Sean Bridgers to take on 'A Few Good Men'

By Rose Hooper and Lisa Majors-Duff

All performances will take place at WCU's Hoey Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. and will be directed by Steve Ayers, associate professor of communication and theatre arts at WCU.

"It's Steve Ayers at his best," said Sean Bridgers, a WCU alumnus appearing in the role of Lt. Daniel Kaffe, the role Tom Cruise played in the movie.

"A Few Good Men," written by Aaron Sorkin, is the dramatic story of the trial of two Marines, played by Michael Ayers of Cullowhee (son of director Steve Ayers) and Jon Cloward, accused of murder in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The pair follows orders to administer a severe and unsanctioned form of hazing known as a "Code Red" to a platoon troublemaker, and in the process he is killed.

In an attempt to deflect blame from commanding officer Col. Nathan R. Jessep (Steve Carlisle, WCU instructor of communication and theatre arts), and quickly quell the affair, the Navy assigns Kaffe to defend the marines.

"Being the director's son did not give him the inside track," Steve Ayers said of Michael's role in the play. "He had to audition for the part, and it turns out he's perfect for the role of a young, scared Marine."

A sophomore at Smoky Mountain High, Michael Ayers will portray Curly in the school's presentation of "Oklahoma" next month. An academic standout, he is also a member of the school's football, basketball and track teams, as well as a state winner as part of the Health Occupations Students of America team.

Michael Ayers' acting credits include "A Step Toward Tomorrow," an ABC Movie of the Week with Judith Light and Christopher Reeves; WCU's productions of "110 in the Shade," "Time of Your Life" and "1776"; and several commercials.

Director Ayers said having Bridgers back on campus has been a thrill for him and his students.

"Sean has really upped the ante," Ayers said. "He is so good and makes the stakes higher. And the other kids are rising to his level. It's not like we have Mickey Mantle on a T-ball team. They are all so good."

"'A Few Good Men' was written as a play, and I think it makes a much better play than it did a movie," said Bridgers, who has appeared in major motion pictures, including "The Chamber" and "Nell," and numerous television movies. "It's like when there's a book that is made into a movie. Generally, the original is always better."

Bridgers and his wife, Rachel, came back home so their baby, Kathryn, now six months old, could be born in Jackson County. The couple also has a 2 1/2-year-old son, Jackson.

"After Kathryn was born, we decided to stay for the holidays. Then, with the pending actors' and writers' strikes in Hollywood, we just decided to stay longer," said Bridgers. "A lot of people move to California because they hate their home town; I love mine, and I'm always happy to come back home."

His parents, Ben and Sue Ellen Bridgers, live in Sylva.

Because the strikes make the summer situation in Hollywood "iffy," Bridgers is performing theatre this season. After WCU, he'll go to San Diego to perform in "The Complete Works of Billy the Kid" at La Jolla Playhouse.

He attributes part of his success to the plethora of acting opportunities at WCU.

"At other universities students don't act in front of audiences much," said Bridgers. "At WCU, I got a lot of practice."

Coming back to WCU after nine years, Bridgers said he felt "a little strange. I felt old at first, but Steve helped me through that. I've learned a lot from that man, and I owe him a lot."

"A Few Good Men" also stars Bobbi Baker as Lt. Cmdr. Jo Anne Galloway, Daniel Weger as Lt. Sam Weinberg, Adam Nestlerode as Capt. Jack Ross and Josh Ellis as Lt. Kendrick.

Other cast and crew are Katherine Barron, Bridgette Fitzgerald, Chris Hall, Don Kornse, Samantha Larson, Damien Marts, Clint Matthews, Sarah Moses, Scott Needham, Terry Nienhuis, Doug Pope, Serenity Richards, David Spivey, Daniel Strouble, Ashleigh Sumner and Mike Wannagot.

The production is intended for mature audiences only, the director said.

Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for students. For more information, call the WCU department of communication and theatre arts at 227-7491.

Back to Archive: 04/19/01.