Westlake High presents 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'

The Westlake High School theater department presents the Tennessee Williams drama "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" from Thurs. to Sat., May 4 to 6 and Thurs. to Sat., May 11 to13 in the school's theater on the campus at 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village. All performances begin at 7 p.m. For tickets, call (805) 497-6711,

ext. 2152. Adults are $8; seniors and students with ID are $5. Due to mature content, parental discretion is advised for children under 12.

"Everyone familiar with this show, particularly those who remember Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor in the movie, are stunned that high school students are staging it. These students are

sure to impress all viewers with their mature handling of this serious, memorable story," said theater director Catherine Conti, who called the play an "intense, emotional, gripping, classic American drama."

Student cast members worked for more than two months to develop their characters. Issues of alcoholism, marital infidelity, sibling rivalry, parental approval, selfloathing, resiliency and hope created "real challenges" for the 23 selected actors, according to Conti.

Lead characters Maggie and Brick Pollitt grapple with marital unrest while in the throes of financial uncertainty concerning Brick's dying father's estate. Maggie struggles to convince her alcoholic husband of the importance of getting clean in order to earn the inheritance. Meanwhile, Brick's brother Gooper and his wife, Mae, manipulate "Big Daddy" to reward them with the riches.