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Retiring professor to see her play come to life
Something longtime University of the Incarnate Word faculty member Margaret Mitchell has always wanted to see is coming to fruition, Friday, April 14, when “The Reluctant Dragon” opens. The play, which wraps up the Department of Theatre Arts’ season, is Mitchell’s adaptation of British author Kenneth Grahame’s 1898 novel of St.
George and the Dragon.
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“I have always loved this story because it’s about non-violence and outcasts and mob mentality,” said Mitchell, a theatre arts professor who won last year’s Presidential Teaching Award and the $5,000 that comes with it. “For many years I have wanted to write a play based on Grahame’s story.”
Mitchell’s dragon is not fire-breathing or damsel-trapping. He is a poet, a reader, and a knitter. Will the boy who befriended this dragon be able to save his new friend from the dragon-slaying St. George? Can the town ever accept such a creature into society?
Besides the dragon played by Austin Mathews as the Dragon, the cast includes Luke Stout as St. George; Hannah Watkins as The Child; Skyler Burnett as The Mother; Michael Morales as The Father; Star Zuniga as Daisy; Christa Vento Jones as The Beautiful Girl; Gloria Salazar as The Shy Girl; Rylee Burton as Wealthy Boy/ Guard 1; Brian Richards as Wealthy Boy, Guard 2; Jolyssa Perez as Villager 1; Alcott Wadsworth as Villager 2; Karla Pulido as Villager 3; and Iza Garza as Villager 4.
The department describes the play – for which Mitchell also serves as costume designer -- this way: “With themes of friendship, courage, and non-violence, ‘The Reluctant Dragon’ helps us learn the best way of destroying fear and prejudice is through empathy and friendship.”
FYI
“The Reluctant Dragon” opens
8 p.m.
Friday, April 14, in Evelyn Huth Coates Theatre at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Subsequent performances will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, April 16; 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19; 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20; and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22.

There will be no Friday, April 21, performance due to “Alamo Heights Night.”
UIW faculty, students and staff may attend the show free of charge with a valid UIW ID. Otherwise, tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for non-UIW students, and $7 for groups of 10 or more.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.uiw.edu/theatre or call (210) 829-3800.