Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 11, 1994                   TAG: 9402150004
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE STAGE

But to Anna Fariello and Margaret Devaney, two Radford University professors who came to Radford in the mid-'80's, the New River Valley and its surrounding Appalachian landscape is a visual and cultural Shangri-La. They have collaborated their talents and their appreciation of the area in an effort to bring the local culture from the mountains to the stage.

"Appalachian Voices," a multimedia drama being performed this weekend in the university's Preston Hall, will combine visual images and dance to create a theatrical interpretation of Appalachia.

The audience will see an hourlong show, hallmarked by surreal images of Appalachia that give an interpretation of the region's history. On the stage will be a large screen carrying images of the landscape, while behind it dancers will perform and appear to be a part of the picture itself.

"We've got this blending of the real and the unreal," said Fariello, the University Galleries director in charge of the visual arts involved in the performance. "That's one of the most interesting things about the performance."

Devaney, who chairs the university dance department and choreographs the dances in the performance, said "Appalachian Voices" also is unique because of the different perspectives of the two professors, and the scope they used in relating the story.

"I think collaborations are wonderful," she said. "Our perspective is that it's all kind of seen through a woman's passage through time."

Fariello and Devaney's original production of "Voices" - a similar visual collage, but without a specific storyline - drew one of the largest crowds to a university performance, Fariello said.

She said after the success of the first production of "Voices" in 1990, she and Devaney realized they should blend their creativity with their appreciation of the area.

And "Appalachian Voices" was born.

"It's a portrait of the New River Valley," Fariello said, looking over her slides of area homes and scenes that will be part of the performance. "Both of us love living here and are very inspired by the landscape. This production is a collection of the region's voices speaking through time."

Fariello said that even though the original production was more of a collection of scenes than a full story, it was similar to "Appalachian Voices" in its mysteriousness.

"We wanted to keep this kind of mystery and still tell a story," she said.

"Appalachian Voices" will be performed tonightfriday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and again Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $3 for general admission and free with a university ID. For more information, call the College of Visual and Performing Arts at 831-5141 or 831-5420.