ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Thursday, March 1, 2007

By LIN RICE
ThisWeek Staff Writer

As part of International Women's Day on March 8, Gallery 202 Partners in Art will host an evening of staged readings of five short plays by women writers.

The readings will start at 7:30 p.m.. The event is being organized by the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute of The Ohio State University and will be co-directed by the institute's director, Dr. Alan Woods; Dr. Katherine Burkman, Emerita Professor of English at OSU; and Dr. Beth Kattelman, the institute's associate curator.

Gallery 202 president Renee Kropat said she has enjoyed working with the institute in the past.

"This will be the first time we've done anything to go along with International Women's Day, but OSU has worked with us before for our Evening With the Arts program," Kropat said. "The atmosphere at the gallery is conducive for these small plays."

According to information provided by Kropat, all five plays look at women and their relationships. Toronto playwright Shirley Barrie's 'Audience' explores the appeal of experimental theater through a married couple's relationship. Playwright Vicki Cheatwood examines the end of a long-term relationship in "The Last Time Cooper Took Midge Fishing." Salt Lake City writer Elaine Jarvik's play, "Dead Right," deals with a couple re-examining their marriage as the wife contemplates how she might be presented in her obituary. Writer Gerry Sanseviero, of New York City, presents sisters coping with age while trying to get service before a Broadway matinee in "Matinee Lunch" and central Ohio resident Katherine Burkman's play, "Geraldine and Jacob" tells a story of love in a gambling hall on a cruise -- the love between a slot machine and a gambler, according to Kropat.

International Women's Day has been recognized since 1909, Kropat added, and has been celebrated on March 8 since 1919. It has been recognized by the United Nations as a key support for the UN Charter's 1945 call for gender equality as a fundamental right.

Kropat said the event is free and open to the public, but registration is preferred because of limited space. Registrations can be made by calling 614-805-2329 or by e-mailing renee@gallery202online.com.