Date:
9/9/2004
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Scarlet Smith
PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University will present the 2004 annual Diversity Festival on Wednesday-Saturday, Sept. 15-18, at 8 p.m., and 2 p.m. matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18-19, in the Studio Theatre of the University Theatre Centre in Portales.
Two plays will be presented at each performance. Admission is $3, and the public is invited.
The Diversity Festival explores many types of issues. Three out of the four original plays are student written. Solomon Romney, a junior majoring in theatre with a minor in English, wrote "Came Tumbling After," a reality-driven play.
"The play is about a couple surviving in the real world. These are two very different individuals with many circumstances that they must work through to find solutions," said Romney.
The second play, "The Woman Inside," is a comedy written by Jennae Pinnell, a junior majoring in theatre performance with a minor in English. Pinnell said, "This comedy is the exploration of gender roles and stereotypes that society places upon people."
Another play is "Straightening Out," written by Joshua Aguirre, a senior majoring in theatre performance with a minor in fine arts. "A question which this play brings out is 'What is normal?' This play is about a young man trying to find his place in the world and trying to discover who he is in that world," said Aguirre.
The fourth play, a musical written by long-time theatre veteran Janeice Scarbrough, associate professor of theatre, is titled "Dooley."
"What is Faith?." Scarbrough asked. "Are there such things as miracles? This play shows odd and quirky people coming together to find spirituality. What they were looking for on the outside was on the inside all along," she said.
There will be a panel discussion after the performances to allow audience members to question and comment on these "hot" topics, according to Scarbrough.
For more information, call 505.562.2711.