Michigan State University Department of Theatre Presents SWEET MERCY, Beginning 3/19

In this world-premiere work, chosen as the winner of Michigan State University's 2012 International Playwriting Competition, playwright Melody Cooper examines the moral responsibility of "First-World" bystanders to international conflicts. It is 2006, and Rachel, a young woman from a military family, is giving up a life of humanitarian work abroad to marry an officer. Carl, a former U.N. Peacekeeping Officer and a friend of Rachel from her days working in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, unexpectedly turns up before the wedding. The desperate Carl reaches out to Rachel, begging her to remember the village massacre that they both witnessed and urging her to continue aid work in Darfur-causing tensions within Rachel's family to boil over. This haunting story is theatrically told, with flashbacks and visions of Carl's young friend Kigeri woven into the stage action, and sections from Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus serving as chilling parallels to the conflicts in Rwanda and Darfur.

Cast includes: Will Slanger-Grant (Carl); Adia Alli (Rachel); Duane Robinson (Eric); Sumar Henderson (Erisa / Darfur Girl); JaLyn Greene (Cyusa); Jerry Parker (General); Carmen Zavala (Anna); Quentin Brown (Inkindi / Interahamwe / Stanner); Roshawndra Thomas (Kigeri)

Sweet Mercy includes adult language and very graphic verbal descriptions of violence.

Performances in the Arena Theatre, basement of the Auditorium Building, located at 542 Auditorium Road, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 7:30pm

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 7:30pm

**Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7:30pm

Friday, March 22, 2013 at 8:00pm

Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 2:00pm

Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 8:00pm

*Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 2:00pm

*Director Pre-Show Discussion Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 1:15 PM
**Post-Show Discussion on Thursday, March 21, 2013 (Following the performance)

Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office,

1.800.WHARTON

whartoncenter.com