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To contact us: PO Box 80892 Springfield, MA 01138 Phone: 413-739-1983 Fax: 413-746-3776 E-mail: info@dramastudio.org
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08-09 Production Season |
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FALL TOUR
TITLE: Blanca Flor, a dramatization of a Spanish folk tale DATES: November 12-20, 2008. The production will tour to four Springfield elementary schools during school time, presenting two performances at each school. DIRECTOR: Dan Morbyrne
Based on a popular folk tale, originally from Spain, Blanca Flor (White Flower) tells the story of true love overcoming the obstacles set up by the villainous Don Ricardo. Young Juanito must perform three difficult tasks in order to free the beautiful Blanca Flor from the Don’s evil grasp. Although Juanito is successful, he realizes that the Don is untrustworthy and that he and Blanca Flor, now in love, must escape by fleeing Don Ricardo’s kingdom. Once free, the lovers discover that they must deal with a curse imposed by the wicked Don. The end of the play is a variation on a common theme found in all stories of this type—-the reuniting of young lovers through magic and transformation.
FALL PRODUCTION
TITLE: THE LESS THAN HUMAN CLUB by Timothy Mason DATES: October 17-26, 2008 DIRECTOR: Derron Wood CAST: 4 teen females and 4 teen males
PLOT: The unexpected arrival of a postcard plunges Davis into his vivid memories of 1968 -- a wildly turbulent year in both his high school and in the U.S. In the throes of navigating complex relationships, racial tensions, crises of sexual identity, and self-worth, Davis and his friends search for purpose in a society struggling through its own weighty issues. While school dances mark milestones in their high school careers, tensions bubbling up in the U.S. are increasingly mirrored in their lives, until an explosion seems imminent. A moving exploration of the often comical absurdities of teenage life in the midst of the heartbreaking realities of a changing world. The play was first produced at the Studio in 1999.
AUDITION DATE: August 23 (Note: other dates may be scheduled) REHEARSALS: Begin weekend of September 19-21 and continue weekends
WINTER TOUR
TITLE: The Anansi Tales, a dramatization by Dan Morbyrne of three African folk tales DATES: February 23-March 2 DIRECTOR: Dan Morbyrne
Anansi, the Spider, is one of the major trickster figures in African folk tales. This spider can be wise, foolish, amusing, or even lazy—but always there is a lesson to be learned from Anasi! The spider tales have traveled from Africa to the Caribbean islands and into the United States through South Carolina where they are known as the “Aunt Nancy” stories. In these folk tales all the characters are animals, birds, or insects who take on human characteristics of greed, jealousy, honesty, loneliness, etc. The climate and vegetation is also revealed in the parched or lush environments of these stories.
WINTER PRODUCTIONS
TITLE: THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL by Steve Hays DATES: December 12-21, 2008 DIRECTOR: Steve Hays CAST: 20+ males and females, ages 9-50
Plot loosely based on the Hans Christian Anderson story, The Little Match Girl intertwines the story of the impoverished child who sells matches in the city with the story of a 17 year old Irish girl Mary who has come to America with her younger brother and sister to escape the famine which has plagued her family in Ireland. Upon arrival in New York City, she soon learns that her sponsor, Uncle Mike, has died and that she and her siblings face deportation. Knowing what awaits her back in Ireland, Mary uses her resourcefulness to avoid immigration authorities and establish herself in America. Her inability to speak anything but the truth often lands her in hot water as she takes job after job to keep food on the table. The Anderson part of the story takes place at Christmastime, making the production appropriate for the holiday season.
AUDITION DATE: October 3-5, 2008 REHEARSALS: Wednesday and Friday Evenings and Sunday afternoons beginning November 5, 2008
TITLE: WINTER SHORTS FESTIVAL OF ONE-ACT PLAYS DATES: Jan 30-Feb 1, 2009 Week One Feb 6-8,2009 Week Two DIRECTORS:Derron Wood, Steve Hays and others CAST: To be announced PLOT: The Festival consists of 6+ one act plays, many of which are written by Drama Studio playwriting students. Plays are announced in November. AUDITION DATE: November 14-18, 2008 REHEARSALS: Productions rehearse during December, January and February at times convenient for casts and directors.
SPRING PRODUCTION
TITLE: HONK! (A Musical) by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe DATES: March 27-April 5 DIRECTOR: Steve Hays CAST: 10-20 males and females, ages 9-40. All must sing PLOT: Honk! is based on the Hans Christian Anderson story of the ugly duckling. It tells the story of Drake and Ida who are awaiting the hatch of the 5 eggs in their nest, including one oversized egg. Once born, the Ugly Duckling becomes the source of ridicule in the barnyard and is lured away from the nest by the predatory Tom Cat who invites him to (and be) dinner. The Cat thwarts a rescue attempt by a squadron of Canadian Geese and the Duckling continues in vain through the summer and fall to find his family. He falls in love with a beautiful young swan named Penny and his spirits are buoyed when he encounters an ebullient Bullfrog and his family. When Ida finds her son, he has transformed into a beautiful swan and returns triumphantly to the barnyard. A witty play about tolerance, Honk! won the Olivier award in 2000 as the best British Musical of the season.
AUDITION DATE: Jan. 16 6:30-9PM, Jan. 17 1-4PM, Jan. 18 2-4PM
SPRING TOUR
TITLE: Prelutsky on Parade! A magical revue of the poems of Jack Prelutsky DATES: May 29-June 5, 2009 DIRECTOR: Dan Morbyrne
After stints as a truck driver, photographer, folk singer, and more, Jack Prelutsky, the author of more than thirty collections of original verse and anthologies of children’s poetry, including Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems (1983), Nightmares: Poems to Trouble You to Sleep (1978), and The Queen of Eene (1976), in 2006 Prelutsky was named the first Children’s Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. Prelutsky on Parade! will bring the poems to life for young audiences as they enter his magical world of imagination.
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The Drama Studio’s 2008—2009 Production Season |