Harper director takes on final play in 'Atlanta Trilogy'

The Harper College Theatre Department will complete its staging of playwright Alfred Uhry's "Atlanta Trilogy" with a production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" that begins Friday, Aug. 29.

Set in 1939 Atlanta, the comedy follows a wealthy Jewish family that experiences prejudice and anti-Semitism among its largely Christian community.

"Ballyhoo" was the winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play and received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama nomination.

The play will run through Sept. 7 in the Drama Lab Theatre, Building L, Room L109, on the college's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

This is Harper College Theatre Director Kevin Long's third and final production from Uhry's "Atlanta Trilogy," having staged both "Parade" and "Driving Miss Daisy" in 2013. Uhry appeared on campus in June for a public discussion about his work.

"It's been a supreme honor to direct this complete trilogy," Long said. "Little did I know that when I directed 'Parade' in March 2013 that it would win the BroadwayWorld Chicago award for Best Revival of a Musical, Resident non-Equity Theatre; that I would be nominated for best director; and that my set designer, Ashley Woods, would be nominated for best set design. Then, to direct the next two plays and have Alfred Uhry actually visit me? Absolutely amazing."

A preshow conversation with director Long and Harper College English Professor Richard Middleton-Kaplan, a special adviser on the play, will take place at 1 p.m. prior to the matinee performances Aug. 31 and Sept. 7. Complimentary coffee will be served at these free events.

Tickets for the play are $15, available through the box office at (847) 925-6100 or harpercollege.edu/boxoffice.