Libby Skala - Virginia Gazette

THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE

Williamsburg

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2004

LIMELIGHT

'Lilies of the Field' star blooms again

Sidney Poitier and Lilia Skala in Libby Skala, left, as a child with her

"Lilies of the Field." grandmother, Lilia Skala.

By Ann Efimetz

WILLIAMSBURG

Movie buffs may remember the 1963 film, "Lilies of the Field" starring Sidney Poitier.

The story revolved around Poitier's character, Homer Smith. Smith was a journeyman laborer who roamed the countryside drifting and working.

One day Smith stopped at a farm and met with five nuns. The mother superior, Mother Maria, was played by Lilia Skala. The mother superior was convinced that God had answered her prayers by sending Smith to fix their roof.

Poitier won an Oscar for his work.

Later this month, Skala's granddaughter, Libby, will bring a one-woman show about her grandmother's life, "Lilia!" to the Kimball Theatre stage. Skala plays herself and her grandmother.

In conjunction with the performance, the movie, "Lilies of the Field" will also be run at the Kimball.

Libby Skala wrote the play, which has been performed at various venues in the Northeast and Canada.

The play focuses on Lilia Skala's childhood and continues through her rise to fame as an actress. Skala came to the United States from Austria with no money and not able to speak English.

That didn't prevent Skala from landing a role on Broadway just two years later. She eventually began getting roles in films and television, including roles in "Flashdance" and the "House of

Games."

Want to go? "Lilia!" runs at 3 & 8 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 31 at the Kimball Theatre. "Lilies of the Field" will run at 6:45 & 8:45 p.m. Thursday-Friday Jan. 28-30 565-8588.

Last Updated: 3/4/2009

LIBBY

SKALA

Performer Writer