"Beyond Eden" is a non-profit community effort involving planning participants from numerous groups in the Bloomington-Normal area. The impetus for getting this effort off the ground came from the Religion, Culture, and the Arts committee centered at First United Methodist Church in Normal. Heartland Theater Company is an independent non-profit organization, founded in 1986, with the goal of providing quality dramatic performances to the public of Central Illinois.

The play production is partially underwritten by a grant from the Religion, Culture, and the Arts fund at First United Methodist Church in Normal established by former ISU professor Margaret Parret, and is supported by a partnership arrangement between the church and Heartland Theater Company. The production would not be possible without the generous contribution of time and effort by the director, the producer, the actors, and many other individuals who play key roles in making it all happen.

"Beyond Eden" has grown in scope over the last year and now involves numerous planning and supporting participants drawn from eleven Catholic and Protestant churches, from the Islamic Center of Bloomington-Normal, from Moses Montefiore Temple, from IWU, from the drama community, and from community activists.

Technical support for the development of this Web site comes from members of the Islamic Center.

Dr. Kenton Machina, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at ISU, and former Director of the Religious Studies program at ISU, chairs the planning group.