Stella !

Stella !

For some of

us, this reporter included, you may know that famous

exclamation, despite never having seen the play or movie.

Those words

come from Tennessee Williams' 1947 classic, "A

Streetcar Named Desire." The story focuses on the

mental breakdown of Blanche Dubois. After losing the

family's plantation, Belle Rive, Blanche is forced to

live with her sister Stella and Stella's brutish husband,

Stanley Kowalski, in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

The main

focus of the piece is the contrast of the two

life-styles, with Blanche and Stanley representing the

two opposite sides of the spectrum.

"A

Streetcar Named Desire" will be the kickoff to

Newnan Community Theatre's 2000 season. It will also be

the troupe's first full year in their new theater space

at 24 First Ave., Newnan in the old Johnson Hardware

building, just blocks away from Court Square. The new

space provides more and better seating and an art gallery

in the expanded lobby.

The cast of

the production is made up of both newcomers and NCTC

veterans and is directed by Lamar Payne. Payne has been

working with theater in Newnan for more than 22 years,

recently appearing as "The Visitor" in NCTC's

production of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile."

Payne also has directed some heavy hitters for the

theater group, including "The Foreigner" and

"To Kill A Mockingbird."

The part of

Blanche will be played by Dawn Campion, an NCTC veteran,

while Stella will be played by Kelly Crosby, a newcomer.

Stanley will be played by Christopher Burns, while Jamie

French will play Stanley's friend, Mitch. The cast is

rounded out by Caroline Carr and Tom Grandpe' as

neighbors Eunice and husband, Steve, Jeff Allen as Pablo,

Melanie Devries as The Woman and the Nurse and Mike Maloy

as The Doctor.

"A

Streetcar Named Desire" will be performed Fridays

and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., Feb.

18-26. There will also be a special free performance for

area high school students on Thursday, Feb. 24. Tickets

for the free show are available at the Newnan Target,

which is sponsoring the special performance.

Tickets for

regular performances are $10 for general audiences and $8

for senior citizens and students. Tickets are available

at the door as well as at Scott's Bookstore in Newnan,

The Daily Grind and Clemens and Company used books. For

information phone 770-683-NCTC.

Remember,

good local theater has always depended on the kindness of

strangers.