'A Patch of Earth' To Be Staged at Roger Williams University

BRISTOL, RI (03/12/2011)(readMedia)-- Playwright Kitty Felde's "A Patch of Earth" will make its debut at the Roger Williams University Performing Arts Center this April.

Felde's drama is inspired by the story of a young, guilt-ridden soldier who pleaded guilty to war crimes because of his participation in the 1995 Srebrenica Massacre, during which more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serbian forces. The soldier, Drazen Erdemovic, was forced to shoot or to be shot. Felde, a radio journalist, covered his trial and filed daily reports from The Hague. The facts of the case are true, and several scenes from the play are taken directly from transcripts of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

"This play raises difficult questions about right and wrong and examines the extremes of humanity," says Robin Stone, assistant professor of theatre at RWU and director of the production. "Not only are the themes and conflicts of the play extremely relevant and thought-provoking, but this script offers an opportunity for student actors to explore a very theatrical and dynamic style of expression. Kitty Felde's script combines beautiful visual and aural abstractions with intensely realistic dialogue, creating a sense of universality in identifying the human anguish in the context of recent historical events."

Performances will run April 15, 16, 28, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and April 17 at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, located on the University's Bristol campus at One Old Ferry Road.

Tickets cost $10 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. To reserve tickets, call the Theatre Box Office at (401) 254-3666. More information can be found on the RWU Theatre website: http://departments.rwu.edu/theatre.

About RWU: Roger Williams University is a leading independent, coeducational liberal arts university at which students live and learn to be global citizens. With 41 academic programs and an array of co-curricular activities on its Bristol, R.I., campus, RWU is committed to its mantra of learning to bridge the world. In the last decade, the University has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes and continues to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ten educational institutions in its class.