Celia White is Chris Purdie. Not literally. She's actually Celia White. On Friday night, however, White and almost three dozen other actors will be on hand at the Sego Art Center, in character as Brigham Young University art student Chris Purdie. It's all part of Purdie's latest artistic brainstorm, a performance art exhibit titled "I am Chris Purdie."

"I probably won't be able to play Chris Purdie as well as he can play himself," White said. After speaking to Purdie at length, however, White is confident that she can talk and behave the way that Purdie does.

Visitors to the Friday opening for "I am Chris Purdie" can judge for themselves -- if, that is, they can pick the real Purdie out from among his merry horde of impersonators. After Friday, the exhibit will consist of at least one Chris Purdie at all times during Sego Art Center hours until March 28.

Purdie is a former drummer who, at 35, is "about one semester away" from completing his bachelor's degree. After graduating from high school, he spent a decade touring and recording with different bands before deciding it was time to pursue higher education.

"I got to a point where I wanted to have a degree and be in a position where I was in control of my own life," Purdie said.

The seeds of "I am Chris Purdie" were planted while he was visiting with guests at a reception for another exhibition of his art. Purdie said that he's shy and not always comfortable talking to strangers. While mingling with visitors at the reception, he said, he started thinking about his younger brother, Jason, who looks like him.

"I thought, 'I could have my brother be me. Then I wouldn't have to be in this situation,' " Purdie said. "Then I thought, 'What if we were both me?' " The idea got even bigger when Purdie went to watch his brother act in a play and suddenly envisioned an entire cast of Chris Purdies.

White, who's 22 and an English major at BYU, found out about "I am Chris Purdie" from her roommate and went to an audition for the part. "I had to watch a 10-minute video of Chris," she said. Then she took her first crack at a role that's become increasingly familiar.

All of the Purdies at the Sego Art Center on Friday will have the same outfit: black cap, black-rimmed glasses, black scarf, black hoodie, brown slacks. About half are women. Some are Purdie's friends and family members, including his father, brother and sister, and the rest -- about 12 or 13 -- are strangers. "People who I just met," Purdie said.

Purdie has spent several hours hanging out one-on-one with each cast member. The rest of the performance is up to them.

White said that she plans to stay completely in character at all times during the performance. Even if it means a trip to the men's room? "Hopefully," she said, "I won't have to find out."

If you go

'I am Chris Purdie'

When: Reception and opening from 6-9 p.m. on Friday; exhibit continues daily through March 28 during normal Sego Art Center hours

Where: Sego Art Center, 169 N. University Ave., Provo

Cost: Free

Info: chrispurdie.com, www.segoarts.org, 801-599-0680