Wichita State University's School of Performing Arts presents a Second Stage production of "Core of Temptation," a play written by Danielle Hartman, winner of the National Playwriting Competition.

The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, March 9-12, and at 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, March 12-13, at Welsbacher Theater in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

In this retelling of the creation story and Paradise Lost, God and his angel Lucy struggle to maintain their relationship after an accident alters God’s plan for existence. “Core of Temptation” seeks to humanize God and his angels.

The play was selected from a variety of new plays submitted by student playwrights from around the country. The theater program helps sponsor the National Playwriting Competition every year and produces the winning play during the regular production season. This gives students the opportunity to work with authors on original scripts in creating roles for the first time.

“Core of Temptation” is part of the theater program’s student produced Second Stage series. In this series, students are responsible for all aspects of the production from show choice, design work, technical direction and building to show direction, acting and promotion. Through this applied learning experience, students pursuing careers in the fields of art and entertainment have the opportunity to learn hands on how to take a show from conception to completion.

The cast of “Core of Temptation” includes music theater majors Daniel Hughes and Naaman Williams and theater performance majors Jessica Curtiss, Christian James and Mariah Clements. It is directed by musical theater major Jennie Hughes and stage managed by theater major Melanie Calvery. Student designers include theater design and technology majors Kenneth Stephens (sets); James Laning (lights); Marlo Griffith (sound); music theater major Angie Thompson (costumes); and vocal performance major Aaron Fink (props).

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Fine Arts Box Office in the lobby of the Duerksen Fine Arts Center or online at wichita.edu/fineartsboxoffice. General admission is $10, with $8 discount tickets available for seniors, faculty/staff and military, or $6 tickets for children and students. WSU students are eligible for one free ticket (visit http://www.wichita.edu/j/?4363 for details). For ticketing assistance, contact the Fine Arts Box Office from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, at 316-978-3233 or fasttickets@wichita.edu.

KMUW is Media Sponsor for “Core of Temptation.”