SUNY Ulster Theatre Department presents ‘Crimes of the Heart’

This month, the SUNY Ulster Theatre Department is presenting its spring production, the Pulitzer and Tony award-winning “Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley. The play features SUNY Ulster students and is directed by Stephen Balantzian, assistant professor and coordinator of theater. Performances are: Saturday, April 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. in the Quimby Theater in Vanderlyn Hall, located on the Stone Ridge Campus. The event is open to the community; a $10 donation is suggested (free for students). “Crimes of the Heart” tells the story of the three Magrath sisters, who are back together in their hometown of Hazelhurst, Mississippi, for the first time in a decade. Lenny, the eldest, never left Hazelhurst – she is the caretaker of the sisters’ cantankerous old Granddaddy. Meg, the middle sister, left home to pursue stardom as a singer in Los Angeles, but has, so far, only found happiness at the bottom of a bottle. And Babe, the youngest, has just been arrested for the murder of her abusive husband, Zackery Bottrelle. Under the scorching heat of the Mississippi sun, past resentments bubble to the surface, and each sister must come to terms with the consequences of her own “crimes of the heart.” Balantzian says, “Working on ‘Crimes of the Heart’ has been a wonderful challenge for the students. With Beth Henley’s rich characters, a Mississippi dialect, and a kitchen set, they are tested by all of the elements. It’s a joy to work on a beautiful play with dedicated and hardworking students.” SUNY Ulster Theatre students present several full-scale theatrical productions during the year. Theater productions at SUNY Ulster are open to all students, regardless of their programs of study. They also present original programs of Reader's Theater in December and May. In addition, both student and professional touring groups are invited to the campus. For more information, call the SUNY Ulster box office at 845-688-1959.