CWRU's Department of Theater Arts continues its 2002-2003 season at Eldred Theater with the award-winning play "Picnic" by William Inge.

Performances will take place at 8 p.m. February 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 with two Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. February 16 and 23.

Joseph Fahey, CWRU Department of Theater faculty member and "Picnic" director, said that while we "seldom talk about Inge, his best work can share the stage with [Tennessee] Williams and [Arthur] Miller." Inge won the Pulitzer Prize, The Drama Critic Circle Award, The Outer Circle Award and The Theater Club Award for Picnic.

The play's acting ensemble consists of both graduate and undergraduate theater students, the result of which will be "a good way to see the best of what the department does in terms of training," Fahey said.

Set and lighting design is by Russ Borski, associate professor of theater arts, with costume design by part-time lecturer, Kathleen Burke Clay, a recent CWRU alumna who also serves as costume shop manager for Eldred Theater. Catherine Albers, associate professor of Theater Arts, joined the production team as an acting coach in the Michael Chekhov technique, and CWRU student Rachel Westropp served as stage manager for the production.

Inge's play, written in 1953, takes place in the adjoining back yards of two widows, Flo Owens and Helen Potts. Flo lives with her two blossoming young daughters and a spinster school teacher who boards with them, and Helen lives with her invalid mother. When Hal Carter—a vital and passionate if misguided young man—enters their lives, each woman's world changes for better or for worse.

Inge's personal background bears a strong influence on this play. Having grown up in the small town of Independence, Kan., Inge believed that "big people come out of small towns" and felt grateful for the opportunity to grow up in Independence because "it gave me a knowledge of people and a love of people." "Picnic," a sensitive drama about those very people, comes directly out of Inge's knowledge and love of them.

For ticket reservations or information, call the Eldred Theater Box Office at (216) 368-6262. General admission is $10, with discounted prices of $7 for adults over 60 and University personnel and a rate of $5 for students.