INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

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PLAYWRIGHT AT IUPUI TO TAKE CENTER STAGE IN DRAMA TO BENEFIT ORPHANS IN CHINA; STORY DRAWS ON HER OWN LIFE

INDIANAPOLIS - Art will both imitate and benefit life when a School of Liberal Arts professor at IUPUI brings the story of a child's struggles as an orphan to the stage in performances that will benefit children now living in China's orphanages.

When the curtain goes up on her original play, "My Brother was My Mother's Only Child," playwright Sharon Jean Hamilton will take center stage as main character Karen Cameron. Hamilton is Chancellor's Professor of English in the School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Hamilton, also director of Campus Writing at IUPUI, has donated a staged reading of the play to support charitable initiatives aimed at orphans in China. Hundreds of thousands of children, primarily little girls, reside in China's orphanages, according to one estimate.

Like the dramatized Karen, and the children to benefit from the production, the playwright knows well the longings of a orphan's heart having, as a child, waited in an orphanage for a family of her own.

"The play looks at the emotional complexities of adoption and identity," says Hamilton. "I know what it feels like to be a cast-off from family life and security. If this play can be used to benefit children in need of love, nurture, education, and medical care, then I am delighted to be part of this benefit."

Families with Children from China-Indiana, Inc., a non-profit group that supports families who have adopted or are considering adopting children, is underwriting the benefit performances. Pamela Carlisle, visiting lecturer in the School of Nursing at IUPUI and co-founder and board member of FCC-IN, is organizing the event. Proceeds will support Half the Sky Foundation and Heartland Medical Express.

Heartland Medical Express, an Indiana-based organization, provides medical assistance to children around the world, particularly those in orphanages. The organization is currently working to assist Chinese infants and toddlers who live at orphanages and are in need of cardiac surgery.

Half the Sky Foundation, founded in California, is working to provide infant nurturing and preschool services to children in China's social welfare institutions.

Curtain time is 7 p.m. Thursday, August 10, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, August 12 at the American Cabaret Theater, 401 Michigan Street. A reception with the playwright will follow each performance.

Reserved guest seating is $20 per person. Patrons may also support the benefit with either a Contributor gift of $50 or more (no tickets included); a Friends donation of $100 (two reserved tickets included); or a Sponsor donation of $500 (four tickets included). A portion of each ticket is tax deductible.

For tickets and additional information contact the box office manager at (317) 631-0334. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m., Friday.

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