"All of the characters in Of Mice and Men, without exception, deal with the constant struggle to find meaning through human contact," Altheide said. "However, in the migrant laborer's world of 1930's America, their loneliness and desperation have caused many of them to look on friendships with suspicion and contempt. Into this world walk Lennie and George, an unlikely friendship that by the end of the play will prove that love can still grow in the harshest environments."
The cast includes best friends George, played by Jeremy Brailsford, and Lenny, played by Kevin Bickwermert, traveling together in northern California looking for employment. They find jobs on a ranch and are determined to work hard, build their savings, and pursue their dreams. Other characters on the ranch are played by Kaleb Sullivan, Candy Jeffery Dumond, Slim Nathan Beasley, The Boss Christian Goad, Curly Lydia Abell, Mrs. Curly Craig Patterson, Carlson Kevin Hawkins, Whit Preston Harris-Dunlap, Crooks, and Myah, the Dog.
The play will be staged at 7:30 p.m. November 11-13 and 17-20 and 2 p.m. November 14 and November 21 in the Mallette Studio Theatre in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center.
The artistic team for Of Mice and Men, all USI students, includes Vince Davey as scenic designer, Sean Nicholl as lighting designer, Amanda Cleveland as costume designer and Michael Frohbieter as sound designer.
The Repertory Project will open its spring production with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, which will play in rotation with James Goldman's The Lion in Winter. Performances run March 17-April 3, 2010.