The production, directed by Dru Pilmer, an IU Southeast theater lecturer, will be dedicated to Linda Brengle, a long-time associate theater professor on the New Albany campus, who died in December of cancer.

Proceeds from the 8 p.m. Thursday, March 3, preview performance of Crimes of the Heart will go to the Linda Brengle Memorial Scholarship fund.

“This is the best and most appropriate way to honor Dr. Brengle,” commented student and cast member Christopher Shiner, who plays Doc Porter. “This scholarship is for the students, which is what she was all about—her faith and support will continue to be our source of inspiration.” A reception will be at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Ogle Center.

The play also will be presented at 8 p.m. March 4, 5, 11 and 12, and at 2:30 p.m. March 6 and 13 in the Robinson Theatre of the Ogle Center. Tickets for all performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students, faculty, and senior citizens. To order tickets, call Ticketmaster at 502-361-3100, go online to www.ticketmaster.com or visit the Ogle Box Office on the New Albany campus.

Crimes of the Heart is the next show in a string of critical successes for the IU Southeast Theatre Department that have included Pilmer’s modern interpretation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dreamas well as other successful productions such as ne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Julius Caesar. Pilmer is back to tackle the hilarious story of the Magrath sisters and all of their dysfunctional family fun. Pilmer chose to perform Crimes of the Heart because she feels as though “it was time for a modern comedy in our programming, and I have always loved this play.”

Playwright Henley’s black comedy earned the Great American Play Award for its presentation by Actors’ Theatre of Louisville in 1978. It went on to earn the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best new American play and the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1981.

The story follows three sisters from Hazlehurst, Miss., who struggle with their own crises: a shrunken ovary, a husband who’s been shot and a failed singing career. Rebekah Dement of Pekin plays Lenny, Julie Streble of Louisville is Meg and Anna Saltsgaver of Paoli is Babe Botrelle.

The play brings Mississippi-native Pilmer closer to her roots and enables her to use her expertise in dialect in directing the cast. A lecturer at IU Southeast since 1998, Pilmer is one of a limited number of designated Linklater voice teachers in the country. She trained with New York’s Kristin Linklater and has been sought out by local television stations to coach on-air personalities.

Another unique component to the production is the original score for the production, composed by Erich Stem, assistant professor of music, and IU Southeast music student Jon Ledgerwood, who plays the tenor saxophone on the recording. Stem’s work has been featured on both regional and national radio programs.

For more information, contact Mindy Milburn at 812-948-5333 or 812-283-6915; E-mail: mmilburn@cityofnewalbany.