University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

April 10, 2001

Contact: Bryant Payne, (312) 355-2523, bpayne2@uic.edu

Editors: Photos available upon request

UIC'S INTERNATIONAL THEATER EXCHANGE PROGRAM BEGINS

Russia's most provocative theater company-the Theatre of Moscow Southwest-returns by popular demand to the University of Illinois at Chicago with four timeless masterworks: "The Seagull," "Dostoyevsky Trip," "Caligula" and "The Master and Margarita."

All plays will be performed in Russian with simultaneous English translation available at the UIC Theatre, 1044 W. Harrison St., from April 11 to 22.

"The Theatre of Moscow Southwest has developed an impressive repertoire of more than 30 plays that run the gamut of styles, periods and national literatures," said Neal McCollam, events administrator for the UIC department of performing arts. "We anticipate that the performances by the Theatre of Moscow Southwest, with its 25 years of experience and new-found artistic freedom, will leave audiences breathless."

This spring, a cast and crew of 30 UIC students and faculty will travel to Russia to perform Thornton Wilder's American classic "Our Town" at the Theatre of Moscow Southwest. While in Russia, the students will also attend classes along with their Russian counterparts and participate in the International Theatre Olympic Festival as part of UIC's International Theater Exchange program.

"This international exchange allows our students to gain a broader perspective of the world, and to promote their studies through performances of their works at various schools in Moscow and at the prestigious Theatre of Moscow Southwest," said William Raffeld, associate professor of theater, who is also principally responsible for developing UIC's exchange program.

Led by artistic director Valery Beliakovich, the Theatre of Moscow Southwest performances are:

April 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. "The Seagull" by Anton Chekhov

April 14 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. "Dostoyevsky Trip" by Vladimir Sorokin
April 15 at 2 p.m.

April 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. "Caligula" by Albert Camus

April 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov
April 21 and 22 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for UIC students, $14 for UIC faculty and staff and $20 for the general public. For ticket information and reservations, contact the UIC Theatre at 996-2939. Early reservations recommended.

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