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LAWRENCE -- Two plays questioning war -- a classic written by Euripides more than 2,000 years ago and produced at the University of Kansas this fall and an original inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks written by a KU student -- have been selected for regional theatre competition performances in January.
"Iphigenia at Aulis," a tragedy by Euripides, and "Fatherland," a one-act original play by KU December 2002 graduate Adam Merker of Stilwell, were selected for the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival competition, Jan. 21 through 26 at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Both plays pose questions about the nature and costs of war.
The cast and crew of these plays and the playwright of "Fatherland" will be among 20 KU students attending the regional competition. Five of the students are competing as playwrights from the KU English department and 15 are from KU's theatre and film department.
Winners from the regional events will be eligible to compete nationally at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., April 14 through 20.
A company of eight KU theatre students will perform "Iphigenia at Aulis" in six performances Jan. 24 and 25 in Cedar Falls. Originally staged for KU's Inge Theatre Series last fall, the Greek classic examines sacrifice and the human cost of war.
Sara K. Armstrong, Cushing, Okla., graduate student who directs "Iphigenia," said the play's questions "sadly, are still very much relevant in today's society." Although Armstrong staged a contemporary production influenced by the ritual performance styles of ancient Greek tradition, she said she feels the play could have been set "anytime and anywhere there are men who cannot reconcile their differences."
Merker's play, written immediately after Sept. 11, poses questions about who becomes the enemy in war. Merker and a 12-member cast and crew of both KU students and alumni will produce the play at the regional competition. In addition, a special benefit performance of "Fatherland" will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Four KU student playwrights were selected for the 10-minute play category. Paul Lim, KU Conger-Gabel teaching professor of English and artistic director for the English Alternative Theatre at KU, said that of the eight 10-minute plays selected for the regional competition this year, half were written by KU students. Judges selected the eight plays from a field of 97 submissions. One play will be selected by the regional judges for the national KCACTF competition in April.
All five of the student playwrights wrote their works as students in Lim's Beginning Playwriting class. In past years, two of Lim's students have won national recognition at KCACTF and had their works performed at the Kennedy Center.
KU's University Theatre entered eight productions in the KCACTF this year, either as participating or associate entries. Only participating entries are eligible for selection for the regional festival. For each production entered, two to three cast members are selected for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition by the KCACTF respondent viewing the production and the director of the show. Ten KU theatre students are competing in the Irene Ryan competition in Iowa.
KU students competing are as follows. Hometown information includes each student's name, level in school, major, parents' names when available; high school alma mater when available; and competition entry.
BARTON COUNTY
From Great Bend
Robert Carlton "Bobby "Sloan III, junior in theatre and film, son of Robert and June Sloan; "Where to, Turelu?" actor.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Eudora
Emily Jane Elder, senior in theatre design; "Iphigenia at Aulis" scenic designer.
From Lawrence
Colin Frederick Elliott, freshman in theatre and film and in classical languages, son of Robert and Dorice Elliott; Free State High School graduate; "Fatherland" actor.
Julia Hardin, junior in theatre and voice, daughter of Richard and Virginia Hardin; Free State High School graduate; "Where to, Turelu?" actor.
Ashley Kay Lafond, junior in theatre and film, daughter of Mark and Alea Lafond; Free State High School graduate; "Iphigenia at Aulis" choreographer.
Christopher Nicholas Nelson, junior in English; Lawrence High School graduate; "Fatherland" actor.
Paul Shoulberg, senior in theatre and film; Lawrence High School graduate. He wrote "The Smog Also Rises," a 10-minute play about an ephipany in a young couple's relationship when circumstances force them to acknowledge the true motives for their involvement. A big-name movie star has offered to buy the rights to a manuscript the young man in the relationship has written.
Christopher Warren Wheatley, junior in theatre and film, son of Katherine Pryor; Free State High School graduate; "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" actor.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa
Brian H. Diltz, senior in theatre design, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Diltz; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School graduate; "Iphigenia at Aulis" lighting designer.
From Lenexa and Stilwell
Adam Merker, December 2002 graduate in journalism in strategic communications, son of Randy Merker of Lenexa and Patty Glass of Stilwell; Blue Valley High School graduate; "Fatherland" writer.
From Overland Park
Joseph "Joe" E. Boothe, December 2002 graduate in English, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Boothe; Shawnee Mission South High School graduate; "Iphigenia at Aulis" actor.
Megan Frances Carter, sophomore in theatre and film and in English, daughter of Craig and Roni Carter; Blue Valley Northwest High School graduate; "Iphigenia at Aulis" actor.
Joseph M. Plese, senior in education majoring in language arts and social studies, son of Mr. and Mrs. Demund Plese; Shawnee Mission West High School graduate; "Iphigenia at Aulis" actor.
MARION COUNTY
From Hillsboro
Jacqueline Christine Grunau, sophomore in anthropology, daughter of Charles Grunau; "Fatherland" stage manager.
SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Kelly Corine Mengelkoch, senior in theatre and film, daughter of Richard and Sheryl Mengelkoch; Wichita East High School graduate; "You Never Can Tell" actor.
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Hannah F. Ballou, senior in theatre and film, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Ballou; Topeka High School graduate; "Iphigenia at Aulis" choreographer.
Tim D. Macy, senior in English, son of Rocky Macy. He wrote "Attack of the Asians," a 10-minute play focused on an older couple with debilitating illnesses whose children tend to disregard their parents once the children have financial and emotional independence. Macy's experiences working in a Topeka restaurant with older patrons, "literally holding one another up, trying to maintain some foothold in fast-paced society," inspired his topic.
MINNESOTA
From Eden Prairie
Maureen "Mo" Perry, senior in linguistics, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Perry; graduate of Benilde-St. Margaret's High School in St. Louis Park; "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" actor.
OKLAHOMA
From Cushing
Sara K. Armstrong, master's degree student in theatre and film; "Iphigenia at Aulis" director and costume and sound designer.
From Tulsa
Matthew Ross Greer, junior in journalism in strategic communications, son of Michael and Becky Greer; Union High School graduate; "You Never Can Tell" actor.
TEXAS
From Amarillo
Kristin Soper, senior in English, daughter of Mike and Heather Soper; Amarillo High School graduate. She wrote "Ketchup," a 10-minute play focusing on an elderly man reflecting on his life. Soper based the play on the lives of her grandparents, the late David Davidson and Ruth Davidson of Amarillo. The couple met as young adults in Columbus, Kan., and lived most of their adult lives in New Mexico before moving to Amarillo.
BRAZIL
From Rio de Janeiro
Carol Dias da Silva, junior in English, daughter of Joao Carlos Dias da Silva and Rosaria Gomes Dias da Silva. She wrote "One Last Time," a 10-minute play about how people deal with their addictions and how they react to unexpected situations. The action takes place in a bar after it has closed and focuses on a customer struggling to quit smoking and a gay waiter who is flirting with him.
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