Jan. 15, 2008

Contact Janet McLean at 608-796-3792 or jemclean@viterbo.edu

VITERBO THEATRE DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE JAN. 31–FEB. 2

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo theatre department will present the dramatic reading My Name is Rachel Corrie in the Fine Arts Center La Croix Black Box Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31–Saturday, Feb. 2.

Audiences will be touched by My Name is Rachel Corrie, the story of the 23-year-old peace activist who was killed in the Gaza Strip by an Israeli army bulldozer in March 2003.

Rachel Corrie was a student at Evergreen State College in her hometown of Olympia, Wash., and a member of the International Solidarity Movement. She was engaged in nonviolent protest, attempting to protect the lives and homes of innocent Palestinian families. Corrie’s diaries and emails were edited by British Journalist Katherine Viner and actor and director Alan Rickman.

Viterbo will present the play as a dramatic reading with students Joann Oudekerk, Kerri Peters, and Jessica Severance portraying Corrie’s voice and Cara Kulver serving as the narrator.

“What shines through Rachel’s words is her passionate desire to be an agent of positive change in the world,” said Janet McLean, theatre faculty member and director of the performances. “Her idealism may have gotten her killed, but her ardent belief in the inherent goodness of man and that each of us can make the world a better place is inspiring and uplifting.”

Tickets are $10 for general admission seating. For more information, contact the Viterbo University box office at 608-796-3100 or www.viterbo.edu/finearts1.aspx.