[NEohioPAL]KSU School of Theatre presents MEDEA

[EFTIHIA A TSENGAS]

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE PRESENTS EURIPIDE=92S DRAMATIC=20
CLASSIC, MEDEA

Kent, Ohio =96 Kent State University=92s School of Theatre presents=20
Euripide=92s dramatic classic of the ancient world, Medea, October 31 =96=
=20
November 9, 2003 in the Wright-Curtis Theatre of the Music & Speech=20
Building on the main campus of Kent State University. First performed=20
in 431 BC, Medea is astonishing in its capacity to traverse the 2,400=20
years since it was written.  Based on the ancient Greek myth of Jason=20
and Medea, the play investigates the psychology of betrayal, jealousy=20
and revenge.

Medea, a mighty enchantress, having betrayed her family to help her=20
lover Jason win the Golden Fleece, now finds him married to another=20
woman, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth.  After failing to=20
persuade Jason to return to her, Medea, in an act of revenge, kills her=20
rival with a gift of poisoned clothing and commits the most savage act=20
of infanticide. =20

Medea was the first play written to use the chorus as a commentator, to=20
use contemporary language and to interpret human suffering without=20
reference to the wisdom of the gods.  =93Euripides strove to discover the=
=20
motivation of his characters, and, in so doing, forced his audiences to=20
examine some distasteful truths about society,=94 said Rohn Thomas,=20
instructor of theatre at Kent State University, a local director and=20
stage and film actor. Thomas has directed at such area theatres as Beck=20
Center, The Halle and Weathervane Theatre.  He has performed at The=20
Cleveland Play House, Great Lakes Theater Festival, the Hanna Theatre=20
and Porthouse Theatre.  He also has an extensive list of film credits=20
including Welcome to Collinwood, The Mothman Prophesies, and he=20
appeared on last year=92s season premier of =93West Wing.=94

The cast of Medea includes:

Christine R. Williams (Medea) of Philadelphia, PA
Chivas Perkins (Jason) of New Orleans, LA
Genevieve Jesse (Nurse) of Oakland, CA
Caleb Sekeres (Aegeus) of Providence, RI
Jeff Staron  (Tutor) of Cleveland, OH
Andrew Cruse (Creon) of Allentown, PA
Amanda Soden (Chorus) of Carpinteria, CA
Autumn Knight (Chorus) of Houston, TX
Arcinda Edwards (Chorus) of New Orleans, LA
Nate Mathias (Messenger) of Pittsburg, PA
Ben Klainer (Aegeus=92s Aide) of Akron, OH
Otto Maurer, Jr. (Creon=92s Aide) of Franklin, LA
Isreal Roberson (Creon=92s Aide) of Franklin, LA

School of Theatre & Dance performances are Tuesday =96 Saturday at 8 p.m.=
=20
and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.  Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors,=20
KSU Alumni and KSU Faculty/Staff and $7 for students under 18 or with=20
any valid school ID.  Discounts are available for groups of ten or=20
more.  The School of Theatre & Dance Box Office hours are 12 p.m. =96 5=20
p.m. Mondays =96 Fridays, 3 p.m. =96 7 p.m. on Saturdays during the run of=
=20
the show and one hour before performance times.  For tickets call=20
330-672-2497

On Tuesday, November 4 in the E. Turner Stump Theatre, a special panel=20
discussion, =93Theatre Design & Technology=94 hosted by Suzy Campbell,=20
associate professor, costume design, will be held at 6:30 p.m.  As part=20
of the =93Spotlight on Success=94 discussion series celebrating the=20
School=92s 20th anniversary, the panel will consist of Linda Janosko,=20
theatre alumna and Paul Vincent of Vincent Lighting.  =93Spotlight on=20
Success=94 is free and open to the public.  For more information on the=20
series contact Elisabeth Madden, managing director at 330-672-0103.

=09=09=09=09=09###

For More Information Contact:
Effie Tsengas
PR/Marketing Director
Kent State University School of Theatre & Dance
330-672-0113



-------------------------
Effie A. Tsengas
PR/Marketing Director
School of Theatre & Dance
330-672-0113
etsengas at kent.edu