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Lindsey Wilson College TheatreFest! To Present Comedy 'Shiloh Rules' July 31-Aug. 3

Set in re-enactment of Shiloh battlefield, play explores women's point of view toward war.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (05/23/2025) — As William Faulkner famously wrote, "The past is never dead. It's not even past."

That theme will be brought to the stage this summer at Lindsey Wilson College when the comedy Shiloh Rules is produced as part of TheatreFest! 2025. It will be presented July 31-Aug. 3 at V.P. Henry Auditorium.

Written by Doris Baizley, Shiloh Rules is a six-character, all-female play that tells the story of a dedicated Union nurse and a mysterious Confederate refugee who meet in contemporary times on the Shiloh battlefield to help re-enact the first major battle of Civil War while competing for the title of "Best Female Reenactor of the Year."

With their young trainees trying to out-do each other in authenticity and a concessionaire encouraging both sides, the competition leads into real conflict with an African-American female park ranger who would rather be anywhere than the year 1862, imaginary or not. As the re-enactment rages out of control, the six women discover that some conflicts of the Civil War weren't left behind at Appomattox Court House.

The TheatreFest! production of Shiloh Rules will be directed by Lindsey Wilson theatre professor Robert Brock.

Shiloh Rules had its world premiere in 2002 and received positive reviews. In a 2006 review in New York Times, critic Neil Genzlinger wrote: "It's not easy finding a new take on something as heavily scrutinized as the Civil War, but Doris Baizley has done it in Shiloh Rules, an inventive comedy with some drama, history and first-aid tips thrown in."

Brock said that he became familiar with Shiloh Rules shortly after it appeared in the early 2000s, and it's been on his list to produce for some time.

"The play is so much more than you can put into a soundbite," said Brock. "It's a really, really good play. What I especially like about the play is how it explores women's point of view toward war. It's a very funny play, but eventually, because of the tensions between characters, the sparks start to fly."

"Shiloh Rules," by Doris Baizley, will be presented at 7 p.m. July 31-Aug. 2 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at V.P. Henry Auditorium, 210 Lindsey Wilson St. To purchase tickets, go to theatrefest.org or contact the department at theatre@lindsey.edu or 270-384-8044.

Lindsey Wilson College is a vibrant liberal arts college in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson -- which will become Lindsey Wilson University on July 1 -- has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students, and the college offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The college's 28 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

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“Shiloh Rules,” by Doris Baizley, will be presented as part of Lindsey Wilson College's TheatreFest! 2025 at 7 p.m. July 31-Aug. 2 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at V.P. Henry Auditorium, 210 Lindsey Wilson St.

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