(Posted October 22, 2001)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- "The Body of Mystery, Part I," a play that interprets stories from the Old and New Testament and other Judeo-Christian traditions through dance and movement will debut Oct. 25-27 at 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. each night in the Rosenberger Auditorium in Oller Hall on the Juniata College campus.

Tickets for all performances are available at the information desk in the Ellis College Center lobby or at the door before each night's performances. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for students. For tickets, please call (814) 641-3333.
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Written, produced and directed by Andrew Belser, associate professor of theatre at Juniata, "The Body of Mystery" is a movement/dance piece based on Judeo-Christian myths and stories. The text of the production is adapted from the work of several contemporary poets, including Rainer Maria Rilke, Johann Goethe and Wendell Berry.

The production's dance elements will be based on contact improvisation, a movement discipline in which the dance is not choreographed, but improvised while at least one or more of the dancers remain in contact with each other. It has been described as "a postmodern folk dance" style of movement.

Belser has directed more than 30 theatre productions at professional and university theatres including "The Member of the Wedding," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Anything Goes." He has been director of the Juniata Theatre program since 1997.

The cast each plays various roles in the production. Cast members are: Paul Blore, a freshman from Philadelphia; Megan Brown, a senior from Princeton Junction, N.J.; Jennifer Colland, a senior from Irwin, Pa.; Brandi Martin, a freshman from Warren, Pa.; Raina Miller, a sophomore from Millington, Md.; Taro Shibuya, a sophomore from Tokyo, Japan; and Evelyne Smith, an international student from France.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.