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Towngate Theatre Presents The Widow’s Tale

“THE WIDOW’S TALE” –AN ORIGINAL PLAY BY WHEELING RESIDENT PAUL ORR

Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre will stage “The Widow’s Tale” by Wheeling playwright Paul Orr at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, August 10 and 11. The performance is part of Towngate’s mission to present new and/or original works by local playwrights.

The play follows Carol, a widow in her early 40s, seeking to remarry. She begins frequenting funeral homes, hoping to snag a widower. But, it’s not just any man she seeks. She is on the prowl for an “upgrade” – a man of financial means who will provide her with a life of luxury. Carol’s plan takes a sudden turn when she encounters an old flame and gets an unexpected surprise.

About Paul Orr

Orr was a professor of English from 1956-1996 at Wheeling Jesuit University, serving as chair of the English department for 13 years. Special teaching interests of his include poetry, the modern novel, the plays of Shakespeare as produced in late 19th and early 20th Century, with a particular interest in Much Ado About Nothing. He has written and delivered approximately 20 papers based on his research interests to many professional association conferences. Most frequently, he presents to the West Virginia Association of English Teachers at its annual Shakespeare Conference. Additionally, he has research privileges at Roker Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.

Orr has lived and researched abroad, residing in Dublin, Ireland for one year, in London, England for six months, Bristol, England for five months and in Stratford on Avon for five months doing research on various topics in their special libraries.

“I am very impressed with Paul Orr,” said Oglebay Insitute director of performing arts Tim Thompson, “He is a retired English professor who continues to look for new ways to express himself. Starting a playwriting career in your mid-80s isn’t something just anyone would do; yet, Paul is proving to all of us that it is never too late.”

Thompson is directing and performing in the show. He has surrounded himself with an excellent cast of area actors including: Rob DeSantis, Rachel Thompson, Cheryl Violette, Kate Crosbie, Grace Thompson, Kim Brown and Joe Heatherington

A meet and greet with the playwright and cast takes place after the show in The Gallery at Towngate.

Get Tickets

Admission to the show is free, but donations will be accepted to support Towngate Theatre .  To reserve seats, call 304-242-7700 or visit www.oionline.com. Towngate Theatre is located in Wheeling’s Centre Market district at 2118 Market Street.

 

Chevron Grant Supports OI Science Programs for Marshall County Schools

For students and teachers in Marshall County schools, science has gained a new perspective over the past three years. With funding from Chevron, Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center partnered with Marshall County Schools to help students learn and retain science concepts better.

“Our partnership has resulted in outstanding learning opportunities like no other, for students in grades 1-6. This has been nothing but positive for Marshall County Schools,” said Woody Yoder, Marshall County Schools director of curriculum and instruction. “I continue to be extremely pleased with the programming and learning experiences for our students, in our schools and on location at the Schrader Center.”

Building Curiosity and Confidence

Thanks to Chevron’s support, the program has been very successful in teaching the science concepts identified as a need by the school teachers. Throughout three years, Schrader staff and Marshall County teachers worked together to ensure the program was meeting student learning objectives.

“I love how you build on the concepts and skills by prompting students to use their prior knowledge. This strategy certainly builds their curiosity and confidence to participate actively,” one teacher said.

Another commented, “The knowledge and materials used to meet our current content standards is superb.”

As students move through grade levels, programs build on knowledge delivered previously, resulting in deeper understanding and application of concepts.

Cody Stepanek, director of youth programs at the Schrader Center, commented on how well the fifth-grade REACH program prepared students for sixth-grade L.I.F.E. (Learning in Field Experience) Camp, a two-day field experience held at Grand Vue Park.

“It was inspiring to see these scientific concepts established at such a young age. These programs are critical in fostering a greater scientific awareness and creating a new generation of environmental stewards.”

Programs Impacted More Than 2,300 Students

From classroom experiments to field research, teaching strategies of Schrader’s staff stimulated scientific curiosity of more than 2,300 students.

This fall, Martins Ferry Middle School joins the excitement. Fifth-grade classes take on Schrader’s REACH program through a grant from the Smith-Goshen Rice Enrichment Fund.

The generous support of Chevron and the Smith-Goshen Rice Enrichment Fund makes it possible for students to gain a deeper understanding of their world.