[NEohioPAL]KSU'S SCHOOL OF THEATRE & DANCE CHANGES TITLE OF SPRING MUSICAL

[ELISABETH MADDEN]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
KSU'S SCHOOL OF THEATRE & DANCE CHANGES TITLE OF SPRING MUSICAL
CHILDREN OF EDEN to replace INTO THE WOODS in February

Kent, Ohio - Kent State University's School of Theatre & Dance will 
replace the spring semester musical, INTO THE WOODS with CHILDREN OF 
EDEN.  "From Stephen Schwartz (WORKING, GODSPELL and PIPPIN) and John 
Caird (LES MISERABLES and JANE EYRE) comes a joyous and inspirational 
musical about parents, children and faith...not to mention centuries of 
unresolved family business!  Freely based on the story of Genesis, 
CHILDREN OF EDEN is a frank, heartfelt and often humorous examination 
of the age-old conflict between parents and children."  CHILDREN OF 
EDEN, directed by Porthouse Theatre Artistic Director and KSU Associate 
Professor Terri Kent, will run February 20 ? 29, 2004 in E. Turner 
Stump Theatre.  

The School of Theatre & Dance has chosen to change titles due to the 
growing number of students in the program and the changing needs of 
those students.  Currently the School of Theatre & Dance has over 300 
Theatre majors and minors and over 25 MFA candidates.  The population 
of the school has also diversified.  ?The number of theatre & dance 
students seeking performing opportunities continues to increase every 
year,? said School Director, Dr. John R. Crawford.  ?With this title 
change we will be able to offer live performance experience to many 
more of our students.?

The fall semester at the School of Theatre & Dance begins with a 
touching look at the everyday lives of workers from truckers to house 
wives in WORKING: A MUSICAL.  Directed by Professor Eric van Baars, 
WORKING is based on interviews of blue collar workers from Studs 
Terkel?s book of the same name.  WORKING: A MUSICAL runs October 3 ? 
12, 2003 in the Wright-Curtis Theatre.  Guest director, Rohn Thomas 
directs Euripides? MEDEA.  This passionate story of a powerful woman 
torn apart by love and jealousy opens on Halloween and runs through 
November 9, 2003 in Wright-Curtis Theatre.  The semester ends with 
DANCE 2003: SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED, November 21 ? 23, 2003 in E. Turner 
Stump Theatre.  Choreographed by School of Theatre & Dance faculty and 
guest artists, DANCE 2003: SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED offers the latest in 
modern dance and jazz choreography.   

Spring semester brings forth the heartfelt and often humorous 
examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children in 
CHILDREN OF EDEN.  Directed by Porthouse Theatre Artistic Director, 
Terri Kent, CHILDREN OF EDEN runs February 20 ? 29, 2004 in E. Turner 
Stump Theatre.  Dance Majors and Minors take center stage March 12 ? 
14, 2004 during STUDENT DANCE FESTIVAL.  STUDENT DANCE FESTIVAL is 
danced, choreographed and designed by students in Wright-Curtis 
Theatre.  Theatre Majors and Minors then have a chance to direct, act 
or design during the STUDENT THEATRE FESTIVAL, March 16 ? 18, 2004 in 
B005.  The KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE will perform their annual concert April 
1 - 4, 2004.  This KSU student touring company will present its annual 
concert of modern dance & jazz choreography in Wright-Curtis Theatre.  
The world premiere of Ping Chong & Company?s BLIND NESS: The 
Irresistible Light of Encounter* presented by the Roe Green Visiting 
Directors Series will premiere April 16 ? 25, 2004.  BLIND NESS: The 
Irresistible Light of Encounter* is a multi-disciplinary theatre work 
that examines the legacy of colonialism in Africa and will be presented 
in E. Turner Stump Theatre. 

*BLIND NESS: The Irresistible Light of Encounter is a working title for 
a piece that will be created at Kent State University and is subject to 
change.

School of Theatre & Dance performances are Tuesdays ? Saturdays at 8 PM 
and Sundays at 2:30 PM.  Theatres are 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 ? 5 PM, 
Mondays ? Fridays, Saturdays during the run of the show from 3 PM ? 7 
PM 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 the box office at 330-672-2497.
####

Effie Tsengas
Marketing/PR Director
etsengas at kent.edu
330-672-0113 (Phone)
330-672-2889 (Fax)


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