University of Iowa News Release

Sept. 3, 2004

Theater In Explosive Middle East Is Subject of Sept. 9 YAH Event

The University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts will present "Theatre International: Dramatic Perspectives on the Middle East," a free evening of poetry and drama beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, in Theatre B of the UI Theatre Building.

Part of the UI Year of the Arts and Humanities Opening Celebration, the event will feature readings by Palestinian writer and director Iman Aoun and Kia Corthron, an African-American playwright.

Corthron will present an excerpt from her latest play, "Moot the Messenger" which deals with journalists covering the war in Iraq.

Aoun, co-founder of the Astar Theatre Group in Ramallah, will read from her poetry and plays including "The Power Within" and "Me and My Shoe." 

The readings will be followed by a discussion, "Theatre in Times of Political Difficulty," led by Jewish-American playwright and UI theater faculty member Lisa Schlesinger.

The Department of Theatre Arts is a unit of the Division of Performing Arts in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

UI President David Skorton's determination to increase public awareness and support of the rich tradition of arts and humanities on campus and throughout Iowa led him to declare academic year 2004-2005 the Year of Arts and Humanities (YAH), a time to celebrate that rich tradition and forge cultural linkages between the academic community and communities around the state. The Year of the Arts and Humanities is supported by the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice-president for Research and the Graduate College.

For UI arts information and calendar updates, visit http://www.uiowa.edu/artsiowa. To receive UI arts news by e-mail, ur-acr@uiowa.edu.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Arts Center Relations, 300 Plaza Centre One, Suite 351, Iowa City, IA 52242-2500.

MEDIA CONTACT: Winston Barclay, 319-384-0073, winston-barclay@uiowa.edu.