Eastern Campus Stages 'Admissions'

February 26, 2015

The seven college students who come together in “Admissions” to protest a tuition hike are bound by a common principle: keeping education affordable.

But that is about all they have in common, as the audience comes to understand over the play’s hour and a half running time.

Directed by Pamela Harwood, “Admissions” runs through March 1 in the Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus Studio Theatre. While the characters agree that raising tuition is a bad idea, the students represent different points of view, and that, said Harwood, is where the play gets interesting.

“Each student represents a group on campus with different socio-economic concerns, for example,” Harwood said. “They come from their own very distinct points of view, and their personal issues start to come out. Individual personalities and interests come to dominate.”

As pressures mount, the students must confront feelings that damage personal relationships and threaten the group’s success.

Three Tri-C students perform in the play. Rehearsals started in early December.

“They are a terrific group of people,” Harwood said of the cast and crew. “Everyone brought so much to the play.”

Harwood said blocking was challenging because there are seven people on a small set, and one of them is in a wheelchair.

“We couldn’t have a rug on the floor, for example, because of the wheelchair,” she said.

Harwood said she fell in the love with “Admissions,” written by Tony Vellela, the first time she read it. This is her first time directing at Tri-C.

“I really loved the fact that [the characters] are real human beings. Each student has a real point that makes sense in the real world,” she said.

And while they have different points of view, Harwood said they listen to and respect each other, throwing the play into sharp contrast with today’s political climate. She said the play, which runs without intermission, offers no real resolution, but that was the point. Dialogue is ongoing.

“Admissions” was scheduled to open Feb. 20, but the College was closed due to weather.

“Admissions,” 8 p.m. Feb. 26-28, 2 p.m. March 1, Eastern Campus Studio Theatre, 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills. $10. Call 216-987-2438 or click here for tickets.