Conference and Festival Events

Saturday, April 13

7:30 pm - The William Inge Festival Honors an I.C.C. Alumnus. “An Evening With C.B.S. Newsman, Bill Kurtis”. Independence Country Club, Dinner Tickets $11.00.

Bill Kurtis, award winning broadcast journalist, returns to Independence as a curtain-raiser for the 1985 Inge Festival. Kurtis, a native of Independence and an alumnus of Independence Community College is co-anchor with Phyllis George of the CBS Morning News. His most recent documentary, “The Gift of Life” aired March 27 on CBS has been critically acclaimed.

Sunday, April 14

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Registration for Conference and Festival Events, Foyer of William Inge Theatre

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm - The William Inge Collection in the College Library located in the Academic Building will be open for visitors.

1:15 pm – 5:00 pm - “William Inge: Penn Avenue to Broadway” will be shown in the Lecture Hall, Academic Building

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm - Tours of Inge’s Independence will leave the Fine Arts Building. Meet in the Foyer.

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Inge Film Festival, Media Center, Academic Building 1:00 pm – Bus Riley’s Back In Town 3:15 pm – Splendor In The Grass

8:00 pm - Options and Ingespirations – Starring Walter Willison and Jefrey Silverman, Composers of the new musical Perfect Strangers based on Bus Stop Featuring Jo Anna Lehman. William Inge Theatre, Admission $5.00. Reception in foyer following performance. Sponsored by the Independence Arts Council.

Monday, April 15

The William Inge Collection housed in the college library will be open for visitors from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm.

8:30 am – 4:00 pm - Registration for conference and festival events. Foyer of the William Inge Theatre.

9:15 am - “From Stage To Screen, How Did William Inge Fare?” Lecture with Film – Michael Wood, Media Specialist, Pasadena, CA. William Inge Theatre

10:15 am - “William Inge, Great Voice of the Heart of America” – Patricia McIlrath, Artistic Director of Missouri Repertory Theatre. William Inge Theatre.

11:15 am – 12:15 pm - Seminar – “American Realism On Stage And Screen” – Robert Anderson author of “Tea and Sympathy”, “Silent Night, Lonely Night”, “You Know I Can’t Hear You When The Water’s Running”, “I Never Sang For My Father”. Thomas P. Adler, Purdue University, Anderson Biographer. John Grondeck-Tedesco, University of Kansas Theatre. Jackson Bryer, University of Maryland, Moderator. William Inge Theatre.

12:30 pm - Luncheon Honoring Inge Family, Festival and Conference Guests. Student Union. Luncheon Tickets, $5.00.

Conference Theme: “American Realism on Stage and Screen”

Session I: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – American Realism on Stage – Lecture Hall, Academic Building 1. Brenda Murphy, St. Lawrence University: “A Sense of Place: Setting in American Realistic Drama” 2. Mark Estrin, Rhode Island College: “The Moral ‘Realism’ of Lillian Hellman” 3. Jacob H. Adler, Purdue University: “Teaching Dramatic Realism: “Death of a Salesman” 4. Steven Gale, Missouri Southern State College: Respondent

Session II: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Inge and Realism – Lecture Hall, Academic Building 1. Thomas P. Adler, Purdue University: “”The School of Bill”: An Inquiry Into Literary Kinship (Inge, Anderson, Laurents)” 2. Wheeler Dixon, University of Nebraska: “William Inge as Walter Gage”; “Bus Riley’s Back In Town” 3. Ralph F. Voss, University of Alabama: “Elements of Autobiographical Realism in Works of William Inge” 4. Gene DeGruson, Pittsburg State University: Respondent

1:30 pm Tour – “The Independence The William Inge Knew”. Meet in the foyer of the William Inge Theatre.

8:00 pm - “Robert Anderson, Gentlemen Playwright”, A Tribute featuring Shirley Knight and Kate Hopkins, Jo Anna Lehman, Jefrey Silverman, and Walter Willison. Presentation of the William Inge Playwright Award for Outstanding Contribution to the American Theatre By The Honorable John Carlin, Governor of Kansas. Admission - $5.00

10:30 pm - After Theatre Supper with Robert Anderson and other honored guests. Independence Country Club. Tickets $7.50

Tuesday, April 16

8:30 am – 12:00 Noon - Registration, Foyer of William Inge Theatre

9:15 am – 12:00 Noon - “An Acting Technique Workshop”, “A Symposium on Modern Theatre”. Shirley Knight, Instructor. Miss Knight has starred in numerous Broadway show, motion pictures, and television dramas. Her many credits include “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs”, “Sweet Bird of Youth”, “Kennedy’s Children”, (Tony Award) and most recently, “Come Back, Little Sheba” at the Roundabout Theatre, New York City. Music Hall – Fine Arts Building.

1:30 pm and 7:30 pm - “Picnic” By William Inge. Presented by Cloud County Community College Players. William Inge Theatre. Admission: Adults $3.00 – Students Free.