Union University Players to present Lilies of the Field

JACKSON, Tenn. – Oct. 1, 2002– William E. Barret’s novel The Lilies of the Field will be brought to life in a stage version presented by the Union University Players based on the Academy Award winning movie from the 1960’s, Thursday, Oct. 10 through the 15th.

Discharged from the army, Homer Smith, played by Union student Josh Betts, sets out to travel the countryside, and in the course of his journey, encounters a group of nuns working in the dusty fields and offers to help them for paid work. Although he has every intention of insisting on his pay and moving on, he is gradually drawn into the life of the nuns and some unexpected meaningful moments along the way.

Other cast members include: Chad Carlson as Farther Gomez, Laura Frost as Mother Maria Marthe, Alania Kraus as Sister Elizabeth, Bethany Burchyett as Sister Gertrud, Jesse Harris as Sister Agnes, Molly Williams as Sister Albertine, Jesse Florida as Jose Gonzales, Jimmy Hoppers as Orville Livingston, and Patrick Myers as the Folk Singer.

Times for the evening performances are 8 p.m. nightly, with a Sunday afternoon matinee at 2:30 p.m. Admission for adults is $7 general admission and $8 reserved seating. For children and students, admission is $3 general admission and $4 reserved seating.

For more information, contact the Union Theatre Box Office at (731) 661-5105.

Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - German Sisters learn English from the southern hardshell Baptist. From left to right: Bethany Burchyett as Sister Gertrud, Laura Frost as Sister Maria Martha, Molly Williams as Sister Albertine and Josh Betts as Homer Smith. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Patrick Myers as the Folk Singer in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Josh Betts as Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Laura Frost and Josh Betts in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Josh Betts and Chad Carlson in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Laura Frost and Josh Betts in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Josh Betts plays guitar for the nuns in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Josh Betts and Jimmy Hoppers in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Laura Frost in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Chad Carlson as Farther Gomez in Lilies of the Field - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Josh Betts and Jesse Florida in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Chad Carlson as Farther Gomez in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Josh Betts and Jesse Florida in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Josh Betts and Laura Frost in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 10/7/02 - Jesse Florida, Laura Frost, and Jimmy Hoppers in Lilies of the Field. - Jim Veneman Large | X-Large 9/30/02 - Senior Josh Betts, theater major plays for the sisters of Piedras during a rehearsal of Lilies of the Field. - Justin Veneman Large | X-Large 9/30/02 - Sophomore Jeremy Parker, theater major, and David Burke, associate professor of communication arts, raise the complex set of “Lilies of the Field” using a system of pulleys and rope. - Justin Veneman