Purdue University North Central Communication 240 students will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Potpourri of Literature Readers' Theatre on Tuesday, April 22 at 11 a.m. and Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Assembly Hall, Room 02. The program is free and open to the public. It will last about one hour.
The Potpourri of Literature Readers' Theatre program has been an annual feature on the PNC campus since its 1989 debut as a showcase for students in Communication 240, Introduction to Oral Interpretation. While the theme of the program changes annually and reflects various moods, trends and social issues of the day, the program is built around literature and music of varying genres that illustrate the program theme from different perspectives.
This year's edition of "Potpourri of Literature 2014" is aptly named "Memories: Journey Through 25 Years (1989-2014)" with an original script written and edited by Dr. Daniel Padberg, associate professor of Communication, who teaches the Communication 240 class.
This year's program will feature three sections: "Times and Struggles of Life," "Love: Romantic, Family, Country" and "Life's Decisions, Actions and Meaning."
Students in the Communication 240 Introduction to Oral Interpretation class are Cassie M. Carlson, LaPorte; Sharon C. Coleman, Michigan City; Cynthia DeSantiago, LaPorte; Latasha S. Dixon, LaPorte; Darren G. Fisher, Jr., South Bend; Raven M. Jackson, Michigan City; Jonathan W. Levendoski, LaPorte; Alex M. May, Westville; Michael S. Piet, Valparaiso; Tiffany M. Sydow, Michigan City; Kasey N. Tanksley, Michigan City; Brittany T. Tobey-Elston, LaCrosse and Meagan N. Ziller, Portage Township.
To obtain further information, contact Padberg at 785-5200, ext. 5384. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Padberg.
Programs presented during the past 25 years are:
April 5, 1989 - Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
March 27 and April 7, 1991 - Agony and Ecstasy: Winners and Losers.
April 1 and 4, 1992 - The Eternal Struggle: Male Versus Female
March 24 and 29, 1993- Seasonings
April 6 and 10, 1994 - Cutting of Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
March 29 and April 2, 1995 - Relationships
April 17 and 21 1996 - Agony and Ecstasy: Winners and Losers
April 9 and 13, 1997 - The Eternal Struggle: Male Versus Female
April 20 and 26, 1998 - Seasonings
April 14 and 18, 1999:- A Journey in Time
April 5 and 9, 2000 - Cutting of Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
March 26 and April 1, 2001 - An Odyssey: Wanderings Through Life
April 3 and 7, 2002 - Let Freedom Ring!
March 31 and April 6, 2003 - Mars-Venus; Venus-Mars: The Eternal Struggle
April 19 and 25, 2004 - Calendar of Love
April 6 and 10, 2005 - When the World Is Free
March 29 and April 2 - 2006 - Agony and Ecstasy: Winners and Losers
Sept. 18, 2006 - Let Freedom Ring. Communication 491 "Oral Interpretation II" was offered for the first time. The course was unique in the Purdue system; no other campus offered a second level of Oral Interpretation. This Readers' Theatre program was designed to celebrate the Constitution of the United States of America and was presented as part of the campus Constitution Day activities. Through a collage of literature and music the history of this document and the amazingly unique country which it founded was celebrated.
March 29 and April 2, 2007 - Spoon River Anthology
March 31 and April 6, 2008 - Journey in Time
(Oct. 27 and Nov. 2, 2008 - Of Thee I Sing and More. . . Another Readers' Theatre program presented by the students enrolled in "Oral Interpretation II."
April 20 and April 26, 2009 - It's All About Time
April 13 and April 18, 2010 - Courage, A Way of Life, From Youth to Age
Oct. 26 and Oct. 1, 2010 - Back Home Again in Indiana. Presented by "Oral Interpretation II
March 31 and April 3, 2011 - The Turning Points of Life
April 24 and April 29, 2012 - Spoon River Anthology
April 17 and April 21, 2013 - Agony and Ecstasy: Winners and Losers
April 22 and April 27, 2014 - Memories: Journey Through 25 Years.