Kent, OH – The School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University continues its 2014-2015 season with the premiere of new musical “My Heart is the Drum" and the concert version of "Bonnie & Clyde." "My Heart is the Drum" opens Fri., Feb. 20 and runs through Sun., March 1. "Bonnie and Clyde: In Concert" runs Feb. 23-25, 2015. Both productions will take place in E. Turner Stump Theatre, located in the Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent, OH 44242.
For tickets call 330-672-ARTS (2787), purchase online at www.kent.edu/theatredance or in person at the Performing Arts Box Office located in the Roe Green Center lobby of the Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Drive, Mon. – Fri., Noon to 5 pm beginning Jan. 21, 2015. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for Kent State University alumni, faculty and staff, $14 for seniors (60+) and non-Kent State students age 18 and under are $10. Tickets for full-time, Kent campus undergraduates are free of charge. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $12 per person. The box office accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, checks, and cash.
With book by Jennie Redling, concept and music by Phillip Palmer and lyrics by Stacey Luftig, “My Heart is the Drum” is a modern musical exploring a young woman’s dreams. When 16-year-old Efua Kuti’s dream of attending university is complicated by her arranged marriage, she worries she will never see the world beyond her small village in Ghana. Guided by her grandmother’s spirit, Efua finds herself in Ghana’s capital city and realizes that she will have to follow her heart and her head to persevere, survive and achieve her dreams.
“My Heart is the Drum” features African-influenced driving rhythms and rich vocal harmonies and was presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals in 2013. Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance received a 2014 Writers Residency Grant from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, of which the school is a member, to bring the musical’s creators to campus to workshop the production. “My Heart is the Drum” was also developed in part at the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals and was presented at Village Theatre's 2014 Festival of New Musicals in Issaquah, Washington.
“My Heart is the Drum” is directed by Terri Kent, professor and musical theatre coordinator and producing artistic director of Porthouse Theatre. The production and design team includes music direction by associate professor Jonathan Swoboda, choreography by assistant professor MaryAnn Black, lighting design by professor and acting associate dean Cynthia Stillings, scenic design by Ben Williams, costume design by Susan Williams, technical direction by associate professor Steve Pauna, and sound design by Shane Cutlip and assistant professor Charles Korecki. The production stage manager is Cullen Motak.
"Bonnie and Clyde: In Concert" follows lovers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow whose wild and shameless behavior rivets the nation at the height of the Great Depression. On the run from the law, they resort to murder and robbery to survive. Caught in a downward spiral, Bonnie and Clyde meet their inevitable end in one of America’s most famous shootouts. Now everyone knows their criminal love story.
With music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black and book by Ivan Menchell, this special concert production of "Bonnie & Clyde" is directed by professor Daniel R. Nadon. Music direction is by assistant professor Jennifer Korecki, the assistant director is Abbey Matye, lighting design is by Cyndi Hoffman, and the production stage manager is Hannah Graham.
For more information on Kent State’s 2014-2015 season, please visit www.kent.edu/theatredance.
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Media Contact: Joni Koneval, 330-672-0116, jkoneval@kent.edu