Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - With grace under pressure and a sense of humor, Vivienne Elborne faces two opening nights in the span of the week. This well-known director of many past shows at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Heartland Festival has returned for her fifth season - this time pulling off a double feature.

Elborne's production of "Wake Me When I'm Dead" opened on Friday, June 13, to a packed house and was followed closely by the musical comedy, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" on June 20.

"I'm thrilled that audiences have responded so well to 'Wake Me,' and I know they will enjoy 'I Love You' just as well. It's a very grown up comedy, very funny and ideally suited to our theater here," she said referring to the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. "I've wanted to direct this for years, and I'm excited to finally be able to do so and share it with our Heartland Festival audiences," she said.

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," is a celebration of the mating game, which takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as "the relationship." Are relationships easier or more difficult to maintain these days? How do men and women work things out and once they have passed the marriage milestone, how do they keep it all going? According to Elborne, audiences may not get a definitive answer, but she promises that everyone will see a little of themselves in the show.

"It's a very clever comedy, and I've been so fortunate to work with these six wonderful actors. As soon as I saw them work together, I knew they would be 'perfect' " she said. The cast features Paul Helm of Wind Lake; Kelsey Klug of Platteville; Marcy Russell of Platteville; Abbey Schultz of Dubuque, Iowa; Aaron Sitrick of Beloit; and Jason Slattery of Cleveland, Ohio.

Elborne began her theatrical career in London where she enjoyed a successful performing career as a member of British Actors Equity, appearing at the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Westminster Abbey, as well as many other venues in the United Kingdom. She worked frequently on BBC Radio and performed with many renowned orchestras as well.

She continued her musical and theatrical career in the United States and became the artistic director of the San Pedro Playhouse, a position she held for 12 years, as well as resident stage concert musicals and Christmas shows. She has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., performing and directing, and has directed dozens of plays and musicals. Her credits include "Evita," "Phantom," "Sweeney Todd," "Guys and Dolls," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Odd Couple," "The Lion in Winter," "The Merchant of Venice" and "School for Scandal," as well as many others.

Still, despite her extensive travels, she said she loves returning to Platteville every summer.

"Platteville is obviously smaller than a lot of other places I've worked, but the talent here is excellent, the working conditions are excellent, and I've grown to feel very at home here. John [Hassig] and I work very well together and I have made some dear friends over the years, such as Phil and Barb Karrmann, so I have grown to look forward to returning to your campus and these audiences year after year," she said. Hassig is director of UWP Performing and Visual Arts, Programs and Facilities.

Anyone interested in learning more about Heartland Festival shows may call the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or visit the Heartland website at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland. The University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Ullsvik Hall at the intersection of Hickory and Main streets. The CFA Box Office location opens one and a half hours before scheduled performances. Tickets are also available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.

Contact: John Hassig, director of Performing and Visual Arts, Programs and Facilities, (608) 342-1298,hassigj@uwplatt.edu written by: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, href="mailto:martense@uwplatt.edu">martense@uwplatt.edu