• Female characters highlighted in ISU Theatre's spring productions

• Female characters take center stage this spring during three ISU Theatre productions at Iowa State University.
  
  A poetic celebration of women ("Talking With"), a lonely little girl who restores life to her family ("The Secret Garden") and a Jewish girl coming to age during the Holocaust ("Diary of Anne Frank") are among the plays to be performed. A fourth production, "Pseudolus," a Roman comedy, is the student-produced play this semester.
  
  The 2005 spring ISU Theatre season includes:
  
  Talking With – Through a series of diverse, revelatory monologues by eclectic characters, "Talking With" explores the experiences, the perspectives, and the voices of women. Some voices can be hilarious and soulful, but all are poignant, From the actress who threatens to kill her cat if she is not cast to the evangelical snake charmer to the housewife lost in Oz, "Talking With" appeals to the hearts and the funny bones of both women and men. Jan. 27-29 – 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 30 – 2 p.m. Tickets - $13, adults; $12, seniors; $7, students and children.
  
  Diary of Anne Frank – The play about Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who wrote down her feelings and experiences during the Holocaust, has won virtually every coveted prize in theatre including the Pulitzer Prize, the Tony Award, and Critics Circle Award. Frank, her family and friends were forced into hiding from the Nazis during World War II. Feb. 25-26 & March 4-5 – 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 27 & March 6 – 2 p.m. Tickets - $13, adults; $12, seniors; $7, students and children.
  
  Pseudolus – The Roman comedy explores the exploits of the slave Pseudolus, who in order to win his freedom, must first deceive the pimp, reunite the young lovers, trick a slave, win the bet and help his master’s son – all in one day. The Broadway musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," is based upon this play. March 24-26 – 7:30 p.m.; March 27 – 2 p.m. Tickets - $6, adults; $4, students.
  
  The Secret Garden – Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, "The Secret Garden" became a Broadway musical in April 1991 winning acting and writing Tony Awards. The musical is the story of the orphan girl Mary Lennox who comes to live with her grieving uncle. Mary soon wins over his heart by nursing a garden back to life and giving hope to her family. April 8-9 & 15-16 – 7:30 p.m.; April 10 & 17 – 2 p.m. Tickets - $18, adults; $17, seniors; $10, students and children.
  
  "The Secret Garden" and "Diary of Anne Frank" will be held in Fisher Theater, while "Talking With" and "Pseudolus" will be presented in the Maintenance Shop in the Memorial Union.
  
  All ISU Theatre tickets are available at the Iowa State Center Ticket office at 515-294-3347.

Anne Frank - Feb. 25-27 & March 4-6

The Secret Garden - April 8-10, 15-17