Surrounded by Reality

By John Nicholas Schweitzer

What better way to combine the Guild's 60th Birthday with Madison's 150th than with a world premiere? John Nicholas Schweitzer, whose many previously produced works include the historical dramas Fighting Bob: A Love Story about the lifelong love of Bob and Belle LaFollette, and The Saga of Sergeant Bates, the true story of an Edgerton Civil War veteran's heroic march to help heal a divided nation, offers our city the gift of his view of Madison's first 150 years. Supported in part by Historic Madison and the Wisconsin Arts Board, John's new work follows a young girl's developing appreciation of history as her family's past comes to life onstage in scenes of several of the City's defining events. If you're having a birthday any time this year, you're sure to enjoy this present of the past.

The original play consists of four historical scenes framed by a modern-day mixed-race family's discovery of its own past in Madison. The scenes, set in 1862, 1883, 1922, and 1963, touch on noteworthy historical events and focus on historical and present-day discrimination against immigrant groups, people of color, women and gay people.

Produced by Madison Theatre Guild at the Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St., Madison and the Overture Center.

Performances: March 17 - April 2, 2006

Historic Madison Inc's sesquicentennial gift to the city, "Surrounded by Reality", opens March 17 at the Bartell Theatre and runs for two weeks there. It then moves to Promenade Hall in the Overture Center for one more weekend. Show times, ticket prices, and contact information are below.

March 16 - 25 in the Bartell Theatre, and March 30 - April 2 in the Overture Center.

Bartell shows:

Friday, March 17 @ 7:30 ($15)
Saturday, March 18 @ 2:00 ($12)
Saturday, March 18 @ 7:30 ($15)
Sunday, March 19 @ 2:00 ($12)
Thursday, March 23 @ 7:30 ($10)
Friday, March 24 @ 7:30 ($15)
Saturday, March 25 @ 2:00 ($12)
Saturday, March 25 @ 7:30 ($15)

Overture Center shows:

Thursday, March 30 @ 7:30 ($20)
Friday, March 31 @ 8 ($25)
Saturday, April 1 @ 2:00 ($20)
Saturday, April 1 @ 8 ($25)
Sunday, April 2 @ 2:00 ($20)

Call 608-238-9322 for reservations or more information about the Bartell shows. Call 608-258-4141 for reservations or more information about the Overture shows.

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