“Diversity” is the theme of the upcoming season of performances from the NIU School of Theatre and Dance, school director Alexander Gelman said.

First on tap for the season is “Disciples,” scheduled to run Sept. 27 to 30 and Oct. 3 to 7.

The award-winning play, set in the time of Christ, deals with such issues as faith and friendship.

“Poor Man’s Amus” brings NIU alumni home for a very special performance. The original piece, written by NIU alumnus Clint Sheffer, will be performed through the NIU-alumni run theater company Bruised Orange. The play is scheduled to be performed Oct. 25 to 28 and Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 at the Players Theater in NIU’s Stevens Building.

Dance will be the focus of the ballet “Le Corsaire,” which is based on a poem by Lord Byron. In the program, a pirate falls in love with a slave girl who is to be traded at a bazaar.

The play follows the pirate as he captures her from her new owner and struggles to keep her to himself. The O’Connell Theatre will host the production Nov. 15 to 18.

The audience plays the role of spies in the world premiere of “17 Tolbiac,” a thriller dedicated to voyeurs everywhere. “17 Tolbiac” is the address of a French apartment with numerous windows in which the audience will experience what things happen behind the scenes of private homes.

The play starts off the school’s ’08 productions, running Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 and Feb. 7 to 10 at the O’Connell Theatre.

William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is one of the highlights the upcoming performance season. The play, one of Shakespeare’s best known comedies, is scheduled to run Feb. 21 to 24, and Feb. 27 to March 2 at the Players Theatre.

“The Persians” concludes the theater portion of the season April 3 to 6 and 9 to 13 at the Players Theater. The play tells the story of the fall of the Persian empire, as told by the losing party.

The annual spring dance concert takes place in the O’Connell Theatre April 24 to 27.

“If you like to go see theater in Chicago, you’ll be able to see the same people you saw at NIU in two years for more money and a longer drive,” Gelman said. “The season offers very high quality theater for anyone.”

The public can purchase tickets for the entire series for $72 – $42 for students – at the box office in the Stevens Building until Sept. 25.