Denison University Theatre concludes its 2000-2001 season with the premiere production of "Rewrites," a new play by the Jonathan R. Reynolds Playwright-in-Residence, Lee Blessing. "Rewrites" is a darkly comic play dealing with art, ownership and reality television. A second Blessing play, "Eleemosynary," will alternate productions with "Rewrites" for a one/two theatrical punch. This play is a sentimental drama about a spelling whiz-kid who spins an engaging tale of how she grew, because of, and in spite of, her grandmother and mother.

"Rewrites" premieres at 8 p.m. on April 6 and repeats on April 10, 12, 14, 18 and 20 in Ace Morgan Theatre. "Eleemosynary" opens at 8 p.m. on April 7 and plays on April 11, 13, 17, 19 and 21 also in Ace Morgan Theatre. Tickets for "Rewrites" or "Eleemosynary" are $9 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $4 for students of all ages. Season subscribers may see both plays at no additional cost. Call (740) 587-6527 to reserve tickets and for more information.

Blessing has written numerous works for stage, film and television. His most noted play is "A Walk in the Woods," which ran on Broadway, in Moscow and in London with the late Sir Alec Guinness. It also played on PBS'sAmerican Playhouse. A prize-winning drama, it also will be produced at Denison as a theatre II senior project. It will be directed by seniors Sean Bill (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Joe Miller (Quarryville, Pa.) with performances at 8 p.m. on April 26 and 28 in Burke Hall Theatre.

Author of over a dozen plays, Blessing has won the American Theater Critics Award and the George and Elisabeth Marton Award, along with numerous Drama-Logue Awards. His play "Cobb", about baseball's Ty Cobb, was produced in New York this past spring. Other works include "Patient A", "Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music," "The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid" and the post-"Hamlet" fantasy "Fortinbras", which Time magazine called Blessing's "splendid musing on the most influential play in the English language."

"Eleemosynary" won a 1997 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award. Blessing has received grants from the NEA as well as the Guggenheim, Bush, McKnight and Jerome foundations and has published two collections of his plays. His plays have been performed at the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference (Waterford, Conn.) in six different summer seasons and his TNT film "Cooperstown" won the Humanitas Prize and three nominations for Cable Ace Awards, including best screenplay.

Both "Rewrites" and "Eleemosynary" are directed by Assistant Professor Robert Gander. Designing the production are Associate Professor Peter Pauze, scenery and lighting, and Vail Artist-in-Residence Devon Painter, costumes.

"Rewrites" features seniors Joe Miller as Pryor, Sarah Weyant (Lisbon) as Joy, Sean Bill as Lyle, junior Jennifer Hulbert (Louisville, Ky.) as Merce and sophomores Dianna Craig (Ashland, Ky.) as Dulcie and Jason Seltzer (Pittsburgh, Pa.) as Worth. Seniors Hillary Smith (Zionsville, Ind.) and Andrew Levitt (Columbus) assist the production as stage manager and assistant director respectively.

"Eleemosynary" features seniors Meredith Zinsser (Mentor) as Dorothea and Shelby Mattingly (Louisville, Ky.) as Artie and junior Evan Flowers (Delaware) as Echo. Other students helping with the production are freshman Jennie McInnis (Antrium, N.H.) as the stage manager and senior Andrew Levitt as the assistant director.

Another senior theatre project is a production of "Stages," directed by Mary Reichert (Bedford) and Sarah Weyant. It presents scenes and monologues of women through different stages of their lives and will be performed at 8 p.m. on April 25 and 27 in Ace Morgan Theatre. Senior theatre project performances are free and open to the public and tickets can be reserved by calling the theatre box office.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

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(740) 587-8575