March 3, 2011 | Arts

'The State(s) of America: The Regina Taylor Project'

Presentation March 4-6 curated by Regina Taylor

By Judy Moore

EVANSTON, Ill. --- A one-weekend-only festival of new student works curated by Regina Taylor -- the playwright, director and stage and screen actress best known to TV audiences for her leading role in “I’ll Fly Away” -- will take place this weekend (March 4 through 6) at Northwestern University.

“The State(s) of America: The Regina Taylor Project,” presented on the Evanston campus by the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern, includes plays, video shorts, graphic narratives and songs that explore issues of race, identity, diversity and politics. With input from more than 50 Northwestern students and faculty members, Taylor has created a provocative festival of original works that will be performed in three different campus venues. A lunchtime symposium also is planned.

“The State(s) of America Festival” public events include:

• “ID,” a play, 8 p.m. Friday, March 4; 11 p.m. Saturday, March 5; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6, Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive. “ID” explores identity, race, gender and sexuality. Tickets are $5 to $15.

• “Dreams,” a play, 11 p.m. Friday, March 4; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 5; and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Barber Theater. “Dreams” is an exploration of the American Dream. Tickets are $5 to $15.

• “Going & Coming,” a film, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 4; 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5; and 8 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at Annie May Swift, 1920 Campus Drive. “Going & Coming” explores the complexity of communication between a father and son. General admission is $5.

• “Becoming,” a play, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 4; 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5; and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, 1949 Campus Drive. “Becoming” explores the ways in which the young propel themselves into the unknown future. Tickets are $5 to $15. For more information, visit www.communication.northwestern.edu/tic/performances/states/.

• “State(s) of America” Lunch and Symposium, noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, Hal and Martha Hyer HaHal Wallis Theater. The symposium will be led by Northwestern Associate Professor Harvey Young and feature guest artist Regina Taylor and Theatre and Interpretation Center Artistic Director Henry Godinez. The $5 general admission includes a light lunch.

Two kinds of passes are available. The Festival Flex Pass allows a choice of admission to the four festival events (not including the lunch or symposium) for $30 for the general public; $25 for seniors 65 and older, Northwestern faculty and staff and area educators and administrators; and $15 for full-time students. The Sunday All-Day Pass includes admission to all Sunday festival events and the symposium for $35 for the general public; $30 for seniors 65 and older, Northwestern faculty and staff and area educators and administrators; and $20 for full-time students. Passes and single tickets can be purchased through the TIC Box Office at (847) 491-7282 or online at www.tic.northwestern.edu.