Play examines issues of racism, political correctness

In a production opening on Thursday, April 27, the Pittsburg State University Theatre will examine the touchy issues of racism, reverse racism and political correctness in contemporary American Society. "Spinning Into Butter," a play by Rebecca Gilman, will open at 8 p.m. on April 27 in PSU's Studio Theatre. The theater is located in Grubbs Hall at the corner of Joplin and Cleveland streets. "Spinning Into Butter" will run nightly through April 29. A matinee performance will be staged at 2 p.m. on April 30.

Reviewers have called "Spinning Into Butter" a "brave, honest, intelligent and important" play. Gilman's characters, confronted with racism at a fictional American college, are so concerned with doing the politically correct thing that they fail to do the humanly right one, one reviewer wrote.

The title of the play comes from Helen Bannerman's 1921 book, "The Story of Little Black Sambo," which tells of some tigers who stole Little Black Sambo's clothes and then argued over who was the grandest of them. The tigers chased each other around a tree, spinning so fast they ultimately spun themselves into butter, which little Black Sambo then uses to eat with his pancakes.

This show is directed by Stephanie A. Super and the ensemble cast is played by Lucy Miller-Downing, Austin Laverty, Rachel Ayers, Roy Hatcher, Jacob Schreiner, Erik Hyde and Tyler Davis.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and children, and $6 for PSU faculty and staff. PSU students are admitted free with a valid ID. Tickets are available through the PSU Ticket Office (630-235-4796) and at the PSU Studio Theatre door.

For information, please call the Department of Communication at 620-235-4716.

---Pitt State---