ELEGIES for ANGELS,PUNKS and RAGING QUEENS

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The Weekend Theater Presents
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Musical)
Music by Janet Hood
Lyrics and additional text by Bill Russell
November 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23

Acknowledge the loss, but celebrate the life - "Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens," opening November 7 at The Weekend Theater, tells of lives lost to AIDS through in songs and monologues that are touching, heartwarming and often surprisingly humorous.

The show, with book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Janet Hood, will be staged at the 7th and Chester performance space in downtown Little Rock. Stev e Marshall is directing, with music direction by Jeannie Smith. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through November 23. Tickets are $18 for general admission, and $14 for students and seniors age 65 and up.

There will also be a special performance on Thursday, November 13, to benefit Arkansas Children living with AIDS, Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served starting at 6:45 p.m., with curtain at 7 p.m. Playwright Russell, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his book and lyrics for the musical "Side Show," is scheduled to be a special guest. Tickets are $30.

The show is recommended for mature audiences. For more information or reservations, call 501-374-3761 or visit our Web site at www.weekendtheater.org.

"Elegies" has been evolving since it was first staged in New York in 1989, and has since been performed in venues as far away as London. Says director Marshall, "I first saw the show in Los Angeles and was deeply moved by it. When I got to know The Weekend Theater and the type of material it does, I found it to be a good fit.

"The point is to show the width and breadth of society and how almost every element in it is found among AIDS victims, from grandmothers to businessmen to Broadway chorus boys."

And for this production, Russell has written a new monologue – the character is Alma, an African American woman who got AIDS from her boyfriend without realizing that he was bisexual. "She is an innocent victim. Bill specifically wanted this new character to be black because the disease is so rampant right now within the African-American community," Marshall says.

The songs – musical theater style blues, rock, and pop – are scattered throughout the monologues, providing commentary and thematic connections. These are performed by four singers, who will also interact at times with the actors presenting monologues: Dominique Holloway as Judith, Charles Holloway as Doug, Carl Carter as Brian, and Kim Duval as Angela.