[NEohioPAL]Ping Chong & Company to develop World Premiere at KSU's School of Theatre & Dance

[emadden]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WORLD PREMIERE TO BE DEVELOPED AT KSU=92S SCHOOL OF THEATRE & DANCE
Roe Green Visiting Director Series hosts Ping Chong & Company Residency

Kent, Ohio =96 To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the School of Theatre & 
Dance and the inaugural year of the Roe Green Visiting Director Series, the 
School of Theatre & Dance at Kent State University will be hosting renowned 
multi-disciplinary theatre artist, Ping Chong and his company for an eight 
week residency from March 1 to April 25, 2004.  During the residency, Ping 
Chong and collaborator Michael Rohd will create the world premiere of a 
multi-disciplinary theatre work examining the legacy of colonialism in Africa.
 The work will be titled DARK NESS and is inspired by Joseph Conrad=92s novel, 
"Heart of Darkness," Adam Hochschild=92s "King Leopold=92s Ghost" and other 
sources.  Ping Chong & Company will present the world premiere of DARK NESS 
April 16 =96 25, 2004 in E. Turner Stump Theatre at Kent State University.

DARK NESS will be, in Ping Chong=92s words, a =93poetic documentary,=94 based on 
archival and historical events in the legacy of colonialism on the African 
continent.  The production will involve graduate and undergraduate students in 
the School of Theatre & Dance as performers, designers and technicians as well 
as guest professionals.  DARK NESS will make use of cutting edge technology.  
The work will also include puppets and shadow puppetry.  After its world 
premiere at Kent State University, April 16 =96 25, 2004, Ping Chong & Company 
will present DARK NESS at La MaMa Theatre in New York City and will also tour 
the work.

In addition to involvement in the production process during March and April 
2004, Kent State University students will participate in classes and workshops 
offered by Ping Chong, Michael Rohd and guest performers, designers and 
technologists.  Two full time Theatre faculty members will be offering a 
workshop beginning in January 2004 to provide additional historical and 
theoretical background for Kent State students in preparation for the 
residency.

The Ping Chong residency is sponsored by the Roe Green Visiting Director 
Series.  Ms. Green is a local arts patron and activist.  She was a competitive 
ballroom dancer for more than 12 years and has dubbed herself an =93avid=94 
theatergoer.  She received her B.A. in theatre and communications from the 
University of Colorado and was awarded an M.A. in theatre from Kent State 
University.  Ms. Green has experience in stage and business management at Cain 
Park, Cleveland Opera and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.  She is also a 
member of the School of Theatre & Dance Advisory Board, Action Committee for 
Porthouse Theatre, and the women=92s committees for the Cleveland Play House and 
Blossom Music Center.  Ms Green is the CEO of the Roe Green Foundation and is 
making plans for a battered women=92s shelter in Geauga called the =93Green 
House.=94

DARK NESS performances are April 16 =96 25, 2004, Tuesday =96 Saturday at 8 PM and 
Sunday at 2:30 PM.  E. Turner Stump Theatre is located in the Music & Speech 
Center on the main Kent State University campus.  Tickets are $10 for adults, 
$8 for Seniors, KSU Alumni and KSU Faculty/Staff and $7 for students under 18 
or with any valid school ID.  Discounts are available for groups of ten or 
more.  The School of Theatre & Dance box office opens on September 22, 2003.  
Box-office hours are 12 PM =96 5 PM, Mondays =96 Fridays and one hour before 
performance times.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 330-672-2497.  The box 
office accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.  Tickets purchased by phone 
must be held with a credit card.  For more information on the School of 
Theatre & Dance visit us at www.theatre.kent.edu.

This season the School of Theatre & Dance is offering a variety of 
subscription packages.  Theatre Subscriptions include admission to all four 
plays.  A Dance Subscription includes admission to all three dance concerts 
and a Full Subscription includes admission to all eight School of Theatre & 
Dance productions.  Gift certificates are also available in $5 & $10 
increments.  To order a subscription or gift certificates contact Elisabeth at 
330-672-2497.
####

Elisabeth Madden
Managing Director
emadden at kent.edu
330-672-0103 (Phone)
330-672-2889 (Fax)

Elisabeth Madden
Managing Director
School of Theatre & Dance
Porthouse Theatre
330-672-0103
emadden at kent.edu