Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of The Theatre Group at SBCC's BUS STOP

The Theatre Group at SBCC continues the 2013/2014 season with William Inge's classic play, BUS STOP, directed by R. Michael Gros, October 16-November 2, 2013 in the Garvin Theatre. Meet the cast in the photos below!

In the middle of a howling snowstorm, a bus out of Kansas City pulls up at a cheerful roadside diner. All roads are blocked, and a few weary travelers are going to have to hole up until morning. A nightclub chanteuse, a twenty-one-year-old cowboy, a belligerent cowhand and a middle-age scholar comprise the unexpected guests. The local sheriff, the overly friendly bus driver and the two diner waitresses round out this warm-hearted slice of humanity. A little romance, some comedy and a mysterious past or two are all served up hot and steaming on a cold Kansas night.

The small town of Independence had a profound influence on the young Inge and he would later attribute his understanding of human behavior to growing up in this small town environment. "I've often wondered how people raised in our great cities ever develop any knowledge of humankind. People who grow up in small towns get to know each other so much more closely than they do in cities," said Inge. Inge would later use this knowledge of small town life in many of his plays, most of which revolve around characters who are clearly products of small towns like Independence. In 1953, Picnic opened at The Music Box Theatre in New York City. Picnic won Inge a Pulitzer Prize, The Drama Critic Circle Award, The Outer Circle Award, and The Theatre Club Award.

It was in 1952 that Paramount Pictures released the film version of Come Back Little Sheba. Shortly after, in 1956, Columbia Pictures released the film version of Picnic directed by Joshua Logan and starring William Holden, Kim Novak and Rosalind Russell. Inge's next success came in 1955 when Bus Stop opened at The Music Box Theatre in New York City. Directed by Joshua Logan, the film version of Bus Stop was released by Fox in 1956 with Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray and Eileen Heckart in starring roles.

BUS STOP will perform Thursday-Saturday @ 7:30pm, Sunday @ 2pm, with previews October 16 & 17 @ 7:30pm. The Sunday, October 20, 2pm performance will be live-captioned for the hearing-impaired. All performances have the assisted listening system available and the Garvin Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Ticket prices are: Previews $16 general/$13 seniors/$8 students, Thursday evening and Sunday matinees; $22 general/$17 seniors/$12 students, Friday and Saturday evenings $24 general/$19 seniors/$15 students. Parking is free and near the Theatre. The Garvin Theatre is located on the West Campus of Santa Barbara City College in the 900 block of Cliff Dr. For information or reservations, call the Garvin Theatre Box Office at 805-965-5935 or purchase tickets online at www.theatregroupsbcc.com.

Photo Credit: Ben Crop