Students to Present Duck Hunter Shoots Angel by Mitch Albom

Students at Alfred State College will present the play Duck Hunter Shoots Angel by Mitch Albom, Thursday and Friday, April 7 and 8, 2011, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 9, at 2 p.m. in the Orvis Activities Center Auditorium on the Alfred campus. Ticket prices: students $2, community members $5. Please note that this play is rated PG-13 for language and mature humor.

Duck Hunter Shoots Angel is the uproarious story of two bumbling Alabama brothers who have never shot a duck but think they shot an angel. As they lament their fates in a murky swamp, they are chased by a cynical tabloid journalist and his reluctant photographer, who don't believe any of it--until feathers, wings, and a tiara are discovered along the way. The play interweaves a love story, sibling rivalry, tawdry media, race relations, and cultural stereotypes as the chase to find the angel builds to a crescendo in the swamp. Ultimately a sweet allegory about redemption, Duck Hunter Shoots Angel has been hailed by audiences as a rare comedy with a surprisingly heartfelt lesson.

Cast members (and their roles) include James Meneses, Bellmore, architectural technology, as Sandy, a burnt-out tabloid journalist from New York, who serves as the narrator of the piece. We see him as his present day, jaded self and as his younger self, idealistic, career-oriented, and in love. He is hesitant about covering a story in Alabama because of a girl he left there.

Ali Moore, New York City, digital media and animation, as Lenny, an African-American, is a photographer for the Weekly World and Globe who is professional and focused and a veteran of the tabloid trade.

Anthony Grande, Grand Island, digital media and animation, as Lester, Sandy’s full-of-himself boss and the owner of the Weekly World and Globe; he is driven, arrogant, unintentionally humorous, pampered, and precocious.

Cody Herman, Alexander, digital media and animation, as Duane (pronounced Duh-WAYNE), is one of the two brothers responsible for this story. He raised his younger brother and thinks about the bottom line, Matthew Brumagin, Angola, construction management engineering technology, as Duwell, (pronounced Duh-WELL): Duane’s dimmer, sweeter, younger brother, Duwell is all heart and no head. He thinks with his emotions and strives to do what’s right, no matter what the consequences.

Kelly Beachner, Webster, marketing, as Woman, is a memory from Sandy’s past relationship. She is a typical southern girl: sweet, romantic, and fiercely loyal, even when wronged. She has a gentle prettiness and innocence that both attracts the youthful Sandy and wounds the present day Sandy. She is also a ghost on a mission as the play unfolds.

Ashley Knights, Dansville, court and realtime reporting, as Kansas, a 17-year-old southern firecracker, who works at the local Gasmart owned by her mother. Kansas is sweet, smart, vulnerable, and a bit plucky and precocious.

Jacob Freedman, Troy, digital media and animation, as Voice/Bank Loan Officer that talks with Sandy throughout the show. He is calm, analytic, and intent on keeping Sandy’s narrative focused and honest Ryan Shukis, Cherry Valley, digital media and animation, as Gator Man Creature or Phil, a coworker of Sandy’s who modeled a gator head for a photo shoot about a half-man, half-alligator tabloid story. He doesn’t take the gator head off after the shoot is done and pantomimes his way through the show. Or is there something else going on?

The play’s production crew includes ASC’s Director of Drama Janna Buckwalter, who directs the play; Sean Dolan, Geneva, information technology: network administration, lighting design and technician; Simon Gaston, Keuka Park, electrical engineering technology, sound and technical assistance; ASC Technical Assistant Rick Richards, who serves as technical director; and Rachael Field, Poughkeepsie, architectural technology, scenery design.

The author of Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and For One More Day, Mitch Albom is an internationally renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster, and musician. His books have collectively sold over 28 million copies worldwide, have been published in 41 territories and in 42 languages around the world, and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically acclaimed television movies.

Albom has founded four charities: The Dream Fund, A Time to Help, and S.A.Y. Detroit. His most recent effort, A Hole in the Roof Foundation, helps faith groups of every denomination who care for the homeless repair the spaces in which they carry out their work.

Duck Hunter Shoots Angel is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.