declares herself to be Paula’s “number one fan.” Annie forces Paula to write for her life in hopes of meeting Annie’s demand for a Misery book that meets her skewed sense of approval.

What follows is an award-winning battle of wits for Paula’s life and her literary soul.

The play was adapted for the stage by William Goldman and will be directed by GSU Assistant Professor KT Zimmerman.

“Rehearsals have been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun,” Zimmerman said. “The play has plenty of mayhem and murder which takes a slow methodical approach. It should be a great lead in for the Halloween holiday season.”

The cast list includes Destiny Berry and Shmyrri McDonald playing Annie; Reygan Mullins and Kinnidy Lucas appearing as Paula; and Quashaun Tibbs in the role of Buster.

Kim Jones will handle lights and costumes for the play while David Kaul will serve as Technical Director.