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CORVALLIS - Three storylines interwoven into a single play create the poignant "Treehouses," by Elizabeth Kuti, that makes its American debut this Thursday, April 7, at Oregon State University.

The seven-performance run includes 7:30 p.m. shows April 7-9 and April 14-16, and a special matinee on Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m. that will serve as a benefit for OSU's Holocaust Memorial Week. All of the performances will be at the Withycombe Hall lab theater.

The Sunday matinee will include a post-show discussion.

Kuti studied and worked in Dublin, Ireland, and is on the faculty of the University of Essex in England. Her work drew the interest of OSU faculty member Charlotte Headrick, who has studied Irish drama, and will direct "Treehouses."

One of the play's storylines takes place in a nursing home in present-day Dublin; the second is in a burned-out tree house, where a young woman tries to write a eulogy for her dead father. The third is in World War II Hungary, where a young woman - against her boyfriend's wishes - tries to harbor a young Jewish refugee.

"Treehouses" received the Stewart Parker Trust BBC Award for its script and an honorable mention from the Susan Blackburn Smith Awards, given for the best play written in the English language by a woman.

The cast for the OSU performance includes Arin Dooley as Eva, Vreneli Farber as old Magda, Valerie Tibbets as young Magda, David Richard Fox as Stephen, Carrie Sibloh as Ger, and Reilly Ferrell as the Boy.

In addition to Headrick, the artistic staff includes George Caldwell, scene design; Kendra Thysell, costume design; Dan Koetting of Texas A&M University, lighting design; and Clif Bevers, stage manager.

Ticket information is available by calling the University Theatre box office at 541-737-2784 during daytime hours, or 737-3050 one hour before the performance.