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March 25, 2003

'Ramona Quimby' comes to life in Loeb performance

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The upbeat family comedy "Ramona Quimby" will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, in Loeb Playhouse.

Admission is $10 for general public, $7 for Purdue students and children K-12. Tickets can be purchased at Purdue box offices or charged by phone at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. "Ramona Quimby" is presented by Purdue Convocations.

Based on the books by Newbery Award winner Beverly Cleary, and adapted by Obie Award winning playwright Len Jenkin, this hourlong Theatreworks/USA production has been popular with audiences across the country.

While definitely a comedy, the play also incorporates issues that touch on the lives of real kids and their families.

Ramona feels her life is a mess. She thinks her teacher hates her, older sister Beezus is a pain, Aunt Bea may marry a dork and her dad just lost his job. Growing up isn't easy, but with the help of her loving family and friends, Ramona takes on life's daily challenges and emerges victorious.

Cleary's books have earned her many awards, including the 1984 John Newbery Medal for "Dear Mr. Henshaw." Her "Ramona and Her Father" and "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" were named 1978 and 1982 Newbery Honor Books.

Playwright, screenwriter and director Jenkin's plays include "Dark Ride," "Pilgrims of the Night," "Nickel Dreams" and "American Notes." His works have been produced throughout the United States, as well as in England, Germany and Japan. He has been the recipient of many honors, including three Obie Awards for directing and playwriting, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a nomination for an Emmy Award and four NEA fellowships. He currently is a professor in the dramatic writing program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Theatreworks/USA, founded in 1961, is America's largest professional theater for young and family audiences. It is the recipient of three prestigious theater awards: the 1996 Drama Desk Award "for 35 years of providing quality entertainment to children – and their parents;" a 1996 Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding special achievement; and the 1998 William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence, given by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. Theatreworks has performed for approximately 54 million people in 49 states.

Originating with "Young Abe Lincoln," Theatreworks' current body of work consists of almost 100 plays and musicals created by both noted and fledgling playwrights, composers and lyricists.

CONTACT: Larry Sommers, Purdue Convocations, (765) 494-5045, lsommers@purdue.edu.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality photograph from "Ramona Quimby" is available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/ramona.jpeg.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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