NECC to Present "Dead Man Walking"
Northern Essex Community College will present the social justice play "Dead Man Walking", which follows Sister Helen Prejean as she serves as spiritual adviser to a man on death row in New Orleans, LA, on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 PM, April 1st at 4:00 PM and April 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 in the Top Notch Theater in the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus. Babak Alian of Haverhill plays the role of death row inmate Matt Poncelet and Erica Sigaran of Lawrence is Sister Helen Prejean.
Northern Essex Community College will present the social justice play "Dead Man Walking", which follows Sister Helen Prejean as she serves as spiritual adviser to two men on death row in New Orleans, LA, on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 PM, April 1st at 4:00 PM and April 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 in the Top Notch Theater in the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus.
In addition, a photography exhibit by Boston photographer Lou Jones, titled "Final Exposure: Portraits from Death Row," will be exhibited in the ArtSpace located in the Bentley Library from March 23 until April 15. This exhibit has toured internationally.
In conjunction with the production of the play, many facets of the college are taking a closer look at capital punishment throughout the semester. A number of NECC English professors have included the book, "A Lesson Before Dying," by Ernest J. Gaines, a painful yet inspirational tale of institutional injustice and personal redemption. It addresses the biggest theme possible - how one affirms life in the face of death as part of their curriculum. The history department has coordinated a film series dealing with the death penalty and prison life.
The DEAD MAN WALKING School Theatre Project (the Play Project, for short) was designed as an opportunity to broaden discussion about the death penalty and involve schools and their local communities in an inter-disciplinary dialogue about this major social issue. The project provides resources and support for schools already or wishing to take part in the project.
Sisters Helen Prejean, founder, and Maureen Fenlon, national director of the play project, attempt to attend as many productions of the play as possible. Sister Maureen will attend opening night at Northern Essex Community College and has requested to meet and talk with the cast before the show. At noon on March 27, Sister Maureen will give a brief presentation followed by a question and answer period in the TopNotch Theater. This event is free and open to the public.
Cast members include: Amesbury: Michael Johnson, Jon Moriarity, Sarah McCarthy. Andover: Ryan Jennings. Haverhill: Casey Hatch, Thomas Walker, Abby Hilton, Justine Moreau. Boxford: TJ Fitzgerald. Plaistow: Sarah Argenbright, Mark Zick, Jennifer Parshley. Hampstead: Chris McMullen. Salem, NH: Hannah Heckman-McKenna. Lawrence: Erica Sigaran, Gustavo Mendez, Chris Gigliotti. Danville: Carly Starr.
Ticket prices are $9 for students and seniors and $11 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at the door ½ hour before curtain or through www.mvarts.info. $1 was added to the price of the theater ticket to support the Play Project.
With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence and extension sites in Andover and Methuen, Northern Essex Community College is a state-assisted college, offering over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of non credit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. Close to 13,000 students ranging from recent high school graduates to workers employed locally attend classes days, evenings, and weekends. Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts.