Ed Asner to star in The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial
1925 evolution trial drama part of ASU’s Darwin Bicentennial

Appalachian State University continues its celebration of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and a thought-provoking exploration into the history of the theory of evolution with LA Theatre Works’ staged radio play, The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial.  Starring Ed Asner as William Jennings Bryan and Jerry Hardin as Judge John T. Raulston, this performance is part of Appalachian’s Performing Arts Series, and takes place at 8pm on Wednesday, February 11, at Farthing Auditorium.

The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial is produced by Peter Goodchild, and is based on the original transcripts of the 1925 trial of John Scopes in Dayton, Tennessee, and recounts the nationally riveting court case that championed the right to teach evolution in public schools.  The radio play features unlikely heroes Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, H.L. Mencken and John Scopes, who set the stage for an ongoing national debate over the separation of Church and State in a democratic society. Although this conflict of social and intellectual values played out in a rural Tennessee courthouse nearly 80 years ago, the issues at the core of this thought-provoking performance remain unresolved even today.

LA Theatre Works is a live in-performance radio theatre series in Los Angeles, featuring leading actors in ten state-of-the-art audio productions a year.  Through its weekly broadcasts, LA Theatre Works makes theatre easily accessible to audiences nationwide, with their award-winning, critically-acclaimed radio theatre series, The Play’s The Thing.  The company’s national touring program has expanded the company’s mission to provide access to significant works of theatre by audiences nationwide, employing a slightly expanded, staged version of their radio plays that includes costumes and minimal sets.  Featuring first-rate casts and live sound effects, these touring productions have delighted and challenged audiences in over 125 small towns and major cities across the nation, providing audiences with an intimate, spontaneous experience rarely felt in traditional theatrical settings.

Actor/activist Edward Asner is perhaps best known for his comedic and dramatic crossover as the gruff but soft-hearted journalist ‘Lou Grant,’ the role he originated on the landmark TV news room comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and continued in the newspaper-set drama “Lou Grant,” which earned him five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards.  His more than 100 TV credits include starring in the series “Off the Rack,” “The Bronx Zoo” and “Thunder Alley.”

Numerous guest appearances include roles in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “ER,” “Arliss,” “The Practice” and a recurring role on “Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip.”  Besides commercials and numerous books on tape, he has lent his voice to popular cartoon shows such as “The Simpsons,” “Spiderman” and “Boondocks.” Asner’s dozens of motion pictures include They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, Fort Apache the Bronx, JFK, and the European production of Giovanni XXIII— the highest rated television mini-series in the history of Italian TV— as well as the box office hit Elf with Will Farrell and James Caan.  Asner has done several Hallmark movies and received an Emmy nomination for The Christmas Card.  Most recently he completed filming for Gigantic, slated to be in theatres Spring 2009, with John Goodman and Jane Alexander; Generation Gap for the Hallmark channel and currently is lending his voice to next years Pixar animated film, Up.  Mr. Asner has been the recipient of seven Emmy Awards and 16 nominations, as well as five Golden Globe Awards and served as National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms.

Jerry Hardin’s film credits include The Firm with Sydney Pollack, Costa Gavras’ Missing, Paul Mazursky’s Tempest, Warren Beatty’s Reds, Milagro Beanfield War with director Robert Redford, Blaze, Hot Spot, The Associate, Saving Private Ryan and many others.  Episodic television and movies of the week have included guest appearances on most of the regular shows and a starring role in the series “Filthy Rich.”  Guest star roles in episodic television include “X-Files, “Star Trek,” “Ally McBeal,” “Golden Girls,” “Murphy Brown,” “Nip/Tuck,” “JAG,” and many others spanning some 30 years in the Hollywood market.  His daughter Melora is currently starring in “The Office” and his wife, Diane, is a teacher of acting.

Appalachian’s Performing Arts Series continues through April, with the Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour (Tuesday, February 17), a featured performance of Appalachian State University’s JazzFest ’09, and North Carolina Dance Theatre’s American Masterpieces (Thursday, April 2).  Performance tickets make great gifts, and a new series “Flex 4 Pass” allows the user to choose four tickets in any combination, right up to the start of each performance.

The 2008-09 Performing Arts Series is a presentation of Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs.  The mission of the series is to support the teaching mission of Appalachian State University by presenting a diverse array of music, dance and theatre events designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the campus and surrounding region.  By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a “window on the world” through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of Appalachian State University’s campus community and the surrounding region.

Appalachian’s Performing Arts Series would be unable to present and publicize its wide range of extraordinary programming without critical support from a group of outstanding media sponsors that are dedicated to promoting the arts in our region, including: The Mountain Times, All About Women magazine, the Winston-Salem Journal, Charter Media, Mountain Television Network, Mix 102.3, 100.7 MacFM, WFDD 88.5, WDAV 89.9, WETS 89.5, WNCW 88.7 and WASURocks 90.5FM.

Tickets

Tickets to the February 11 performance of The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial are $18 for the general public, $16 for seniors, ASU faculty and staff and $10 for students and children. Ticket prices increase at the door on show nights.  For tickets or information, visit www.pas.appstate.edu or call the Farthing Auditorium Box Office at (800) 841-ARTS(2787) or (828) 262-4046. Farthing Auditorium is located at 733 Rivers Street, and box office hours are 10am-5pm, Monday-Friday.