'Rose Tattoo' hopes to leave a permanent mark

December 2, 2008

Passion and love are center stage for UW-Whitewater’s production of "The Rose Tattoo" written by Tennessee Williams and guest directed by Norma Saldivar.  "The Rose Tattoo" is sure to warm your heart and soul, as passion is explored and reignited in a journey of love, both lost and found.  Escape the cold December nights by witnessing the re-blossoming of love at the Barnett Theatre Dec. 2-6 at 7:30 p.m.  For tickets to this UW-Whitewater Theatre/Dance Department production, please call (262) 472-2222 or log onto http://tickets.uww.edu.

Retreating to the safe haven of memories after the death of her husband, Serafina, a Sicilian seamstress, finds herself struggling to come to terms with the premature loss of her husband and the paralyzing grief she feels.  But when Serafina’s world is devastated by the reality of a betrayal and the fear that her 15-year-old daughter may experience the same romantic hardships, she’s finally ready to let go.  Once Serafina discovers that her desires are reawakening to break out from below the surface, the widow realizes she can no longer shelter herself or her daughter from the perils of love. One of Tennessee William’s most poetic plays, The Rose Tattoo creatively combines humanity with the exploration of raw emotion while still maintaining a light-hearted touch of humor.

Guest director Norma Saldivar is the Director of Graduate Directing Program at UW-Madison.  Her professional credits include: Blind Parrot Productions, Absolute Theatre Company, Center Theatre-Chicago; Illinois Repertory Theatre, Urbana, Illinois; Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Next Act Theatre Company, Renaissance Theatreworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Madison Repertory Theatre-Madison, Wisconsin; San Jose Repertory Theatre-San Jose, California; A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle, Washington, to name a few. She has served as Artistic Administrator & Resident Director for Milwaukee Repertory Theatre during which time she served as casting director and internship coordinator. Saldivar has a BFA in Acting from Illinois Wesleyan University and a MFA from the University of Illinois-Champaign. She is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

The cast of "The Rose Tattoo" includes UW-Whitewater students: Saundra Montijo as Rosa, Ashley Arroyo as Serafina, Jacquelyn Nasby as Assunta, Savannah Hardyman as Estelle Hohengarten, Sarah Bartow as Miss Yorke, David Franz as Father De Leo, Tyler King as Alvaro, Kaitlyn King as Bessie/Strega/Woman, Amanda Franecki as Flora/Woman, Matthew Hackbarth as Jack, Rebecca Schaefer as Guiseppina, Serena Sretenoich as Peppina, Rebecca Ruge as Violetta, and Benjamin Koehler as The Salesman.  The cast is led by guest director Norma Saldivar, assistant director and UW-Whitewater alumna Kate Schultz, and stage manager Cassy Schillo, who is a current UW-Whitewater Theatre/Dance student.  Designs are provided by UW-Whitewater students and faculty and are an inspired collaboration between director, designers, and the play itself.  Eric Appleton, a new hire at UW-Whitewater, brings the South to the North with his first set design for the Theatre/Dance Department.  Other production staff members include Tracey Lyons for costume design, another new hire to the department and UW-Whitewater students Louis Kreienkamp for lighting design, and Neil Pearse for sound design.

The 2008-2009 season is sponsored by The Daily Jefferson County Union and The Whitewater Register.

Tickets are available to be purchased at the Greenhill Center Box Office Monday-Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm or at the Visitors Center on Starin Road Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the performance, beginning one hour prior to curtain, as availability allows.  Tickets for The Rose Tattoo are $10.00 for the general public, $8.00 for 65 and over, $5.50 for 18 and under, and $4.50 for students with a UW- ID.

The Theatre/ Dance Department is dedicated to performing high quality, entertaining production showcasing the talent of not only the theater majors, but a myriad of other students as well.  The department is designed to give students as much real-world experience as possible in a learning environment.  The costumes, sets and light are often designed by students, thus giving the students an opportunity to apply their craft and gain experience.  Every school year they produce six shows and another three every summer.  To find additional information about the department, visit their Web site at http://academics.uww.edu/CAC/Theatre/Index.htm