As the final weekend of the IUS Theatre Department’s production of “Equus” began, the audience had a famous viewer from the theater industry.
Lee Meriwether, 77, well-known actress and former Miss America, made an appearance at IU Southeast to watch the performance.
Meriwether has portrayed various roles since the 1960s. Some of her roles included Catwoman in the 1966 film version of ”Batman,” Margaret Langdon in John Wayne’s “Undefeated” and many television show roles.
Several months ago, Meriwether came to IU Southeast to piece together a one-woman production called, “The Women of Spoon River: Their Voices from the Hill.”
This production was an idea Meriwether carried out that took each female character’s individual story from Edgar Lee Master’s “Spoon River Anthology.”
“I portray 28 characters in about 40 minutes,” Meriwether said. “They all have their own idiosyncrasies. They all have their own problems, their joys, their fears and pain.”
Meriwether teamed up with Jim Hesselman, assistant professor of theater and friend, to create the play. She and
Hesselman rehearsed and premiered the play at IU Southeast in May of last year.
“I’ve known Jim for a long time,” Meriwether said. “He directed me in my show, and I knew it would be a wonderful production if he was the one to direct it. It was a fabulous collaboration with the IUS Theatre Department to help me with my one-woman show.”
Hesselman and Meriwether met 10 years ago while touring for the 25th anniversary of the musical comedy, “Nunsense.”
“The Women of Spoon River was the first time Lee and I had collaborated together as far as the script and stage,” Hesselman said. “She asked me to direct, and I was very flattered. She was here for three weeks putting it together, and we created it in the Robinson Theater here.”
Since performing at IU Southeast, she has also presented the play at her affiliated theater, Theatre West, in Los Angeles.
“We had a really successful run there,” Meriwether said. “I want to take the production to universities around the country in the fall.”
Meriwether’s career began when she was awarded the title of Miss America in 1955. Unfortunately, this title also presented obstacles for Meriwether in her acting endeavors.
“Casting people back then did not really want to see a Miss America play their roles because they had the idea that Miss Americas were vapid and non-communicative,” Meriwether said. “I found it difficult to be casted because directors would pigeon-hole beauty queens as bathing beauties.”
Prior to her film-acting career, Meriwether developed her love for acting when she would perform for her fourth-grade class at recess.
“I’ve always loved acting,” Meriwether said. “I loved watching the movies and the acting involved. There were several kids in my class who were not taken to movies, so, at recess, I would act out the story that I had seen in the movie that particular weekend. I played all of the parts and my classmates would all applaud at the end.”
Her love and talent for acting eventually awarded her roles with actors like Andy Griffith, William Shatner and Adam West just to name a few.
“I’ve been so fortunate throughout the years to work with so many wonderful people,” Meriwether said. “How many people can say they have worked with Andy Griffith, John Wayne and Angela Lansbury? It is just such a joy to work with these individuals.”
Meriwether said she believes college students can receive a lot of benefits from theatre that will aid them in their everyday lives for years to come.
“Just beginning theatre will help any student in any walk of life,” Meriwether said. “Theater teaches the basics of how to communicate with people, and it is what you will do for the rest of your life. Theatre is fun, and who knows? You may find you have a knack for it if you try it.”
By COURTNEY McKINLEY
Profiles Editor
comckinl@imail.iu.edu
