A unique collaboration between the University Musical Society, Columbia University, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Apollo Theater in Harlem is bringing Salman Rushdie's prize-winning novel of modern India, "Midnight's Children," to the stage for the first time.

"It is the honor of Michigan to have these plays," UMS President Kenneth Fischer said.
Besides the U.S. debut performance of "Midnight's Children," the RSC will be performing two other plays, Shakespeare's "Coriolanus" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor," in the University's Power Center from March 12 to 16, 2003.

"There is a total of 16 performances this year," Fischer said, noting the increase from the 12 performances during the last visit of the RSC in 2001. "There are more tickets available and bigger discounts for students," he added.
Despite the increase in the number of performances, English Prof. Ralph Williams, who teaches English 367, a Shakespeare course, said, "tickets are already on sale and they are likely to be going fast."

In addition, the University is holding seminars and lectures that discuss related topics when the RSC is on campus in March.
"In short, it is not a performance alone, it's also a major education initiative," Williams said.
Williams said the revisit of the RSC, which he describes as "the premier classical theatre in the English-speaking world," is important to the University because it brings one of the finest presentations in the world to the campus and the community.
"Many students still speak with me about those productions," said Williams, who encourages all of his students to see the plays.
Rackham student Robert Gressis, who paid $168 to see the four plays by the RSC in 2001 said, "The money was worth it. . The plays and the selection were really good." He added he is going to buy the ticket to see the RSC again in March.

"I have heard of them. . They are the best among those doing Shakespeare's plays," LSA freshman Danielle Ibrahim said, who was not on campus during the first visit of the RSC.
Fischer, who helped to make the RSC's return possible, said "with the great support of the University, the UMS was able to get a five-year partnership with the RSC."

According to the partnership, the RSC will perform on campus three times within five years and after this upcoming visit, will return to Ann Arbor again in 2005.