"Six degrees of separation. Between us and everybody else on this planet. The President of the United States. A gondolier in Venice. Fill in the names." -- Ouisa, Six Degrees of Separation

The Theatre School Showcase, DePaul University, presents John Guare's award-winning drama SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION March 6 - 15, 1998 (previews 3/3 - 3/5), at DePaul University's Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. The play is directed by John Jenkins and features scenic design by Linda Buchanan, costume design by Nan Cibula-Jenkins, lighting design by Karen Schell and sound design by Jeffrey Webb. For tickets, call the Box Office at (312) 922-1999.

Often described as a detective story, Six Degrees of Separation is a funny and sophisticated drama about art dealer Flanders Kittredge and his wife Ouisa, who live safely ensconced in the upperclass society of New York City's Park Avenue in 1990. One evening a charismatic trickster named Paul arrives at their door, unspooling an elaborate con that forces the couple to examine the authenticity of each experience and relationship in their lives. "Imagination can be used for good or evil, and sometimes great truths come through liars," says director John Jenkins. "Guare writes about identity and authenticity, about finding what we have in common and our valid connection to one another, with poetic language that spills out over the stage to the audience."

Six Degrees of Separation premiered at New York's Lincoln Center in June 1990 and was met with enormous praise, winning the 1990 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. In 1994, the play was was adapted into a feature film starring Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland and Will Smith.

Playwright JOHN GUARE won the 1972 Tony Awards for best musical and best libretto for Two Gentleman of Verona and received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay of Atlantic City in 1981. His other works include The House of Blue Leaves (1971 New York Drama Critics Award for Best American Play), Muzeeka (1968 Obie Award), Cop-Out, Marco Polo Sings a Solo, Landscape of the Body, Rich and Famous, Bosoms and Neglect, Lydie Breeze and Moon Over Miami.

Director JOHN JENKINS is an Associate Professor of Acting and Movement at The Theatre School. He directed A Bright Room Called Day, Landscape of the Body, The Bourgeois Gentleman and The School for Scandal, among others, for The Theatre School. He also co-directed An Evening of Fine Music and Spontaneous Movement or One, Two, You Know What to Do!, an experimental movement piece originally performed at The Theatre School and remounted under the title JAZZMO at Cotton Chicago. Mr. Jenkins co-founded the AnyPlace Theater in Minneapolis and worked as an actor, director and teacher with the Children's Theater Company, also in Minneapolis. He acted in Endgame and Waiting for Godot for the San Quentin Drama Workshop, both directed by Samuel Beckett. He has performed and directed in England, Germany, Switzerland and Australia.

Scenic Designer LINDA BUCHANAN is head of the Scenic Design Program at The Theatre School. She has designed scenery for numerous productions in Chicago and around the world, and is the recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Black Snow at the Goodman Theatre, a Helen Hayes Award, several Jefferson citations and the Merritt Award for design collaboration.

Costume Designer NAN CIBULA-JENKINS is head of the Costume Design Program at The Theatre School. She has designed costumes for many theatres in Chicago and elsewhere, winning a Joseph Jefferson Award for Shakespeare Repertory's Much Ado About Nothing. Her designs can also be seen in the films of David Mamet's House of Games, Things Change and Homicide.

Lighting Designer KAREN SCHELL is an advanced student in the school's Lighting Design Program. She was most recently assistant lighting designer for the Chicago Playworks production of Peter Pan. 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 Degrees of Separation are March 6 - 15 (previews 3/3 - 3/5). The performance schedule is: Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. A student/senior matinee will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 12. The morning matinee and evening performances on Thursday, March 12 feature a post-show discussion. A Pre-show Talk with director John Jenkins will take place on Sunday, March 8 from 1:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. at the Merle Reskin Theatre. Admission to the Pre-show Talk is free. Dinner/theatre packages are available with the Chicago Hilton and Towers Pavilion restaurant.

Tickets prices are $6 - $10; $5 for college students with I.D. Seniors, Corporate Partners, DePaul employees and alumni are eligible for discounts. Group rates are available. Wednesday, March 11 is DePaul Night: two tickets for the price of one for current high school and college students with I.D.

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.

For information and 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.