'Fear Not Beasts of Sand'

Fear Not Beasts of Sand, written by playwright Shawn Fisher, associate professor in the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University, opens at the Black Box Theatre in the Chase Fine Arts Center April 26 Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. The production continues through April 30.

The play follows a 19-year-old girl named Nell, who, along with her new boyfriend, Brooks, returns to her family’s lakeside vacation home in upstate New York after escaping from a stint in rehab.

“We’ll see Nell’s attempts to integrate back into the family and its traditions,” Fisher said. “You find that there is a lot more complexity and dysfunction in the family than just one black sheep.”

Nell’s brother is a successful medical student, her mother is a famous television psychologist and head of the family and her father is the nurturing, creative type. Fisher said each family member is dealing with their own personal crises.

The play was written in collaboration with the Fusion Theatre Project, a group of students led by Fisher who create works reflecting issues that affect Americans today. The group decides on a “nugget,” a central idea that Fisher and the students use to write plays. This year’s group decided on the themes of obsession, addiction and infatuation.

The students will perform their 10-minute, short plays as a series of informal stage readings Sunday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre. The readings are free and open to the public.

No Mustard, a short play written by CCA student Mitch Shira, will be performed before each showing of Fear Not Beasts of Sand.

“As Fusion Theatre company members, every student has a secondary role in the production, ranging from set designer to associate director,” Fisher said. “The purpose of the Fusion Theatre Project is to be open and highly collaborative and give every company member a voice in all aspects of the show.”

Fear Not Beasts of Sand shows April 26-29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 30 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. p.m. at the Black Box Theatre in the Chase Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $13 adults, $10 seniors/youth, $8 USU faculty/staff and free for USU students with ID. The show contains mature themes and strong language. For more information or tickets, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s Logan campus, call 435-797-8022, or go see the college’s website.

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Writer and contact: Whitney Schulte, 435-797-9203, whitney.schulte@usu.edu