CULVER - The Culver Academies Theater Department left Saturday (Aug. 13) to perform for the first time in the 59th internationally known Fringe Festival, where it will represent the American High School Theater Festival 2005.

It will perform "Omnium Gatherum" by Theresa Rebeck and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, a play inspired a statement made by New York City's mayor after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

After the statement, "Go back to your lives. Have your dinner parties," the writers were inspired to think what would that dinner party be, according to Richard Coven, director.

Held in Edinburgh, Scotland each August, the Fringe Festival is the world's largest performing arts festival in the world. According to Coven, there will be 1,500 groups performing in 400 venues from the world during the Fringe Festival, which takes place throughout the month of August.

The Academies Theater Department is one of 20 American high schools to represent the AHSTF. To be selected, high schools must first be nominated. Directors from each high school must then complete an application, write a mission statement on what it wishes to accomplish and send videos of two recent performances. A committee, made up of heads of theater departments from major universities in the country, evaluates the applications and chooses 20 to represent AHSTF in the Fringe Festival.

During its 10-day stay in Edinburg, the group will be guided on sightseeing tours, rehearse and perform "Omnium Gatherum" four times. It will also have the opportunity to attend any of the 1,800 shows being performed in 333 locations throughout the city.

"Omnium Gatherum" is a 90-minute piece set at a dinner party in wealthy woman's home in New York City just weeks before the 9-11 attacks. The guests are staged around a dinner table, discussing what to do about terrorism.

"It includes humor and laughter believe it or not, but is mostly discussion," said Coven.

The party is disrupted toward the end of the performance by a terrorist who was an invited guest. The performance ends with discussion from the terrorist's side.

Coven and his wife Marsha, technical director, first saw the piece during a Humana Festival in Louisville, Ky., about three years ago.

"There were tears, laughter and a few boos. It was emotional and very adult -- not a typical high school show. Most bring musicals. It's very different and many couldn't do it," said Coven.

According to Marsha, shows will run every two hours. The performance must be 90 minutes preceded by a 15-minute set up and followed by a 15-minute tear down.

The group began preparing in August of 2004. The performance was cast in November and performed in February of this year. It was put to bed for a few months and after losing two seniors who couldn't miss college orientations, auditions and rehearsals began again this summer.

The piece was preformed in Eppley Auditorium at The Academies Aug. 9 and 10.