Clarke Drama to Present ‘Cootie Shots’ Production and Tour

The Clarke University Drama Department will present “Cootie Shots” from Thursday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, Feb. 24, in Terence Donaghoe Hall on the Clarke campus. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21-23 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 24. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for non-Clarke students and free to current Clarke students.“Cootie Shots” is a theatrical collection of poems, short plays and songs which work to explore the messages of anti-bullying, tolerance and a celebration of diversity. After their spring performance, Clarke’s Drama Department will take the production on the road to many participating public and parochial elementary schools in Dubuque including Lincoln, Eisenhower, Sageville, Kennedy, Audubon, Marshall, Fulton, Table Mound, Holy Ghost, Resurrection, Hoover, Carver and Mazzuchelli Middle School. A Mediacom grant received last October will enable Clarke to conduct this tour at no cost to the schools. This is the second time the drama department has received the Mediacom grant to support its “Theater on Tour” program. Clarke University has conducted this program for almost 30 years, and for the past 10 years it has been under the direction of Joe Klinebriel, associate professor of drama. While “Cootie Shots” was created with young audiences in mind, the themes and messages of this fun, thought-provoking production are designed to be experienced community-wide.“What’s special about the elementary school tour is the opportunity for Clarke students to showcase and reinforce the importance of role-models,” said Ellen Gabrielleschi, chair and associate professor of drama. “It also demonstrates the impact and effectiveness the arts have always had in delivering powerful messages.”For more information, contact the Clarke University Marketing and Communication Office at (563)588-6318.