And what a story he told.

The trials and tribulations he endured to see his Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "The Kentucky Cycle" produced on Broadway were of epic proportions.

And although his presentation before a packed house, titled "Taking the Kentucky Cycle to Broadway," or, more appropriately, "What a Long, Strange Trip it Was," was sprinkled liberally with humor and amusing anecdotes, it was an arduous process with many setbacks along the way.

The Bradley Theatre Department will present "The Kentucky Cycle" in April in two parts. It is an ambitious drama consisting of nine one-act plays, spanning more than 200 years of American history and running for more than 6 hours.

Schenkkan got his motivation for the show on a trip through Kentucky, where he was shocked by the juxtaposed existence of the nouveau riche alongside people who were living a marginal existence at best.

"My original intent was to reconcile those issues, but as I researched it, it evolved into something much more than that," said Schenkkan. "The Kentucky Cycle is more than a story about a specific place or situation. It concerns the mythology of the American frontier."

In addition, Schenkkan said he was writing as a response to what was going on during the Bush- Reagan years.

"This loss of unity as a country, as well as personal losses, was what motivated me," Schenkkan said.

"The Kentucky Cycle" holds the honor of being the only play in history to win the Pulitzer Prize without first appearing on Broadway. The play, which took years to develop, was awarded the largest grant ever given by the Fund for New American Plays.

Its 1991 world premiere at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle set box office records.

Besides the Pulitzer, it has garnered awards such as the L.A. Drama Critic's Circle Award for Best Play, as well as being nominated for a Tony, a Drama Desk award and an Outer Critics Circle award.

When Schenkkan began the long process to get the play to Broadway, he ran into many obstacles that may have appeared to be insurmountable.

Problems with funding threatened the financial security of the show, and there were difficulties in securing a theatre willing to undertake such a large project. They finally secured the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Setbacks continued, such as a labor strike by musicians and backlash from a Kentucky resident who feared the play would paint inhabitants of the state in a negative light.

The unfavorable media coverage caused ticket sales to be low, even though critics responded in almost unanimous praise of the show.

The next stop was Broadway, although the path wasn't destined to be an easy one, even after all of the difficulties Schenkkan and the company had already endured.

Lukewarm reviews in New York, which Schenkkan attributes to petty media rivalry, kept ticket sales down, and the show's Broadway run ended early.

Schenkkan said that one reason for the poor reviews is that the play has a mass appeal but no distinct audience, unlike most shows that appear on Broadway that target a specific group of people.

Schenkkan said he also fears that the media backlash against "The Kentucky Cycle" has intimidated people, discouraging ambitious productions.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the show, Schenkkan said his belief in the show remains strong.

Junior theatre major Mikhail Blokh, who will play several roles in "The Kentucky Cycle" said he is optimistic about the show.

"I love the play," Blokh said. "I think this is the first show Bradley has done in a while where the subject matter is so high caliber. It's a good show with good characters, not some fluffy melodrama."

Blokh said he believes that Schenkkan's visit to campus was beneficial. "It was interesting to hear directly from the playwright."

Besides the lecture, Schenkkan also came to one rehearsal, which gave the actors an opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insight into the characters.

"I feel like I have a better insight into the motivations of the characters that I wouldn't otherwise have had," Blokh said. "(Schenkkan) envisioned and crafted the images and characters with a certain mental image in mind. By talking to him, I can give a more accurate portrayal of what he intended."

Blokh said that work on the play is coming along nicely, although it is still in its early stages.

"It's such a big, complex play," Blokh said. "There are so many people and times and scenes. It's going well but we still have a long road ahead of us."

This is a situation with which Schenkkan can surely relate. 2