SIU TO SPICE SUMMER VENUE WITH MUSICAL `SUGAR'

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- McLeod Theater at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is putting the finishing touches on its production of the Broadway musical Sugar.

Sugar, based on the film Some Like It Hot, is originally written by Peter Stone. Suger is the story of two out-of-work musicians, Joe and Jerry, who happen to witness a gangland shooting one night in Chicago.

The gang, led by the notorious Spats Palazza, must keep them from talking. In a daring attempt to escape Spats and his vicious henchmen, Joe and Jerry, become Josephine and Daphne, join an all-female band and race to Florida. The chase is on and the laughs continue in this wacky comedy.

Lori Merrill-Fink, an associate professor at SIU-Carbondale and director of Sugar, said,"The play promises to be as good as the movie. Many of the characters are even funnier in the musical."

One reason for this is the gansters play a larger part in the musical. Each gangster is a fully developed character. They even have their own tap-dance number.

When asked what she thought the audience would remember most from this show, Fink replied,"These songs may never have made Hit Parade, but the audience will go away humming them."

Working behind the scenes to create the time, place, and atmosphere of Sugar are costume designer Norma West and set designer Mary Murdock.

Norma says she has chosen colors and styles of garments that "keep a fun feeling while reinforcing the light-hearted exhuberance of the time period."

The performance dates for Sugar are June 24, 25, 30 and July 1,2 and 8 p.m. and June 26 and July 3 at 2 p.m. The July 3 performance will be signed for the hearing impaired. For ticket information call the McLeod Theater Box office at (618) 453-3001. Box office hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and an hour-and-a-half before each performance.