Tragic story to be staged by Florida Players

February 28, 2011

GAINESVILLE,Fla. — Florida Players, a Student Government-funded theater group dedicated to producing quality theatre for free, will be producing the tragic show “Floyd Collins” in March.

Written by Tina Landau and Adam Guettel, the musical is based on the true story of a cave explorer who became trapped in a cave in Kentucky.

Here is a synopsis:

William Floyd Collins, exploring Sand Cave, uses the echoes of his voice to sound out the region, and falls through a tight passageway when his foot becomes trapped, wedged in position by a small rock.

His family and his fellow cavers try to free him. When it becomes clear that his rescue will not be easy, his brother Homer spends the night in the cave with him.

William Burke “Skeets” Miller, a small man, is able to squeeze through and visit with Floyd, relaying stories from the news, which became worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. Rescue efforts by miners, the National Guard and the Red Cross fail, and the crowd grows outside the cave as a media circus ensues.

Performances are in the Squitieri Studio Theatre located at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Admission is free to everyone.

Tickets can be reserved at http://floridaplayers.org/ticketing.phpTimes are as follows:

Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m

Thursday, March 17, 7 p.m.

Friday, March 18, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 19, 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 19, 7 p.m.

For more info check our website FloridaPlayers.org