[NEohioPAL]World Premiere of BLIND NESS: The Irresistible Light of Encounter opens April 16

[ELISABETH MADDEN]

Ping Chong and Michael Rohd=92s World Premiere Production of BLIND NESS:=20
The Irresistible Light of Encounter Opens at Kent State University=20
April 16th

Kent, Ohio =96 Kent State University=92s School of Theatre & Dance=20
celebrates its 20th anniversary with the world premiere of Ping Chong=20
and Michael Rohd=92s production of BLIND NESS: The Irresistible Light of=20
Encounter.  This world premiere is brought to Kent State University by=20
the Roe Green Visiting Director Series.  This full-production,=20
work-in-progress is being written and directed by world-renowned=20
directors Ping Chong and Michael Rohd.  Considered a multi-disciplinary=20
theatre work, the piece can be categorized as a prismatic exploration=20
of the reverberations of colonialism in Africa.  The production is=20
based on a premise inspired by Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (the=20
same book on which the 70=92s blockbuster movie Apocalypse Now was=20
based); Arthur Conan Doyle's Crime of the Congo; and Adam Hochschild's=20
King Leopold's Ghost in addition to other historical texts and archival=20
materials.=20

BLIND NESS features an ensemble of 17 actors, including two Actor=92s=20
Equity Association union actors - Bobby Bermea and Kent State Theatre=20
Alum, Jeff Randall; co-director Michael Rohd; veteran actor M. Burke=20
Walker of Manhattan, NY; along with 13 Kent State University School of=20
Theatre & Dance graduate and undergraduate students.  This work has=20
been referred to as a =93poetic documentary=94 by Ping Chong, and will be=
=20
=93like nothing audiences have ever seen.=94  The unique feature of BLIND=
=20
NESS is it incorporates live performers with shadow puppetry, projected=20
images and text, unique sounds, and dance.=20

=93This is adventurous theatre about racism, money and conscience,=94 said=
=20
Co-Writer and Director Michael Rohd.  =93It=92s basically the story of=20
history=92s first CEO (Leopold - a Belgium King) as he battles history=92s=
=20
first mass media human rights campaign.=94

After its development and premiere at Kent State University, BLIND NESS=20
will be presented in June 2004 at La MaMa Theatre in New York City and=20
will then tour.

The cast includes:

Bobby Bermea* =09=09=09
Jeff Randall*=09=09=09
Michael Rohd=09=09=09
M. Burke Walker=09=09
Yolanda Christine Davis=09=09=09
Hollis J. Hayden, Jr.=09=09
Caleb J. Sekeres                           =20
Amanda Soden  =20
                       =20
Kaitlyn Black=09                          =09
Angeline Wynn=20
Grace Connolly=20
Leona Fabanich
Ernie Gonzalez
Nick Horton
David Jenkins
Terrell Richardson, Jr
Jennifer Rose=09

Among the talented artistic staff of Ping Chong & Company is puppet=20
designer Stephen Kaplin who has designed, built and performed with all=20
types of puppets, masks and shadows for nearly 25 years.  Kaplin=92s=20
credits include creating puppet sequences for Julie Taymor=92s Lion King,=
=20
The Green Bird, Juan Darien, The Magic Flue and Liberties Taken.  The=20
shadow puppetry incorporated throughout the production, is a carry-over=20
of Chong=92s puppet theatre works, Obon and Kwaidan, which have toured=20
nationally and internationally. =20

Additionally, the artistic staff includes Costume Designer, Stefani=20
Mar; Set & Lighting Designer, Randy Ward; and Sound Designer, Steve=20
Zapytowski, Sr.  In addition, Kent State undergraduate and graduate=20
students will have key production positions, working side-by-side with=20
these professional artists.=20

Tickets for BLIND NESS can be ordered by calling 330-672-2497.   Adults=20
- $25; Seniors, Alums & KSU Faculty & Staff - $20; Students with a=20
valid ID or under 18 - $7. Discount tickets are available for groups of=20
ten or more.  The School of Theatre & Dance Box Office is located in=20
the Music & Speech Center and is open 12 p.m. =96 5 p.m. Mondays =96=20
Fridays, 3 p.m. =96 7 p.m. on Saturday during the run of the show. =20
School of Theatre & Dance performances are Tuesday =96 Saturday at 8 p.m.=
=20
and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.  The Box Office accepts Visa, MasterCard,=20
Discover and personal checks.=20

A special School of Theatre & Dance 20th Anniversary Benefit will be=20
held on Friday, April 23 in the Music & Speech Building on Kent State=20
University Main Campus.  Tickets are $75 for individuals or $125 a=20
couple.  Cost includes a ticket to see BLIND NESS and admittance to a=20
catered reception following the performance.  For reservations or more=20
information call 330-672-0103.


BLIND NESS: The Irresistible Light of Encounter is presented by The Roe=20
Green Visiting Director Series.
=09=09=09=09=09###


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