Posted on Thu, Sep. 14, 2006

Playwright Kenny Carnes to wind up Newman symposium

The Army veteran and actor captures voices of real people since Sept. 11.

 BY BOB CURTRIGHT

The Wichita Eagle

New England playwright and performance artist Kenny Carnes will present his "War/Peace and the Anatomy of Being Human" at Newman University on Friday to cap a symposium that will explore the responsibilities for war. The symposium -- under the umbrella title "Aftermath, Understanding & Human Responsibility" -- runs from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the main performance hall at DeMattias Fine Arts Center.

Carnes' performance will be at 8 p.m. in the same auditorium. The symposium is free. Tickets for Carnes are $15 and $10, with discounts available for groups. Call 316-942-4291, ext. 2281, for reservations. Topics to be considered at the symposium include postwar remembrance and reconciliation and the importance of forgiveness. Leading the discussion will be Kelly McFall, history professor at Newman; Edmond Pearson, business professor at Friends University; Chris Fox, philosophy professor at Newman; Lt. Col. S. DeAnn Lehigh of McConnell Air Force Base; and Carnes. An audience Q&A will follow at 4:30 p.m. and a public reception for the guests at 5 p.m.

Carnes, who has been described as "Eminem meets Bogosian," is an Army veteran, combat-trained aviator and graduate of the famed American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. In his 70-minute solo performance, he uses poetry and prose to capture the voices of real people -- both soldiers and civilians -- and their feelings since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He said he uses theater as a "weapon for human rights and civil liberties."

Reach Bob Curtright at 316-268-6394 or bcurtright@wichitaeagle.com.