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U-Mary Readers Theater to Present ‘Tales from Ireland: Shamrocks, Fairies & Princes’

Presented by University of Mary

February 17-February 18, 2011

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Bismarck, ND—With St. Patrick’s Day close at hand, the University of Mary, America’s Leadership University has chosen an Irish theme for its 2011 readers theater presentation. Oral interpretation students will perform adaptations of Irish poetry, short stories, and old Irish tales on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m., and on Friday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m., in Arno Gustin Hall on the U-Mary campus.

“With such a wealth of great material to choose from and the time-honored tradition of Irish storytelling, this genre was a natural for a readers theater presentation,” says Associate Professor of Communication Bev Huschka, director. “From ‘The Happy Prince,’ a short story by Oscar Wilde, to poetry by James Joyce (‘I Hear an Army’) and William Allingham (‘The Fairies’), to old Irish tales and familiar pieces such as the Celtic blessing, ‘May the Road Rise Up to Meet You,’ the performance has something to delight and bring out the Irish in everyone!”

Performed by the students in Huschka’s oral interpretation class, “Tales from Ireland”” is designed to bring a taste of Irish culture to the community through the unique medium of readers theater, while also providing an opportunity for the students to take part in an actual production.

Readers theater differs from traditional platform theatre in that it is a “theater of the mind.” Instead of the trappings and spectacle associated with platform theater, readers theater uses minimal props and costuming, with performers engaging with the audience to enable them to create and visualize the settings and images in their minds.

This year’s Irish theme ties in with other spring semester events on the U-Mary campus, including:

• A March 9-11 visit from Irish literary scholar and poet Ed Madden, winner of the South Carolina Poetry Book Prize, who will host a poetry-writing workshop and give a public lecture on Irish literature.


• An Evening of Irish Festivities, March 17-19, featuring two one-act Irish plays and Irish music, dance, and refreshments.

• And a May study tour to Ireland

“Tales from Ireland: Shamrocks, Fairies & Princes” is free and the public is welcome. Reservations are not required.

For information about the readers theater presentation or U-Mary’s other Irish events, or to arrange interviews, contact Tom Ackerman at tackman@umary.edu or (701) 355-8002.