NDNU Premieres Dead Man Walking with acclaimed production
 Notre Dame de Namur University hosted a very special opening night
for the U.S. stage premiere of Dead Man Walking, written by Tim Robbins, with
special guests Dead Man Walking author Sister Helen Prejean CSJ, and actor Mike Farrell. The opening performance was followed by a
conversation with Sister Prejean, Mr. Farrell, and director Mike Elkins, chair of the NDNU Theatre Department.
Final performances are at 8:00 p.m. on November 5 and 6.
There will also be a 2:00 p.m. matinee on November 7.
Tickets for these performances are on sale, and are available from the box office at (650) 508-4177 or e-mail boxoffice@ndnu.edu.
- $15.00 for adults
- $8.00 seniors, students with school ID and NDNU faculty
- NDNU students and Sisters of Notre Dame are free
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Sister Helen Prejean (played by Katherine Hill)
and Matthew Poncelet
(played by Justin Basl) |
Reviews have been enthusiastic; here is a sampling:
"Director Michael B. Elkins, chair of NDNU's Theatre Arts Department, does a remarkable traffic job of maneuvering the large cast about the theater's wide stage, helped immeasurably by R. Dutch Fritz's stark metallic settings with projected moving visuals. ...
But the prizes go to amazing [Katherine] Hill, who recreates the compassionate and soul-searching Sister Helen to a fault, and [Justin] Basl [as convicted killer Matthew Poncelet], who slowly gains the audience's sympathy as Prejean persuades him to accept the blame and confront the guilt that is haunting him before he is forced to meet his maker.
[Jeff ] Young also puts in a strong performance as Poncelet's appeal lawyer, as does [Christopher] Taylor as the aggrieved ... father." read the full review
Eyes were opened Friday night.
On a blue-lit stage, flanked by two screens that alternately showed prison bars and photos of executed prisoners, the theater audience saw the dehumanizing effect of capital punishment and the ultimate repentance of a death row inmate at the premiere of the play, "Dead Man Walking." read the full article
The Play | Directions
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