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LAWRENCE -- A special benefit performance of an award-winning original play by University of Kansas December 2002 graduate Adam Merker of Stilwell will be staged at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.
Merker's one-act "Fatherland," inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, originally was performed last October by KU's English Alternative Theatre in Lawrence. "Fatherland" has been selected for the regional competition of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Jan. 21 through 26.
Winners from the regional competition will be invited to perform in the national festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., April 14 through 20.
Set in a German battlefield toward the end of World War II, "Fatherland" questions who the enemy is in war. The cast includes three American soldiers and a young German prisoner who his captors learn really is an American. The captors find themselves turning into the enemy they are fighting.
The play also won recognition in the 2002 Association of Teachers in Higher Education play writing competion in July in San Diego. Merker's play also will be performed in February by students at the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy.
Merker said he began writing the play almost immediately following the Sept. 11 attacks. He had been writing a play for an assignment in a play writing course taught by Paul Lim, KU Conger-Gabel teaching professor of English and EAT artistic director.
After Sept. 11, Merker said, he rethought what he wanted to write about and chose to pose questions about war. Movies about WWII and his father's interest in history influenced his use of the war for his play, Merker said.
The Jan. 19 benefit performance will provide funds to take the play to the Region V competition in Cedar Falls, as well as offer area residents who have not yet seen this original play an opportunity to do so.
Proceeds from the $5 donations at the door will be used to help cover expenses for taking the play, the playwright and the 12-member cast and crew to the regional competition.
Jeremy Auman, KU alumnus of Lawrence, directs "Fatherland," and Jacqueline Grunau, Hillsboro sophomore, is the stage manager. The actors are KU students Chris Nelson and Colin Elliott, both of Lawrence, and KU alums Will Averill and Aron Carlson of Lawrence. Scenic and costume design is by Kaye Miller, KU alumna of Olathe, and lighting design is by Lee Saylor of Lawrence.
Lim has seen 12 of his student playwrights previously selected for the regional competition. Regional judges twice selected KU students' plays for performance in the national competition at the Kennedy Center.
The KU students working with this production of "Fatherland," their level in school and major, parents' names and high school alma mater when available are:
DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Colin Frederick Elliott, freshman in theatre and film and in classical languages, son of Robert and Dorice Elliott; Free State High School graduate; actor.
Christopher Nicholas Nelson, junior in English; Lawrence High School graduate; actor.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa and Stilwell
Adam Merker, December 2002 graduate in journalism in strategic communications, son of Randy Merker of Lenexa and of Patty Glass of Stilwell; Blue Valley High School graduate.
MARION COUNTY
From Hillsboro
Jacqueline Christine Grunau, sophomore in anthropology, daughter of Charles Grunau; stage manager.
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