Denison University's Department of Theatre will presentThe Booth Variations, a solo/multimedia performance piece, at 8 p.m. on May 10 and 11 in Ace Morgan Theatre. It is the collaborative work of three guest artists: writer Caridad Svich, actor/writer Todd Cerveris, and director Nick Philippou.

The play is based on the 19th century American actors Junius Brutus Booth and sons Edwin and John Wilkes. Centering on the Lincoln assassination, the piece comprises original text, source material, various works of fiction and non-fiction, letters, and theatrical texts.

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln, then leapt onto the stage and shouted Brutus's final words to Caesar,"Sic semper tyrannis!"("Thus always to tyrants!") His last performance quite literally stopped the show and, in a single act, fused his work and his life in a tradition of "life-as-art" which continues and thrives today.The Booth Variationsexamines the making of identity, the truth in the fictive, the authentic in illusion, and how an act of murder shaped a nation's character and psyche.

The piece is performed by NYC-based actor/writer Todd Cerveris, whose credits include work at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and La Jolla Playhouse. It is directed by British director and filmmaker Nick Philippou, who was artistic director of Actors Touring Company in London. Co-writer Caridad Svich has been the Jonathan R. Reynolds Playwright-in-Residence throughout the spring semester. The premiere of her playPerdita Graciawas staged during this residency.

Previously,The Booth Variationshas been supported through development at three NYC theatres: Blue Heron, Hourglass Group, and Voice & Vision. Reviews praised Cerveris as "a mesmerizing performer" and called the piece "a visually haunting work" and "a rich performance experience."

The production is free with open seating, but reservations are recommended. Call the Denison Theatre Box Office at (740) 587-6527.

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:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575