The Theatre School Showcase, DePaul University, presents SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR by Luigi Pirandello as the fourth production of the 1996-97 season. The play is directed by James Ostholthoff and runs April 17 - 27, 1997 (previews 4/15 & 4/16), at DePaul University's Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. For tickets, call the Box Office at (312) 922-1999.

Written in 1921, Six Characters in Search of an Author was one of the first plays to deal with the theme of alienation, and it explores the adage "perception is reality." A family of fictitious characters interrupts a rehearsal looking for an author. Tormented by the need to tell their story, they ask the theatre company to perform their play. A conflict erupts as the characters attempt to convince the actors and the director how the story should be told. "While the play is very philosophical, it is also very active and passionate," director James Ostholthoff says. " I think audience members will identify with the characters and with the family conflicts in the play. It has its moments of comedy, as Pirandello calls it a tragic farce."

Director JAMES OSTHOLTHOFF began his theatre work in Portland, Oregon, where he was the chair of the theatre department at Lewis and Clark College. While in Portland he directed several productions and was a co-founder of the Oregon Free Street Theatre. Interest in the work of Jerzy Grotowski led Jim to associations with Grotowski and his company in the United States, and in 1979 he traveled to Poland as a member of Grotowski's paratheatric Tree of People Project. Mr. Ostholthoff has directed a number of off-Loop productions including Soap Opera by Ralph Pape, Jazzmo, an experimental movement piece that performed at Cotton Chicago, and last spring directed Slawomir Mrozek's U.S. premiere, A Summer's Day, at Eclipse Theatre Company. He received his M.F.A. in Directing from the Goodman School of Drama in 1971 and has directed The Fever, Tango, Trudi and the Minstrel, The Adding Machine, Hurlyburly, Waiting for Lefty, Savage in Limbo, Mother Courage and Her Children, Guns and Offending the Audience for The Theatre School. Mr. Ostholthoff was appointed Head of the school's Directing Program in 1995.

Scenic Designer IVAN GIOVANETTINA is a student in the M.F.A. Scenic Design Program at The Theatre School. Originally from Switzerland, he completed is B.A. in Theatre at the University of Texas at Austin. Costume Designer STACY CABALLERO is an advanced student in the school's M.F.A. Costume Design Program. She designed costumes for A Summer's Day at Eclipse Theatre, The Crucible for Steppenwolf Theatre's Outreach Program, and is currently the resident designer for Steppenwolf's New Plays Lab. Her Theatre School credits include Macbeth, Misalliance, The Trojan Women and Our Country's Good. Lighting Designer HEATHER GILBERT is an advanced student in the M.F.A. Lighting Design Program. She has designed for Powertap Productions, Strawdog Theatre and Eclipse Theatre, among others, and was an associate designer for the new Buckingham Fountain light and water show. Her Theatre School credits include Macbeth, Misalliance, Trojan Women and The Roar of the Greasepaint Ñ The Smell of the Crowd. Sound Designer JEFFREY WEBB is the Resident Sound Designer and Technical Director at DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre. He teaches Introduction to Sound Design at The Theatre School.

Performances of SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR are April 17 - 27, 1997 (previews 4/15 & 4/16). The performance schedule is: Tuesday, April 15 through Saturday, April 19 and Wednesday, April 23 through Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, April 20 and 27 at 2 p.m. A student/senior matinee will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 24. Wednesday, April 23 is DePaul Night: two tickets for the price of one for current high school and college students with I.D. The morning matinee and evening performances on Thursday, April 24 feature a post-show discussion. SPECIAL EVENT: A Pre-show Talk with director James Ostholthoff will take place on Sunday, April 20 from 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Merle Reskin Theatre. Admission to the Pre-show Talk is free. For details, call the Box Office at (312) 922-1999.

Tickets prices are $5 - $10. Student, senior and group rates are available. Performances are held at the DePaul University Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. Discount parking is available with coupons available from the Box Office. Dinner/theatre packages are available with the Chicago Hilton and Towers. For tickets, call the Box Office at (312) 922-1999.

The Theatre School, DePaul University, was founded as the Goodman School of Drama in 1925 and is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, the Illinois Arts Alliance, the League of Historic American Theatres and the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education.