Lawrence.com

Founded in 1998, the all-volunteer E.M.U. Theatre Company provides a venue for local independent writers and performing artists. The group's 21st production consists of two one-act plays from two Lawrence playwrights: Joel Reavis's "Love and War," a satirical comedy that takes place in a small home tucked in a mountainside overlooking a bloody war, and Amy Jo McCarville's "Shift," a one-woman musical featuring McCarville as an out-of-luck crooner, a surreal chanteuse monkey and an opera clown.Press release:E.M.U. Theatre of Lawrence, KS announces our 21st production consisting of the two one-act plays, "LOVE AND WAR" by Joel Reavis and a special visiting artist peformance of "SHIFT" by Amy Jo McCarville. Performances will be Friday June 18 and Saturday June 19 at 8 PM at the Lawrence Arts Center (940 New Hampshire St.). Tickets will be available at the door for $5. "LOVE AND WAR", a hilariously satirical, antic comedy is the third script E.M.U. has produced by Lawrence playwright Joel Reavis and it also marks his directing debut for the company. The play takes place in a small home tucked in a mountainside overlooking a valley where a bloody war rages. Its inhabitants, Jessica and her father, Richard, hope for a soldier to visit them. They hope to persuade him to court and marry Jessica who is exceptional for her lack of patience, grace and especially beauty. When soldiers do arrive seeking respite from the battlefield, they must choose whether to brave the amorous advances of Jessica or retreat to the horrors of the battlefield they were trying to escape. E.M.U. is thrilled to be presenting the world premiere of "SHIFT", the one woman, mask musical, created and performed by Amy Jo McCarville, directed by Aaron Link, with sound design by James (Squish) Durawa. "SHIFT" will seize you, inspire you to mischief and disdain, seduce you away from your habitual self into a world both more and less than human. In this theatrical performance, ten characters come to life through original music, odd physicality, self-taught choreography, and hand-made masks. A down on his luck crooner, a surreal chanteuse monkey, an opera clown?! Something for everyone so that none can escape!! McCarville, an E.M.U., (and KU), alum, currently resides in Portland, Oregon since leaving Lawrence in 2002 to attend the Commedia del Arte school of physical theatre in Blue Lake, CA. Staffed entirely by volunteers, E.M.U. Theatre company has consistently provided a venue for local, independent writers and performing artists to work collaboratively on original as well as established plays. "LOVE AND WAR" and "SHIFT" will be E.M.U.'s 21st full production. The 22nd will be a ten minute play festival which will perform in August.