GALVESTON, Texas - The Theater Outreach and Education program at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will present two performances of "The Flight of the Avian Flu" in Galveston. The abstract drama reflects the concerns health professionals and family members have when questioning moral obligations and the duty to treat during an infectious pandemic.
Performances are scheduled at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, and at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at Island Etc., 2001 Postoffice St. The performances are free and open to the public.
Dr. Howard Brody, director of the UTMB Institute for the Medical Humanities, will participate in a panel discussion following the production. He said the drama was planned as the opening to a major conference in November, the McLaughlin Symposium, focusing on the ethical and legal aspects of the health care provider's duty to treat in a pandemic.
"The drama will be a wonderful and deeply moving kickoff to this conference and will get the attendees really involved in confronting the tough ethical choices," Brody said. "I'm delighted that the play is also being shown now so that those who may not be able to attend the November conference can also see and talk about it."
The play will also feature artwork by Dr. Eric Avery, a nationally renowned printmaker and IMH faculty member. His prints are included in the collections of many museums.
The drama was written by Cheryl L. Kaplan, TOE director, and the performances are cosponsored by Humanities Texas and UTMB. As part of IMH, the TOE program promotes theater as a tool for education and uses theater to raise awareness of health science and medical humanities issues within the community.
For more information, call 409-772-2376.