After five weeks of rehearsals and a few premature gray hairs from unexpected obstacles, this season's debut show from ASU's Student Production Board hit the stage this week.
"Lilies," written by Michel Marc Bouchard, tells the story of identity struggle and relationships between two Canadian men in a society with less than liberal views.
" 'Lilies' is a play within a play," said Virginia Logan, a theatre senior and director of the all-male cast.
The production is aimed at a mature audience and hopes to deliver a message concerning sexuality: Humanity, rather than gender, can be the focus of a relationship.
Drawing audiences to a show concerned with historically controversial subject matter seemed like a challenge in the beginning stages, but after opening night Logan said the audience was open-minded.
The biggest challenge to producing the play came early in the production. Two leading actors quit the play, creating a scramble to find replacements.
A first-semester theatre freshman stepped up to fill the role.
Travis Jauregi said the level of professionalism within the Student Production Board was unlike any of his previous theatre experiences.
"It was a whole new style of production for me," said Jauregi.
Jamie Israel, a cast member and theatre senior, also credited the professionalism of the production.
"[The] main focus was put on character interactions and emotion," Israel said. "We have our fun, but the director keeps us focused."
Running nightly through Saturday, "Lilies" is entirely ASU-produced. Shows start at 7 p.m. at the on-campus Prism Theatre.
"It's dynamic and entertaining," said Logan. "People will love it."
Reach the reporter at bradley.butterfield@asu.edu.
