UNIVERSITY NEWS - MARCH 2005

MEDIA CONTACTS: Polly Burks
561-297-2595, pburks@fau.edu or
Stacia Smith
561-297-2971, ssmith@fau.edu
Images attached.

FAU's Theatre Department Presents "The Frogs"

BOCA RATON, FL (March 18, 2005) - Florida Atlantic University's School of the Arts presents a wild and raucous adaptation of Aristophanes' "The Frogs" beginning Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 17. The play will run in the University Theatre on FAU's Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Individual tickets may be purchased for $16, with group discounts available. FAU faculty, staff and alumni may purchase a ticket for $10 with ID, and FAU students may receive tickets for free with ID. Audiences should be aware that this play contains adult language and themes.

"The Frogs," which was written in 400 BC, has been adapted and is directed by Desmond Gallant, assistant professor of theatre at FAU. Gallant takes aim at current American society, placing well known contemporary figures in this story about combating the moral decay in the world. As the play opens, Dionysus, the god of theatre and bad behavior, worries about how to save the world. Deciding that good theatre is the key to a good society, he sets off on a rollicking ride down to the Underworld in search of Euripides, a playwright of extraordinary talent. Once his intentions are made public, a competition between the vain Euripides and his pushy playwriting competitor Aeschylus begins to determine who is the best playwright and deserves to return to save the world with Dionysus. Dionysus is cast as the reluctant judge of their contest as the war of wits and one-liners ensues.

"Aristophanes' original presentation of 'The Frogs' was full of ribald bawdiness and cutting satire," said Gallant. "We are continuing in his tradition by offering a fast-paced and irreverent comedy that pits an unlikely god against a host of others as they battle over words, wine, women and wickedness."

The play is presented by the School of the Arts' Department of Theatre in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at FAU, in partnership with Bank of America and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. Tickets may be purchased by calling 561-297-2977 or emailing artstickets@fau.edu, or they may be purchased at the event one hour prior to the performance. For more information about the play, call the arts update hotline at 561-297-2977 or visit www.fau.edu/artsupdate.

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