Aitrs
Festival of New Works dra
attention to 'U' p1lywrite
Monda9, June 11, 2001-- The Michigan bail - 11
y Jenna Gerds
r the Daily
hen you think Broadway show,
at comes to mind? "Annie, Get
Your Gun,"
"Rent," "The
Summer of 42
Divided ..." Wait, "Sum-
ter of 42?" This
rueblood Theatre musical is
June 15-16 at8s p.m. scheduled to hit
Broadway next
season, but a
few people on
campus might
have already
een it. That's because "Summer of
2" owes at least a portion of its
uture success to the University of
ichigan's New Works Festival. The
lay debuted at the University, under
onstruction, in June of 1999 in the
estival's first year on campus.
The Festival of New Works, artis-
ally directed for three years by
ywright Frank Gagliano, helped
o showcase "Summer of 42" and
nany other plays, musicals and
creenplays in the last two years, and
sill continue to provide this special
nd unique opportunity in 2001. In
act, the Festival is the only vehicle
n the country for dramatic writing
hat undertakes production for all
hree forms of media in one season,
.nd Gagliano and his associate,
dary Lou Chlipala, have put a lot of
d, sweat and tears into this sum -
aers Festival.
Arthur Miller attended the Festival
n the summer of 1999 and said that
ie believes "... this kind of commit-
ment of the University of Michigan
to new plays can enhance the art of
dramatic writing in this country. I
hope it takes off and flies."
But don't buy tickets for this
year's upcoming plays expecting to
see a finished product. The element
of the Festival of New Works that
makes it so original is the fact that
the productions are in developmental
stages. It provides writers with a
venue to show their pieces in front of
an audience with professional actors
and directors so that they can see
what works and what needs a little
adjusting. Afterwards, there is an
audience discussion with the crew in
order to provide input about a show
that may eventually find its way into
a major production.
The plays go through an intense
ten-day rehearsal period, where a
majority of the people involved meet
for the first time and get ready for
two public performances in the
Freize building. This weekend's
show, "Divided," is a play written by
Tony award-winning playwright Mel
Stapiro and directed by Seth Gor-
don.
It has all the elements necessary
for a story of international intrigue:
A beautiful, brilliant scientist in love
with two men - one of whom mys-
teriously appears in her life riding a
shopping cart and putting her mar-
riage, career and life into jeopardy.
The plot centers around nuclear
waste disposal activism, radioactive
world threat and kidnapping in this
complex play heavily punctuated
with Shapiro's trademark wit.
Senior Sandra Abrevaya has a star-
ring role in "Divided", and, as a rare
added bonus, theater icon Zelda
Fichlander will be, speaking before
the June 15 performance.
Tickets are on sale now for the
Friday and Saturday performances in
the Trueblood Theatre at 8 p.m. for
those of you that want to experience
raw theater at its best.
ABBY ROSENBAUM/Daily
Eric Clapton plays to the crowd at the Palace on June 6, insisting this Is his last tour.
The show featured old favorites "Layla," "Sunshine of Your Love" and "Bell Bottom
Blues, along with an unconventional closing of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
AIM
A.STH. Mffik,
Physicians in your area are seeking subjects to participate in
a clinical research study to evaluate the safety and effective-
ness of a research medication for symptoms of asthma.
Participants must be:
* Generally healthy men or women between 18 and 70
years old
+ Symptoms of asthma reasonably controlled with use
of an albuterol or similar inhaler (Proventil*, Ventolin®)
* Able to complete 6-7 visits over 6-8 weeks
Study-related physical exams, breathing tests,
ECG's, study medication at no charge
Compensation for 8 completed visits is $320
INTERESTED?
Call ClinSite at 1-888-254-6748 toll-free,
or email us at clinsite@aol.com
Brighton, Ann Arbor, Plymouth