News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009

DEP'T. OF THEATRE PRESENTS PRINCESS ASCENDING OCT. 2-3

The Cottey College Theatre and Speech Department, in cooperation with Samuel French, presents Princess Ascending by Norman Holland on Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, at 8 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts.

Originally written to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, the action of the play is set in sixteenth century England amid the turmoil and court intrigue regarding who will assume the throne after the death of Henry VIII. The play opens after Henry's successor and son, Edward, dies at the age of 16. Action progresses through the end of the nine-day reign of successor Lady Jane Grey. The drama unfolds through the personal battles between the Protestant Princess Elizabeth and her older half sister Catholic Queen Mary. Watch as Mary, determined to keep the country aligned to Spain and the Vatican, orders hundreds of Englishmen to their deaths while Elizabeth wins the hearts of the English commoners. Watch as these famous and very real Tudor women battle for a prize of no less than the Royal throne of England. The play is directed by Dr. Rusalyn Andrews.

Tickets for Princess Ascending are $5 for adults and $4 for those under age 18 or over age 62. Tickets will be available at the door the evenings of the performances.

The Center for the Arts is on the northeast corner of Austin and Tower streets in Nevada, Missouri.