The Denison University Department of Theatre will present the world premier of “Departures,” written by Peter Pauzé, associate professor of theatre, at 8 p.m., on Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 12-14; and Monday through Thursday, Nov. 16-19, in the Ace Morgan Theatre in the Theatre Arts building (211 West College Street). Tickets are $8 for general admission, $5 for senior citizens and $4 for non-Denison students. To reserve seats and confirm information, contact 740-587-6527.

The story begins at 11:45 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the slowest travel day of the year. At an airport departure gate, 12 passengers (assisted by three airport employees) wait to board an overseas flight—some happily, some hesitantly, some unwillingly. In this new comedy by Pauzé, 15 minutes is all it takes for these 15 lives to intersect, intertwine, and be changed forever. “Departures” is a fast-paced jigsaw puzzle of a play that cheerfully explores life, death, God, personal identity, and the health benefits of chai tea latte.

Pauzé has directed and designed scenery and lighting for more than 40 productions at Denison. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in dramatic writing from the University of Georgia. His full-length play “Theatres of War” was a winner at the DeepSouth New Play Contest, and his play “Perpetual Present Tense,” produced at CATCO’s Shorts Festival in 2006, shared both CATCO’s “Best In Fest” award and the Central Ohio Theatre Critics Circle “Best New Work of the 2006-2007 Season” award. Pauzé is a teacher of theatre but also works as a professional scenic designer, lighting designer, actor, director and writer. In 2008 he was the recipient of an R.C. Good Fellowship from Denison, which enabled him to write “Departures.”

The “Departures” cast includes seniors James Merz II (Jefferson, Maine) and Natasha Wright (Aurora Colo.); juniors Katherine Damisch (Northbrook, Ill.) and Elizabeth Milo (Zelienople, Pa.); sophomores Maureen Coyne (Smryna, Ga.), Kaitlyn Grissom (Newark, Ohio), Drake Johnson (Vienna, Va.), Christopher Kozlowski (Wilton, Conn.), and Bradley Miller (Fishers, Ind.); and first-year students Lindsey Beetem (Athens, Ohio), Samuel Gorman (Cincinnati, Ohio), John Hewson (Upper Saddle River, N.J.), Alec Lee (Knoxville, Tenn.), Keith Mullings Jr. (New York, N.Y.), and Emily Schuman (New York, N.Y.). The play is directed by Jonathon Putnam, Vail artist-in-residence. Cynthia Turnbull, associate professor of theatre, is costume designer; Tamara Honesty, visiting assistant professor of theatre, is scenic designer; and Andrew Johns, technical director and assistant professor of theatre, is lighting designer. First-year student Sommer Ann McCullough (St. Charles, Ill.) is the stage manager.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville—The Denison Theatre Department presents the world premiere of “Departures” at 8 p.m., Thurs. to Sat., Nov. 12-14; and Mon. to Thurs., Nov. 16-19, in the Ace Morgan Theatre of the Theatre Arts building (211 West College Street). General admission is $8; senior citizens $5; and non-Denison students $4. To reserve seats and confirm information, contact 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