The 50th anniversary of Theatre UAF is going to be celebrated this month with a special production of William Inge's "Picnic."

This is the third time prominent director Lee Salisbury has directed this "Picnic," which he calls an American classic. The last time was in 2000.

The play is a snapshot of small town life anywhere in America. Labor Day weekend marks the last day of summer and stifling heat and boredom vie for being the greater evil. That's before Hal comes to town, the pal of every man and the love of all the ladies. Madge, the town beauty, can't deny her attraction to him.

Unfortunately for the two lovers, a boyfriend, an ambitious mother, a scorned school teacher and a smart younger sister conspire to keep them apart.

"Picnic" is a large ensemble play with a cast of 11. It is the first large production by the theater department since "Taming of the Shrew."

The play seems tailor-made for the cast with characters that fit actors talents perfectly, like Levi Ben-Israel playing Hal, the hunky vagabond who fills his life with lies, half truths, booze, and women.

Jey Johnson plays the beauty Madge, everyone's love interest. She's trapped by her beauty and years to flee simple town life, obsessed with the train whistle she hopes will one day signify her departure.

The old-maid schoolmarm Rosemary is another example of good casting. Anna Gagne-Hawes steals the show with her legs, hypocritical mockery and insidious guffaws and Rosemary attempts to cling to her youth.

"The cast is amazing, one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of working with," Salisbury said.

The stage is cleverly designed to be the most versatile, other than the ugly stump.

A lot of the action happens in the distance and it is up to the actors to sell the lines.

Yet the audience believes it when a car arrives, a train whistle blows or when Hal nearly explodes.

The music and sound effects help cleverly to lay the scene. Birds chirp as a sign of simpler times in a small town.

The best thing about the play is the chemistry between the actors, the way that so many feelings are expressed between the lines.

You will watch Madge fall for Hal with a sense that it was eventual, just as you understand why Rosemary would hate him because she wants him too.

"We have so much fun as a cast both on and off the stage," said Gagne-Hawes. "It's a wonderful experience."

Performances will be at 8:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and April 27 to 28. A free performance is scheduled for Thursday.

Sunday performances are at 2:15 p.m. for the next two weeks.

Tickets are available at the main desk in the Wood Center and the Theatre UAF box office.

General admission is $15 with a three dollar discount for faculty military and seniors and $7 for students.

In addition to the play Theatre UAF will host a reunion in the Great Hall with wine tasting before the performance on April 27.

Former drama students are planning to fly in from all across the country.

Many have gone on to career in show business after leaving UAF.

Alumni Julian Rivers will be returning to UAF for the reunion.

He is the only surviving member in the 1955 cast of Salisbury's first play as a director.

Others, like Hugh Hall and Ilena Cramer, went on to careers in theatre and are also plan on returning to see Salisbury.