"St. Bette's" continues through March 20 The Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre is presenting the Midwest premiere of local playwright and English department lecturer Kathy Coudle-King’s play "St. Bette’s." Director is Adonica Schultz Aune. Set in 1961 in a home for “unwed mothers," four young women spend an unforgettable summer waiting out their pregnancy. Each woman has her unique story to tell, embodying a different issue instructors and students might wish to discuss. • Cecilia has been told she can be anything she wants. She wants to go to medical school. A baby, however, is not in her plans. • Marge sees herself as sexually liberated. She enjoys sex; however, single and without reliable birth control she finds herself pregnant and at St. Bette’s for the third time. • Janice’s story is shrouded in mystery. There are rumors that she, a white woman, was raped by a black man. Miscegenation laws prevail. • Then there is Myrtle. Developmentally disabled, Myrtle’s parents told her she could keep her baby if she went to live at St. Bette’s. • Lastly, we have Sister Anne, who runs St. Bette’s with a firm hand. She emphasizes that this is but one chapter in the women’s lives and happier chapters will follow. "St. Bette’s" explores the idea of “choice” and what this means when people have few options. It also hopes to lift the stigma surrounding the act of surrendering or releasing a child for adoption. In the process of researching the play, the playwright was approached multiple times by women who had “given their child up.” The topic was still clearly taboo, and with "St. Bette’s" we hope to open discussion about a choice that tends to echo throughout a woman’s life. "St. Bette’s" will be performed in the Fire Hall Theatre (412 2nd Avenue N.) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday–Saturday, until March 20. There will be a special showing at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14. Following the March 14 performance, there will be a discussion with the actors, director and playwright. Cast and crew: Kristina Brekke (psychology major-UND), Jennifer Frizzini (USAF), Erin Hendrickson, Kat LaBine, Wendy Swerdlow Pederson and directed by Adonica Schultz Aune and Marie Hjelmstad. Technical director is Jeff Kinney. Consulting is John Thompson. Tickets will be $15 and $12 for students/seniors/military. Call for reservations and to inquire about a group discount at 777-4090. -- Kathy Coudle-King, Lecturer, English, kathleen.king@und.nodak.edu, 777-2787