Special performances of Tuesdays with Morrie to be given this weekend

03/29/2012 12:42 PM

By Ivy Hillman ’12

This weekend, Bradley theatre is giving a special performance of Tuesdays with Morrie. It is being performed by Jon Farris and Steve Snyder, members of the Actors’ Equity Association.

Tuesdays with Morrie is based on the best-selling book by Mitch Albom. Mitch is a sports journalist whose former college professor, Morrie, has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. When Mitch travels to say goodbye to Morrie, they end up meeting for the next fourteen Tuesdays and Mitch learns a great lesson while listening to Morrie’s life experiences.

The novel has also been adapted into a TV movie featuring Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria.

The College of Education and Health Sciences is also involved with the production, as the play is part of a two-day symposium called “The Spark of Living and Dying: The Aging Brain.”

“The Center for Collaborative Brain Research (CCBR) here at Bradley wanted to celebrate its second year with a two-day symposium,” said Dr. Lori Russell-Chapin, co-director for CCBR.

The play goes perfectly with their efforts in brain research.

“We have collaborated with many others to bring a beautiful brain stain art exhibit, the play and internationally known speakers to the Bradley campus and community,” Russell-Chapin said.

Sponsors include The John C. Barrett-Bradley University Trust, Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts, the College of Education and Health Sciences, the Department of Theatre Arts, the Department of Art,  and Mental Health America of Illinois Valley.

Tuesdays with Morrie can be seen at the Hartmann Center on March 30 and March 31 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 for Bradley students, faculty and staff and $10 for the general public.

For more information, visit http://slane.bradley.edu/theatre-arts/shows/tuesdays-morrie and http://www.bradley.edu/spark/.