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The African American Theater Program became a part of the University of Louisville Theater Department in 1993. And after getting some national attention for its work, the program is something many involved with it are proud of.

“In 1996, there were only four undergraduate students involved in the program, and no graduate students,” said Professor Lundeana Thomas, Director of the AATP. Now ten years later, there are 31 undergraduates and seven grad students in the program.

Thomas came to U of L in 1996 and is currently directing three plays. She is also teaching “African American Women in Theater,” a class which she has instructed for the past 11 years.

Last fall she was honored for Excellence in Theater Arts by The Theater Museum in New York.

Thomas said her goals for the program include recruiting more students into the department, obtaining a national and international reputation and fostering new playwrites, she said.

The program recently received an official invitation to go to China in December 2007. Thomas said there will be auditions in April for students interested in the adventure.

The program offers about eight regular courses within the theater department, including “Cultural Diversity in Performance” and “History of African American Theater.”

During Spring Break, Thomas will be taking students on a trip to New York City. “I got tired of listening to so many students say they’ve never been to New York. I would say, ‘You are theater majors and you’ve never been to New York?'”

The 2007 season opener for the AATP is “My Secret Language of Wishes.” This is a brand new play, written by Cori Thomas. The play was submitted to the ETA Chicago workshop. Paul Carter Harrison passed it on to the AATP and U of L’s Thomas is directing it.

This play tells the story of unconditional love. The troubles between two women, who are both trying to adopt a disabled teenager.

It is a touching and heart warming story that is sure to bring tears to the eyes, and deep thoughts, as well.

The exciting part about getting a new play, said Thomas, is that, “if published, the history of the play will continue, and it will say done by University of Louisville,” she said.

Playwrite Cori Thomas will be at the March 1 performance of the play, which runs Feb. 28 – March 4 at Thrust Theater.

Besides “My Secret…,” the AATP is also doing two other plays, Thomas’ “From Oh Say Can You See to Lift Every Voice,” and a two part piece, “Making of a Legend,” and “Kentucky Black History Pageant,” which includes nine Kentuckians, those that were first to do something, according to Thomas.

“The AATP is a great way to get the students, actors, seen in the community,” Thomas said.

The AATP’s production record boasts four world premieres, among them a new version of August Wilson’s, The Homecoming. In addition, the AATP has offered classics by renowned playwrights such as Alice Childress, Adrienne Kennedy, August Wilson, and Charles Fuller.

Show times for “My Secret Language of Wishes,” is 8 p.m., Monday through Sunday with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. For more information on tickets, call 502-852-6814.