College of the Ozarks theatre students to present Josh William’s, “Light Up The Sky,”

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — The College of the Ozarks Theatre Department will present “Light Up The Sky” as its winter production for 2024. The play is written by Josh Williams, assistant professor of communication arts, and radio station manager.

The performances will take place Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 – 7, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2:30 p.m. in the Jones Auditorium. Cost for performances is as follows: adults, $10; senior citizens, $8; students (non-College of the Ozarks), $8; children (12 and under), $6. Associates of the College are free with their Associates card, and Associate guests are $5.00. Please make reservations by calling the Theatre Box Office at (417) 690-2626.

The play, performed by C of O students, is directed by Lisa Young, associate professor of theatre. Set during the women’s suffrage movement and the waning days of World War I, “Light Up the Sky” tells the story of Lizzie Foster, a brassy and opinionated teenager. Upon meeting James, a young handyman working for her father, Lizzie finds herself conflicted between her longing for true love and her desire to be a strong and independent woman. One thing that is for certain, however, is her ability to drive him crazy. While likely to cause audiences to contemplate both biblical and societal themes, Light Up the Sky is a romantic comedy certain to entertain all audiences.

William’s shared the inspiration for the play: “I wrote this play in an attempt to tackle issues facing women in today’s world. I wanted to confront the idea that women can be soft and in love while simultaneously being strong and independent. The two do not have to be exclusive of each other. Another element that I wanted to tackle was the biblical definition of what it means for a man to be the ‘head of household.’ When considering a time period for this subject matter, the women’s suffrage movement seemed like the perfect fit. While the play deals with serious themes during a tense time in our Nation’s history, they are approached with humor and ideas that are still relevant today.”

Cast:

• Lizzie Foster, played by Victoria Rivera, junior theatre major from Siloam Springs, Arkansas
• James Hickenbottom, played by Jacob Priestner, senior theatre major from Springdale, Arkansas
• Albert Foster, played by Tierce Carmody, junior theatre major from DeSoto, Missouri
• Clara Foster, played by Grace Rainwater, senior theatre major from Las Vegas, Nevada
• Mary Ruth Foster, played by Kennedy Wallin, sophomore psychology major from Springfield, Missouri
• Louis AuClair, played by Thomas Millar, junior music theatre major from Creighton, Missouri
• Walter Plimpton, played by Gage Hauck, junior music theatre major from Camdenton, Missouri
• Hattie Carmichael, played by Michelle Lyons, senior music theatre major from Hollister, Missouri
• Train Conductor/Vendor, played by Landon Brown, senior business administration major from Salisbury, North Carolina

For more information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and fiscal responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award 2024 and the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.