Andrew Crighton
Staff Writer
Phi Kappa Phi is set to host its annual Fall Scholarly Lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Portneuf Valley Brewery from 6 to 7 p.m. The event is open to the general public, and will provide free food and a panel discussion on “Ideation” a play by Aaron Loeb, which won the 2014 Glickman Award for “Best New Play.” Phi Kappa Phi asks the public to bring a new or gently used children’s book for donation to children in the local area as an entrance fee.
The panel will consist of Jim Skidmore, professor of philosophy with expertise in ethics-related issues, John Gribas, professor of communication, media, & persuasion and Ann Swanson, director of the Idaho Small Business Development Center, Region V.
Sherri Dienstfrey-Swanson, professor of theatre, director of ISU’s Honors Program and the director of the production of “Ideation,” will moderate.
Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest multidisciplinary honor society in the United States.
It has been running for “at least 15 [years], maybe going on two decades; it’s been a long tradition,” said Alexander Bolinger, President of Phi Kappa Phi’s ISU chapter. “It’s a great opportunity, first off for our community to see the great stuff that’s happening at ISU. There’s so much great research going on and so many great things and that’s one of the great benefits to having a university in a community. It would be a tragedy if the community didn’t have the opportunity to see what’s going on and get involved.”
In the past, the fall scholarly lecture has had presentations and performances from people such as Dr. Elizabeth Cartwright, professor of anthropology, as well as from singers and book writers.
“Something we’re hoping to do with the fall scholarly lecture is to kind of debrief for those who have seen the play and want to discuss it and those who haven’t seen it yet and maybe give them an opportunity to get their toes wet and get a flavor for it,” said Bolinger.
“Ideation” is a dark comedy about a think-tank that discovers there are some moral and ethical dilemmas to be faced with the job that they are tasked with.
“It’s got a dark twist to it, and it’s very surprising but it raises some real questions about what are the values that we don’t leave behind,” said Bolinger.
“Ideation” will be performed by the Old Town Actors Studio at their location in Old Town Pocatello, and will run Sept. 25, 26, 28 and Oct. 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 p.m. with a 90 minute duration. Tickets can be reserved by calling the OTAS, and cost 12 dollars at the time of pick-up at the door. This will be only the second time the play will be performed in the United States.
According to Bolinger, the moral questions presented by the play lead it to be different than the classic Shakespearian tragedies; it is a different kind of darkness. Rather than dealing with love, lust and revenge, it confronts the questions that we may not know the answers to yet as individuals.
It’s “one of the more ground-breaking artistic events of the year in Pocatello,” said Bolinger.
