Point Park University will kick off its 2014-15 theater season with Of Mice and Men, a play written by John Steinbeck and adapted from the 1937 novel of the same name.

The University’s professional theatre company The REP will be performing the show Sept. 5-21. Robert A. Miller, son of famous American playwright Arthur Miller, was hired to direct this classic show.

Of Mice and Men follows the story of George and his mentally handicapped brother Lennie who are migrant field workers during the Great Depression. George has to care for Lennie as they work together to achieve their lifelong dream of owning their own land.

Point Park professors Philip Winters and John McManus are cast in the show, along with senior acting major Luke Halferty. Halferty, who played Jud in the University’s production of Oklahoma!, will be playing the character Curley.

Halferty reflected on the audition process for the show, which he described as “surprisingly laid back.” There was a single day of student auditions where he read for the role of Curley.

“I did a read of the first scene you see Curley in,” he said. “Bob [Robert Miller] gave me some direction. He literally told me to be more of a d*ck. Curley sort of has Napoleon syndrome.”

Halferty is familiar with playing villainous characters, as anyone who saw Oklahoma! can attest to. He said that it is important for the audience to connect with the villain in a show.

“It’s more of a challenge to play a villain. In order to make the audience appreciate your character, you can’t just look at him or her one-dimensionally,” said Halferty. “You have to have the good and bad, even if you’re playing a bad character.”

McManus was cast as Candy, an aging farmhand who works alongside George and Lennie.

“About four years ago he lost his hand in a machine, so now he’s in his last stages of life. He has this dream of owning land.” McManus said. Candy eventually makes a deal with George and Lennie – if he gives them the money to purchase land, they have to let him live and work there with them.

While Halferty and McManus each have their own fond memories of working on the show, they both agree that it was a pleasure to work with Miller.

“Bob [Robert Miller] is great. We have a lot of creative freedom with our characters…he’s very respectful of actors,” McManus said  Halferty said that he did not know what to expect from Miller initially because he is “theater royalty.”  

“He’s very mild-mannered and always looking to joke around to make everything light, but when it gets heavy, he breaks it down for you,” Halferty said. “He lets you do your own thing and I loved working with him.”

For anyone interested in seeing Of Mice and Men at the Playhouse, ticket prices start at $24. A preview of the show will be held Sept. 4.