Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Eugene O'Neill's USCs BY SUSAN PAQUET The upcoming Town Theatre production of Eugene O'Neill's "Beyond the Horizon", stars Becky Gleason and Art Johnson, two USC students. Becky Gleason's talent has been shown in such plays as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Lysistrata", two University productions, and last year's Town Theatre pro duction of "A Cry of Players." She's a 19%2-year-old freshman here and a Columbia resident. Becky plays the role of Ruth in the play. "She explains it as a role which requires her to age 10 years physically and a 1000 years emotionally. Ruth, a viva cious farm girl loved by two brothers, becomes an emotion less, drained individual at the end of the play. Becky says this type of dramatic role is the kind that appeals to her most, but she says, "I always seem to be cast as a prostitute." When asked how she became interested in acting, Miss Gleason explained at age 10 she was 5'2" and weighed 140 pounds. Dramatics brought her out of her shell, she said. "Acting is the one thing in my life I really love," Becky said and added, "Without it I'd be really lost." Her first part was in "Win terset" when she was 12 years old. She played the role of a lit tle boy as a street urchin. Miss Gleason attended A. C. Flora high school and Keenan until the middle of her senior year when she dropped out of school. She received her dip loma by taking the high school equivalency test. PNDE Studeni ToES 5 P.M. 'til SPEC STEAKi $1 'The best steak at the best potato or French fries, tosi COME AS 548 KNOX ABBOT T BUSH RIVER ROA 4510 DnVIN ST cREE= Beyond the Horizo ;tudents s Becky's interests range from fencing to writing poetry and playing the flute. Her ambition is to become a movie director. When asked how she found time to satisfy her urge to act she said "You can find time. You can work things in." Art Johnson is a "bastardized senior," as he explaines it, majoring in business administ ration. A talented actor, Art has had leads in such local plays as "Zoo Story," "Butterflies Are Free," "Tom Tom the Piper's Son," and "Babes in Toyland." Art says acting is a hobby for him. "There's a basic differ ence between an actor who does it as a hobby as opposed to someone who wants to make it a career," he says. "It's a very satisfying hobby." Johnson plays the role of Robert in "Beyond the Hori zon." "Robert is the dreamer type. He never has his feet on the ground," he explained. When asked how he was able to attend school and act Johnson said "I've been in four plays since last summer and I've been in school during all those; so it's not so tough." Art became involved with the theater 10 years ago when he filled in for a sick friend who was doing the sound for a play. From here he eased into acting. In 1967 he was with the Army out at Ft. Jackson. He was trans ferred to Viet Nam and as he tells it, "I formed a theatre com pany over there. We travelled around Viet Nam and did shows from the back of a trailer. INA ' Night DAY Closing DlAL DINNER 19 With Student I0 price. Served with baked ed salad and bread. YOU ARE RAA DRIVE IN CAYCE D-JUST OFF 1-26 T-EAST COLU1MBIA n' tar in the USC students Art Johnson and Theatre. Johnson sees acting as a learning experience for himself by saying, "Everybody has a way of relating to other people and even if you relate to a per son who is fictitious, you learn about real people." Another fringe benefit of acting Johnson said is "...the glory-the name in the paper, things like that." "Beyond the Horizon" will run at Town Theatre from January 26 through February 2. D Beve Corner 0 all~ eWe Cater I Owned and atre production a Ke 0 Photo by Doug Fioeburg Becky Gleson rehearse for upcoming production at Town Governor West to speak on 'S. Carolina's Future' South Carolina Governor John C. Bill Nachman serve as co-chairman West will speak Thursday, January of the series which provides 25 in the Towers' M&N Lounge. The speakers, concerts and athletic subject of West's talk will be "South exhibitions for Carolina students. Carolina's Future," and will be fol- The next scheduled event of the lowed by an question and answer series is planned Feb. 7, when session. The talk is to begin at 8:30. 'Friends' a rock group from Cam West appearance is sponsered by den, will give a free concert in the the Towers Government and M&N lounge. Advisors Series. Jim Staples and 1scount rage Store f Harden and Green 254-7771 ~LPrices onl (eg Parties operated by UTS ..,uent