April 9–11 | Cochran, Russell Hall Auditorium | 7 PM
MGA presents "Betty the Yeti" by Jon Klein, a play set deep in the forests of Northern Oregon where environmentalists and loggers clash over the future of the land. The story follows Russ T. Sawyer, a logger mourning his unemployment and his marriage, who encounters a female sasquatch in the wild. Russ must decide whether to protect the creature he names Betty or follow the politics of his trade, leading to an unexpected and complicated relationship.
Directed by MGA faculty and featuring a cast of both students and local residents, this production explores the battle between natural preservation and the livelihoods of those who depend on the timber industry. Tickets and seating are available on a first-come, first-served basis for all three evening performances.
"There's a crisis in the forest. The EPA has designated 3,000 acres of the Willamette National Forest in Blue River, Oregon, as a "critical habitat" for the Spotted Owl, an endangered species. All logging has stopped, and all the lumber jacks are unemployed. In a pique of frustration, one out-of-work logger, Russ T. Sawyer, has withdrawn from society and set up camp deep in the woods. He’s lost his job, his wife, and his sense of purpose in life to a world he no longer understands. Then, something completely unexpected happens: Russ encounters a yeti and connects with the natural world in ways he could have never imagined. But, as is often the case, when man intervenes in the natural world, there are unintended consequences. "
Questions: john.iverson@mga.edu