stereotyping," she recalls. "Then, I
went to college and wrote a coming-of-
age comedy in my sophomore year."
An English major at the time, Yaged
got the name of a playwriting professor
and left her script in his mailbox. To her
surprise, she soon got positive feedback,
was invited to enroll in his class and
changed the direction of her studies.
Yaged, a two-time Hopwood Award
winner, has had her short stories and
poems included in anthologies pub-
lished by Ballantine Books, Cleis Press
and Arsenal Pulp Press. Of the dozen
works she has written for the stage,
five have had full productions at the-
aters including the Performance
Network in Ann Arbor, API Theatre
in Kalamazoo and the Diego Rivera
Theatre in San Francisco.
"I spent the summer of '98 with
my parents, and so many people they
knew were getting cancer," Yaged
explains about the origin of her play.
"All of a sudden, monologues would
come into my head, and I realized
they were spoken by characters."
S'lichot, which shows how people
often turn to religion in crisis, is very
different from Yaged's earlier projects,
which were women-centered. The
playwright connected with the Hebrew
name in the way that her characters are
trying to connect with religion. She
feels connected to her religious back-
ground each time she meets a Jewish
person and senses an unspoken bond.
"I recently went to services out of
curiosity," Yaged reveals. "I found
great beauty and power, but they did-
n't resonate with me. Women are sub-
ordinate in religion, and I have a
problem with that."
Although Yaged devotes as much
time as possible to her writing, she has
started a student group, Art Matters,
to raise interest in the arts and pro-
mote funding. Members go into
schools and pass out literature. At the
end of March, they will observe Art
Matters Week by taking sculptures on
campus, decorating them and calling
attention to their ideas.
"Art should be an entitlement," says
Yaged, who has worked in advertising
but is uncertain of the direction she
will take after college.

At the Southfield Fbvilion

26000 Evergreen Road
Southfield, Michigan
Fri 2-9
Sat 12-8 •Sun

An Extraordinary Show and Sale
of Antiques and Accessories
for the Home, the Garden
and Personal Adornment.
An Antiques Show and Sale
Tailored Just for You, Your Taste
and Superb Sense of Style.

Southfield Civic Center

,,,n Southfield
k...3 Pavilion

Additional Info:
www.anticinet.com/M&M

Authentic Indian Cuisine

DELICIOUS!! MOUTHWATERING!!
• South Indian Specials
• Cocktails Available
• Catering For All Occasions

when a 2nd menu item of equal or
greater value is purchased

Not good with any other offer. Exp. March 31, 2000
Valid Anytime • Dine In Only

5566 DRAKE ROAD (Formerly Old Mexico) • Corner

of Walnut Lake Rd.

❑

S'lichot will be performed at 8 p.m.
Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m.
Sundays, March 23-April 2, at the
Trueblood Theatre in the Frieze
Building at the corner of State and
Washington in Ann Arbor. S14/
S7 students. (734) 764-0450.

THE GALLERY RESTAURANT

I
e

Enjoy gracious dining amid a beautiful
atmosphere of casual elegance

4i

04 )
BREAKFAST ' LUNCH v DINNER 4
kih.. OP EN 7 DAYS: MON.- SAT. 7 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. SUN. 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.

(

West Bloomfield Plaza • 6638 Telegraph Road and Maple • 248-851-0313

)

41111

jli
...m.v
ft ■ .----

-Villi
nimim

3/17
2000

87

