The Northern Oklahoma College Division of Fine Arts presents “The Boys Next Door” Oct. 3-6
Performances are scheduled for Oct. 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center. The production is directed by NOC Fine Arts Instructor Anthony Luetkenhaus.
“This play has been a joy to work on with this cast, which as you read the program you’ll see is mostly newcomers to the NOC stage,” Luetkenhaus said. “There are a few familiar faces but we have a bright, young group of talent here at NOC.”
“The Boys Next Door, is about four mentally handicapped men learning to navigate their lives,” he said. “They experience love and heartbreak, success and failure, just like all of us do. That is the message of this play. We are all people, regardless of mental or physical capacities. We experience the same things in life, we just handle those things differently, and that’s ok.”
Luetkenhaus explained the language in the production. “The play is set in 1988,” he said. “During the ‘80’s, we had a very different outlook on the mentally handicapped and mental illness. There are words in this play that were acceptable then that are not acceptable terms now. As a director, I mean no offence to those who do have mental handicaps. However, I felt that staying true to the time period and the script were important to the telling of this story.” Cast members include Ryan Brown, Carli Pendleton, Tonkawa; Noah Shaw, Edmond; Kolton Rhodes, Marlow; Aleah Taylor, Kingston; Hunter Potter, Owasso; Jake Arington, Moore; Sarah Hunsucker, Ponca City; and Austin Nephew, Tonkawa.
Admission is free, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
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