Wayne State University\'s Studio Theatre opens \'night Mother, a psychodrama by Marsha Norman at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2005 with performances at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 14-16 and 21-23.

Is a mother\'s love enough to keep her daughter alive? Thelma has an hour and a half to convince Jessie, her daughter, to avoid committing suicide. Facing more tragedies may be too much for Jessie to handle. Her father has died, her son is disobedient and her marriage has failed. An epileptic daughter, a mother\'s under-appreciated embrace and the parent/child relationship are tackled in this tragic story of a life lost too soon.

The 1983 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama, \'night Mother first opened on Broadway on March 31, 1983 at the John Golden Theatre starring Anne Pitoniak as Thelma Cates (\"Mama\") and Kathy Bates as Jessie Cates. This production was nominated for several Tony awards including Best Play, Best Actress and Best Direction. In 2004, a revival of \'night Mother was produced at the Royale Theatre starring Brenda Blethyn as Thelma and Edie Falco as Jessie.

Directed by Maria-Tania Becerra, the cast includes: Angela Duffy as Jessie (Roseville) and Beth Ann Gibaud as Mama (Garden City). Designers for \'night Mother are Kevin Beltz (Eastpointe), Scenic Designer; Adrienne Brady (Utica), Lighting Designer; Jennifer Rybinski (Rochester), Costume Designer; and Brishen Miller (Kalamazoo), Sound Designer.

Becerra is a PhD candidate in WSU\'s Department of Theatre. Her directing credits include Marisol and Death and the Maiden for the Studio Theatre. Originally from Nicaragua, Becerra earned her bachelor\'s specializing in Chicano/Latino Theatre. She also teaches theatre fundamentals to students in the Southwest Detroit area through a program sponsored by Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit.

The Studio Theatre is located downstairs from the Hilberry Theatre at 4743 Cass Ave., at the corner of Cass and W. Hancock. Performances of \'night Mother are at 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, April 14-16, 21-23. Tickets are $9 general admission; $7 for students, senior citizens, WSU faculty, and Alumni Association members. For more information, or to order tickets to \'night Mother, call the Wayne State University Box Office at (313) 577-2972. The WSU Box Office is open Tuesday through Saturday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.