You think you know about eating disorders.

You've watched all those after-school specials and listened to the lectures given in high school health classes.

But nothing compares to seeing and experiencing the disorder up close and personal.

Any students or community members looking to educate themselves or a friend firsthand about the dangers of eating disorders can find the answers at 7 tonight in the HUB Auditorium, where the University Park Ensemble will be presenting a play, Body Loathing, Body Love.

Tonight's presentation will combine dramatic scenes, poetry, mime and visual images, all used to teach the audience how to identify the warning signs of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

Yet, to Barry Kur, professor of theatre and director of the University Park Ensemble, Body Loathing, Body Love is a play that goes beyond simply identifying these disorders.

"This is a complex issue," Kur said. "It's not just about body image or eating; it's about the psychological effects this disease has on a person."

Kur added that many of the issues surrounding eating disorders concern denial of the disease and not being able to talk about it in an open forum.

"That's why we have these talk-back sessions at the end of the show," Kur said. "Every time we have someone at the end who speaks about their own experiences, it really validates our presentation."

However, Kur also feels it's the live aspect of this performance that proves most effective to students.

"Live theater requires a contract from the audience," Kur said. "It's something they can't just flip off with a remote."

Mary Ann Knapp, a Counseling and Psychological Services Outreach Coordinator and clinical social worker, agreed that an informational play such as Body Loathing will have more impact on students than most lectures.

"The theater mode is a fresher and more engaging way of connecting people to the issue," Knapp said. "Because a lot of people already know the facts, they tend to tune out when only being lectured on the facts."

Ellen Nagy, University Health Services marketing manager, said students might be more receptive to the content of this presentation because its material is more enjoyable than preachy.

"We may actually be able to see ourselves or someone we know in these characters," Nagy said. "It's one more step toward self-realization."

More important than self-realization is the possibility that students may take steps toward acting against the disorder after having seen the show, Kur said. For him, the most valuable aspect of tonight's presentation is the student reaction afterward.

"I really wish I could be a fly on the wall during those discussions that happen after the show," Kur said.

"It's then that students really start to think about how this disease may be effecting their friends and families," he added.