Former student leaves newspapers for theater

Raymond Whelan, who was a reporter and editor for The Ranger, is author of a play that was featured in an Austin Festival and is now to be featured in a Houston Festival.

Whelan is a member of Script Works Austin. He has written, directed and produced two plays for Frontera Fest in Austin, including "Southie Pride Ezzah Given" in 2012 and "Some Women See Things As They Are" in 2013.

In the scene at right, Jackie reads history, recites poetry and seeks privacy as she continues to recover from her husband’s assassination in 1963. When the former First Lady learns the White House may force public disclosure of her late husband’s marital infidelities, she plans to protect his reputation.

Also, because of her opposition to the Vietnam War, she entrusts her assistant, Frannie, to help her find the means to manipulate the 1968 presidential election.