“A Few Good Men” tackles questions of ethics

Posted on Friday, April 29, 2022

LaGrange College Theatre will close out its season with Aaron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men,” a courtroom drama about a group of military lawyers searching for the truth after two young Marines are accused of murder while serving at Guantanamo Bay.

“At its heart, it asks questions about morality, and examines how different points of view and worldviews can affect your sense of that morality,” said Tim Fitz-Gerald, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and Director of the show.

Sorkin, whose television and film writing credits include “The West Wing” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” also wrote the screenplay for “A Few Good Men,” the 1992 Academy Award-nominated film directed by Rob Reiner and starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.

Besides some key differences, Fitz-Gerald said the college’s version of the production is more in line with the screenplay.

Sophomore Carlie Jones, who will play the lead female role of Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway, said her character is very strong-willed and determined.

“She knows what she wants, and she is going to get what she wants,” she said. “She is a female officer in a world of men.”

Galloway must work closely with Lt. J.G. Daniel A. Kaffe, played by senior Colby Bell, who along with senior Ethan McKie’s Sam Weinberg, comprise the team of lawyers assigned to defend the two Marines.

Bell said Kaffe goes through a moral crisis during the five-week trial in the show.

“Throughout the play, his morality and ethics come into question more than anything else,” Bell said. “He has to battle with what he wants to do and what he knows is the right thing to do.”

In the production, student cast members will perform alongside faculty, LC Theatre alumni and members of the community. Dr. Justin Thurman, Associate Professor of English, and Dr. Anthony Wilson, Associate Professor of English, will make their acting debuts in the show. Alumni Delion Lance ’17 and Hayden McCullough ’21 will make their return to the Price Theater stage for this production.

“The play asks us to examine our own sense of morality and how it might apply to the accused Marines and their choices,” Fitz-Gerald said. “Are they guilty?  And if so, what are they guilty of? Do we agree with the verdict?”

The production opens May 4 and runs through May 7. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. The play is not recommended for children due to explicit language.

Tickets can be reserved online by emailing priceboxoffice@kongtiao11.com. The email must include the performance date and the number of people in the party. Tickets are $10. Seating is general admission, and the house will open 20 minutes before curtain. The show is free for faculty, staff and students.

 

Campus Notes

• LC Miracle will host a dance marathon on Saturday, April 30, at noon in Richter Gymnasium. Proceeds from the event will go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which provides healthcare services for children and their families. Register here.
• The Senior Art and Design Exhibition will open Friday, May 6, with a reception at 6 p.m. at Lamar Dodd Art Center. Students will present an exhibit of their best work as a culmination of their LaGrange experience.
• LaGrange College Music will present “We Sing”— a celebration of song featuring singers from the studios of Dr. Andrea Jarmon, Voice Instructor, and Dr. Toni Anderson, Professor of Music, on Tuesday, May 10, at 7 p.m. in Callaway Auditorium. Several guest artists will participate in the free concert. Ken Passmore will be the collaborative artist.

 

Cultural Enrichment Events

Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions.

Tuesday, May 3

Meditation in the Soto Zen Tradition

11:15 a.m., Bailey Room

• Tauin Michael Elliston, an abbot at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center, will give a short introduction to the Soto Zen tradition and then lead students in a guided meditation experience.

Through Friday, May 6

Young Alumni Lecture: Anna Britt Crawford ’19

(Virtual)

• Learn from Anna Britt Crawford as she discusses her time as an undergraduate student and what advice and insight she has for current undergraduates. Crawford is a wedding/event coordinator as well as a veterinarian practice manager in Thomaston, Georgia.

Young Alumni Lecture: Matt Montgomery ’07, M’09; and Casey Montgomery ’12, M’14

(Virtual)

• Learn from Matt and Casey Montgomery as they discuss their time as undergraduate students and what advice and insight they have for current undergraduates. They are international educators currently residing in Tirana, Albania.

Young Alumni Lecture: Grace Margaret Neal ’20

(Virtual)

• Learn from Grace Margaret Neal as she discusses her time as an undergraduate student and what advice and insight she has for current undergraduates. She is the individual giving manager at Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Young Alumni Lecture: Larry Thompson Jr. ’85

(Virtual)

• Learn from Larry Thompson Jr. as he discusses his time as an undergraduate student and what advice and insight he has for current undergraduates. He is the owner and operator of Grand Slam Tournaments in Panama City Beach, Florida. At LC, he served as a softball and volleyball coach.

Young Alumni Lecture: Savannah Thomley ’18

(Virtual)

• Learn from Savannah Thomley as she discusses her time as an undergraduate student and what advice and insight she has for current undergraduates. She is a travel registered nurse.

 

Video of the Week

When a baseball injury pivoted Connor Allen in a different direction, his natural curiosity and willingness to learn landed him as host of a financial investment podcast and a coveted internship with The Motley Fool.

 

Sports

Baseball

The Panthers (30-5, 13-2 USA South) remain second in the Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division 3 poll and fourth in the D3baseball.com./NCBWA Top 25 poll after sweeping USA South rival Maryville last weekend. Senior Rhett Hebert’s bunt single gave LC a 9-8 walk-off win on Senior Day.

Lacrosse

The Panthers (7-8, 4-4 USA South) got four goals each from Aidan Story, Michael Poteete, and Ryan Comeau in a 15-13 win at Methodist last Saturday. The Panthers can clinch their first ever USA South tournament berth with a win over Greensboro on Saturday at Panther Field.

Softball

The Panthers (8-29, 3-13 USA South) ended their season with 4-2 and 8-2 losses at Agnes Scott in a USA South doubleheader last Saturday. Hailee Parmer had two hits and four RBIs for LC in the two games.

Beach Volleyball

LC Indoor/Beach Volleyball Head Coach Moneshia McKenney was selected as one of 30 2022 AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Thirty Under 30 Beach Award winners.

Men’s Tennis   

The Panthers (5-6) had their season end Thursday with a 9-0 loss to Averett at the USA South Tournament in Rome, Georgia.

 

Calendar

(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)

Friday, April 29 - Baseball at Huntingdon, 7 p.m., Montgomery, Ala.

Saturday, April 30 - Men’s Lacrosse vs. Greensboro, 1 p.m., Panther Field

Saturday, April 30 - Baseball at Huntingdon, 3 p.m., Montgomery, Ala.

Sunday, May 1 - Baseball at Huntingdon, 2 p.m., Montgomery, Ala.

 

May Faculty and Staff Birthdays

1-Lauren Hill, Panther Academic Center for Excellence

3-S. Elissa Lawson, Admissions

4-Anthony Wilson, English

6-Richard Post, Baseball

6-Mark Yates, Biology

7-Sarah Holden, Nursing

11-R. Colby Jones, Education

13-David Ahearn, Religion

17-Austin Wieland, Art and Design

18-Mark Davis, Development

27-Luke Hopper, Theatre Arts

 

In the Headlines

Peterson named LaGrange College’s new vice president for academic affairs-LaGrange Daily News, April 27

Dr. Susanna Baxter official inaugurated as LaGrange College second female president-LaGrange Daily News, April 23

Category: Arts and Culture, College

Keywords: Theatre, Art and Design