KSU Trumbull host events

Staff report

WARREN

Kent State University at Trumbull’s Faculty Lecture Series will present “Shakespeare, Politics and the Revival of Empathy” by Dr. Peter Byrne, KSU at Trumbull associate professor of English, at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Kent State Trumbull Theatre, 4314 Mahoning Ave. NW.

This is the 10th year Byrne will write the script for the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual Will on the Hill benefit in Washington, D.C.

The performance brings together volunteers from the government – mostly members of Congress – as well as national media, lobbyists and corporate sponsors to perform an original one-performance play based on Shakespeare and infused with comedic references to contemporary politics.

Last year’s performance raised more than $500,000 for artistic, education and community outreach programs to bring Shakespeare to in-need schools in the area.

The lecture-series event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register at tinyurl.com/KSUTFLS.

In addition to the lecture series, local high-school students are invited to compete in this year’s KSU at Trumbull Excite to Write contest.

The contest, which is open to seniors, juniors and honor students, offers two options: long submission (research papers that are between 1,000-1,700 words) and short submission (essays and narratives that are 700-1,000 words).

Winners in each category win a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card. Runners-up win a $50 gift card. Winners also are invited along with their families and teachers to a special reception. The contest deadline is April 16.

For information and to submit an entry, visit www.kent.edu/trumbull/excite-write.