• the217
• Stage
• Talking life and death

This summer, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is presenting small, intimate shows such as Tuesdays with Morrie. Tom Mitchell, associate head of UI’s theatre department, is directing the play with a casual theme in mind.

“It is well suited for the actors, audience and the space,” Mitchell said. Tuesdays with Morrie is based on the book by author Mitch Albom. The story stems from interviews that Albom had with his old professor from Brandeis University, Morrie Schwartz, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. In a series of Tuesdays, they have meetings where they reconnect and talk about life and death. The play

captures their relationship as it develops over those weekly visits. It’s about reconnecting and rearranging the ideas of relationships between oneself and others, as well as about life’s most pressing questions. It is sad to see the imminent death of Morrie, a character who is lively, interesting and clearly passionate about teaching. However, Mitchell noted: “On the other hand, it is very full of life — very life-affirming about doing something with your life. So the emphasis is not on mourning but on celebrating what is possible.”

“To be able to see it embodied by actors, I think that makes it live in a different way and provides the audience with an experience where they take some new ideas with them so that it’s not just an empty theatrical experience. It’s one that has some richness to it,” Mitchell said. A unique attribute of the play is the focus on the process of two men who open up to one another. In particular, Tuesdays with Morrie is not about the scenery, costumes or lighting. The focus is on the characters and their relationship with each other.

Audience members should expect a short and sweet show, lasting only about an hour and 15 minutes. Mitchell looks forward to presenting a play that has something people might like to stop and talk about afterward.