The Rodeheaver Series for the Performing Arts will present actors James and Patricia Daniels in a collection of theatrical scenes titled "He Vs. She" May 3 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Warsaw.
Drawing from a large cross-section of dramatic literature, both dramatic and humorous, "He Vs. She" explores the various stages of relationships. No matter what the play or the character, there is a universality in all aspects of every relationship. Who hasn't experienced the awkward first meeting, the joy of love discovered, the awful misunderstanding and subsequent break-up, the difficult apology, the wonderful make up, and that's only the beginning.
"He Vs. She" reveals man's common bonds as each person struggles to love and understand, and to communicate through joy and sorrow, through good times and difficult times. Whether it is a scene from "The Rivals," written in 1775, or from "Waiting For Lefty," written in 1935, audiences will recognize and be entertained by their own foibles, flaws, fears and successes.
James and Patricia Daniels are familiar to area audiences from their frequent appearances at the Wagon Wheel Theatre. As "He Vs. She" is an original compilation produced specifically for the Rodeheaver Series, it has given the Daniels couple the unique opportunity to select and perform their own choice of material, and the special chance to perform together, and in some scenes to perform as a married couple, just as they are in their offstage lives.
James Daniels has acted at such theaters as Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Mass., the Oregon Shakespearean Festival, the Cleveland Play House, Missouri Repertory Theatre, the Houston Shakespeare Festival, the Asolo Theatre of Florida, Shakespeare on the Green/Chicago and Pennsylvania Centre Stage, as well as at the Wagon Wheel Theatre.
He has played such roles as Vershinin in "Three Sister," Hal Carter in "Picnic," Iago in "Othello," the Gentleman Caller in "The Glass Menagerie," the Samurai Warrior in "Rashomon" and Prospero in "The Tempest."
He received his masters of fine arts degree from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in Sarasota, Fla.
Jim is the director of performance in the Department of Theatre at Western Michigan University where he directs and teaches all levels of acting. His production of "Othello" at WMU won the American College Theatre Festival competition and was produced at the American College Theatre National Festival in 2005 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Patricia Daniels is a native of Albuquerque, N.M., and received her master of fine arts degree in acting from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
She has performed for various theater companies across the nation, including Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Mass., The Asolo Conservatory Theatre in Sarasota, Fla., Kentucky Repertory Theatre, Missouri Shakespeare Festival, Tibbets Opera House and Pennsylvania Centre Stage, as well as at the Wagon Wheel Theatre.
Her favorite roles are Gertrude in "Hamlet," Lady Macbeth in "Macbeth," Eliza Gant in "Look Homeward, Angel," Amanda Wingfield in "The Glass Menagerie," Aunt Eller in "Oklahoma!" and M'lynn in "Steel Magnolias." She has performed major roles in such shows as "Love Letters," "The Belle of Amherst," "Our Town," "Mother Courage," "Othello" and "The Cherry Orchard." This past summer she performed as Mother Flo in "Picnic" at the Wagon Wheel Theater. Pat is an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University and has taught all levels of acting for Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College.
The performance of "He vs. She" is free of charge, and the public is invited to attend.
First United Methodist Church of Warsaw is at the corner of Indiana and Market Streets in downtown Warsaw, is handicap accessible, and provides listening assistance.For more information on the Rodeheaver Series for the Performing Arts or for directions to the church, call the church office at 574-267-6933 or visit the church Web site at www.warsawfumc.org
