College of the Desert Theatre Arts presents
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
by Dale Wasserman
Adapted from the novel by Ken Kesey
Produced in association with Samuel French, Inc.
Friday, March 15th & Saturday, March 16th at 7:00 pm / Sunday, March 17th at 2 pm
Friday, March 22nd & Saturday, March 23rd at 7:00 pm / Sunday, March 24th, at 2 pm
Location: “The Pollock Theater” on the campus of College of the Desert
Tickets: $15 Adults / $13 for Students & Seniors / $10.00 for Groups of 10 or More
(Palm Desert, CA) – A charming anti-authoritarian criminal, Randle P. McMurphy, is transferred to a mental institution for evaluation. Although he does not show any signs of mental illness, he contrives a plan to avoid hard labor and serve the rest of his sentence in a more relaxed hospital environment rather than in a prison. McMurphy’s ward is run by steely, unyielding Nurse Mildred Ratched, who employs subtle humiliation, unpleasant medical treatments and a mind-numbing daily routine to suppress the patients. Upon McMurphy’s arrival he finds the patients are more fearful of Ratched than they are focused on becoming functional in the outside world. McMurphy, determined to prove to the other patients they can make it on the outside, and Nurse Ratched find themselves in a battle of wills to see who will “crack” first.
This production is the winner of the 2001 Outer Critics Circle Award and Tony Award for Outstanding Revival in 2001. The New York Times has proclaimed One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is “one of the finest, most meaningful and most moving plays of recent times. It is the stuff of great theatre; brilliant and powerful.”
“This is an iconic story that has found success as a novel, stage production, and a film. It has touched the hearts and minds of audience members and readers for 50 years”, says C.O.D. Assistant Professor of Theatre and director Tres Dean. “The play is a powerful commentary on the institutional process and the fragility and strength of the human mind. It is also serves as a critique of behaviorism and humanistic principles.”
The talented ensemble cast consists of current C.O.D. students and alumni Jennifer Kiehl, Shawn Abramowitz, Johnny Bolth, Anthony Gomez, Lance Phillips-Martinez, Rick St. Claire, Ramon Martinez, Briana Taylor, Miranda Hane, Todd Silverberg, Pedro Mora, Paul Mackey, Paulette Bartlett, Nina Charming, Chad Arnold, Matthew Reyes, Chirs Moody, Brieana Holguin, and local resident performer Gazpar Ascencio. The scenic / props designer is Diamond Braverman. The costume designer is Jennifer Kiehl. Lights and sound are designed by J.W. Layne. The music design is conceived by Noemi Villela Dean. The make-up and hair design is by Lynda Shaeps.
For ticket information and reservations, please call 760-773-2565. Tickets are also available at the College of the Desert Bookstore and on-line at www.ticketleap.com.
