Skip to main content
Scenes from The University of Rhode Island

URI Theatre to present One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Media Contact:

KINGSTON, R.I. -- February 4, 2004 -- Ken KeseyÕs grim satire, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, published in 1962, takes place in a mental institution and tells the story of a con man named McMurphy who wants to be institutionalized to escape the rigors of working on a prison farm.

When McMurphy challenges the head nurse, a dictatorial Nurse Ratched, life in the ward is irrevocably altered. McMurphy becomes a hero, changing the lives of the inmates, but pays dearly for his individualism.

Considered a classic, the book is a story of control versus freedom, hope versus despair, and friendship versus isolation. It was widely read by college students just as they were challenging authority and conformity. The movie version of the novel starred Jack Nicholson as McMurphy and won the 1975 Academy Award for "Best Picture."

Dale Wasserman’s adaptation of Kesey’s novel received the 2001 Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Revival. Cuckoo’s Nest is captivating, funny, touching and exciting. It has been described as one of the finest, most meaningful and most moving plays of recent times by WPIX-TV.

URI Theatre’s production will be performed in J Studio at the Fine Arts Center on the Kingston Campus Feb. 19 to 21 and 25 to 28 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 general, $10 students, seniors, children.

The play is directed by Alan Hawkridge and features set design by William Wieters, lighting design by Christian Wittwer, and costumes by Elizabeth Gotauco, a senior theatre major. See list for names of cast members and their hometowns.

For tickets, reservations or information, please call the URI Theatre Box Office at (401) 874-5843. For group sales, please call (401) 874-2712.

CHARACTER

ACTOR

HOME TOWN

STATE

Scanlon

Marcus

Stacey

Boston

MA

R.P.McMurphy

Sean

McConaghy

Dighton-Rehoboth

MA

Nurse Ratched

Jaclyn

Marfuggi

Princeton

NJ

Sandra

Heather

Garfinkle

Armonk

NY

Candy Starr

Alison

Kantrowich

Southampton

NY

Nurse Flinn

Jenette

DelMonaco

Coventry

RI

Harding

Jed

Hancock-Brainerd

East Greenwich & Newport

RI

Martini

Trevor

Campbell

Newport

RI

Bill Bibbit

Richard

Madison

North Kingstown

RI

Chief Bromden

Carlos

Romero

North Kingstown

RI

Ruckley

Daniel

DaCunha

Pawtucket

RI

Aide Williams

Anthony

Davis

Richmond

RI

Aide Turkle

Frank

Fusaro

Westerly

RI

Aide Warren

Patrick

Cullen

Woonsocket

RI

Cheswick

Richard

Sliwinski

Woonsocket

RI