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April 28, 2000

Purdue professor's play 'The Creature' emerges in May

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- An original play that re-examines the "Frankenstein" story comes to life at Purdue University's Experimental Theatre on May 19 and 20.

"The extension of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' story allows us to examine the question of how humans survive after they destroy their creator," said Richard Thomas, associate professor of theater at Purdue, who wrote the script for "The Creature."

Thomas' work involves three major themes:

  • A plot in which the creator is destroyed by the creature which he brought to life, leaving the creature to exist without the guidance of its creator.

  • A journey of human beings from birth through maturity.

  • A story of religion and human relationships with a god.

    A staged reading of "The Creature" will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20, in the Experimental Theatre, Stewart Center. All tickets are $5, available at the Loeb Box Office or by calling (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW.

Co-produced by Purdue Theatre, the Department of Computer Graphics and Elliott Hall of Music Productions, the staged reading incorporates an original music score and sophisticated computer graphic design elements.

The design team includes a number of Purdue faculty members and students, coordinated by art director Scott Meador, visiting assistant professor of graphics. Visual artists are Michael Lapato, Ryan Swindley, Lisa Pilgrim, Melissa Johnson, David Sigman, Van Phillips and Russ Jones.

Composers of the original music score are Thomas, Marc Loudon, Michael Kelsey, Dennis Leas, Yossi Marchaim and Carrie Newcomer.

Thomas' primary collaborators in the staged reading are Meador and Annette McGregor, a former Purdue faculty member. The staged reading will be performed by Richard Sullivan Lee, associate professor of theater, Kristine Holtvedt, associate professor of theater, and McGregor.

Thomas has devoted much of his time this semester to "The Creature" thanks to an appointment to the Purdue University Center for Artistic Endeavors.

CONTACT: Lori Sparger, Purdue Theatre marketing director, (765) 494-3084; theatre@purdue.edu

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