Lied to host world premiere of 'What the Wind Taught Me'

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The Angels Theatre Co. of Lincoln will present the world premiere of "What the Wind Taught Me" March 15-23 at UNL's Johnny Carson Theatre.

"What the Wind Taught Me" is a new play written by Becky Key Boesen and commissioned by the Lied Center for Performing Arts. The story focuses on a fictional 10-year-old boy, Evan Davis, who is facing some pretty big storms of his own.

As the youngest member of a single-parent family, Evan is often left in the care of his 15-year-old sister, Audrey, and spends much of his time looking for answers in the sky through the lens of his beloved telescope. The loss of a parent has left Evan's family in crisis and has added to his innate fear of storms. A bully delights in making his school day difficult. His troubles culminate on the day a devastating tornado hits town, blowing in with it a mysterious time-traveling teacher. In the midst of this crisis, Evan has no choice but to confront all the storms he faces — both literal and metaphorical. In doing so, he learns that "anything is possible" when you have a tight-knit family, a love of learning and help from a wise teacher. Ultimately, Evan learns to make good decisions for himself, discovers what to do in the face of crisis, and gets a glimpse of a hopeful future that he never could have imagined.

The production is directed by Judith K. Hart and includes a film component, created by Alexander Jeffery. "What the Wind Taught Me" is good for children age 6 and up, and their families. Audiences can participate in a facilitated conversation following each performance.

For more information, go to http://www.liedcenter.org or call 402-472-4747.

— Matthew Boring, Lied Center for Performing Arts