By Elizabeth Lewis
Loneliness. Lack of fulfillment. Poor self-esteem.
Latter-day Saint singles often feel their lives are less than complete if they do not marry by a certain age.
Brigham Young University theatre and media arts professor Eric Samuelsen attempts to clarify the misconceptions associated with the Latter-day Saint singles culture in his play 'The Way We''re Wired.'
'LDS single adults face a stigma in our society,' Samuelsen said. 'Our culture really defines itself in terms of marriage and family. It''s very easy for single adults to feel it''s difficult for there to be a place for them in our culture.'
'The Way We''re Wired,' presented by The Nauvoo Theatrical Society, plays at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through March 1 at the Center Street Theatre in Orem. Admission is $8 for students with ID and $10 general admission.
The play focuses on a group of 35- to 45-year-old single Latter-day Saints in Indiana. Samuelsen said the play is a contemporary romantic comedy following their lives and stories.
Samuelsen said he wants to emphasize that the target audience for the play includes single and married individuals.
'Our audience last night was mostly married people,' he said. 'They all really enjoyed it. I certainly don''t want married people to think they aren''t welcome.'
The Nauvoo Theatrical Society, located at the Center Street Theater in Orem, approached Samuelsen about performing 'The Way We''re Wired' for the company''s third season. The Nauvoo Theatrical Society performs plays by Latter-day Saint writers or productions dealing specifically with Latter-day Saint themes.
Samuelsen said his belief that LDS singles do have lives was affirmed as he conducted interviews to write the play.
'LDS singles are valuable people,' Samuelsen said. 'They have tremendous contributions to make, both within Mormonism and within the society at large. The most prominent LDS single woman right now is Sheri Dew. Look what she stands for and what she''s accomplished - an extraordinary woman.'
Mark Woodruff, a bishop at Brigham Young University, commented on the concerns of Latter-day Saint singles.
Woodruff said BYU students and other singles who do not marry by a certain age often experience low self-esteem and loneliness.
'Having married later than most people in Utah County, I understand the feelings of single Latter-day Saints,' he said. 'Singles can and should have a productive and rich life full of service and involvement, regardless of their marital status. '
'The Way We''re Wired' played at BYU in 1998 with an all-student cast. The play won the Association for Mormon Letters Award for best play in 1998. Samuelsen adapted the play into a novel, published by Cornerstone Publishing.
Samuelsen said the cast now features more age-appropriate, experienced actors.
'Most of our cast are people who graduated from BYU, who have been out working professionally and now are back doing shows,' Samuelsen said.
Scott Bronson, a Latter-day Saint writer, actor and playwright, plays a character in 'The Way We''re Wired.' Some of Bronson''s roles included acting in 'Brigham City' and 'Touched by an Angel.' He won the Association for Mormon Letters Award in 2002 for his play 'Stones.'
Bronson said he only knows about the Latter-day Saint singles culture second-hand through his single friends. Bronson said he thinks it is good for people unfamiliar with the culture to see the play and gain exposure to the lifestyles of Latter-day Saint singles.
'From what I hear, Eric has it right,' Bronson said. 'I had a single woman I worked with come and see it. After she saw the play she said she loved it. She said it was nice to know that someone else knows how she feels. It''s helpful for that community to see themselves portrayed realistically and sympathetically.'
Thom Duncan, originally from California, co-founded the Nauvoo Theatrical Society and produced 'The Way We''re Wired.'
Duncan re-entered the Latter-day Saint single''s culture after a recent divorce. He said the play destroys the myth that Latter-day Saint singles are 'weird' people who do not belong.
'''The Way We''re Wired'' shows that LDS singles have rich and full lives,' Duncan said. 'They may not be married, but they do a lot of important things for the church and society. We need to reach out further and understand LDS singles. It''s great
to see Eric''s portrayal.'