[NEohioPAL]World Premiere of Ping Chong & Michael Rohd's BLIND NESS opens April 16

[ELISABETH MADDEN]

**For Immediate Release**

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.  BLIND NESS runs April 16 =96 25.  This world premiere is=20
brought to Kent State University by the Roe Green Visiting Director=20
Series.  This full-production, work-in-progress is being written and=20
directed by world-renowned directors Ping Chong and Michael Rohd. =20
Considered a multi-disciplinary theatre work, the piece can be=20
categorized as a prismatic exploration of the reverberations of=20
colonialism in Africa.  The production is based on a premise inspired=20
by Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (the same book on which the 70=92s=20
blockbuster movie Apocalypse Now was based); Arthur Conan Doyle's Crime=20
of the Congo; and Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost in addition to=20
other historical texts and archival 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.

Performances of BLIND NESS are April 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25=20
at 8 PM, April 17 at 2 PM and April 25 at 2:30 PM.  Tickets for BLIND=20
NESS can be ordered by calling 330-672-2497.   Adults - $25; Seniors,=20
Alums & KSU Faculty & Staff - $20; Students with a valid ID or under 18=20
- $7. Discount tickets are available for groups of ten or more.  The=20
School of Theatre & Dance Box Office is located in the Music & Speech=20
Center and is open 12 p.m. =96 5 p.m. Mondays =96 Fridays, 3 p.m. =96 7 p.m=
.=20
on Saturday during the run of the show.  School of Theatre & Dance=20
performances are Tuesday =96 Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. =20
The Box Office accepts Visa, MasterCard, 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 VIP reception with Ping Chong, Michael Rohd and the cast and=20
crew of BLIND NESS, following the performance.  For reservations or=20
more information call Elisabeth at 330-672-0103.


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