Ferndale Rep's Teen Theatre to Present
"Our Town"
Photo Credit: Tiffany GroomThe Ferndale Rep's 10th Annual Teen Theatre will present Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize winning play, Our Town, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, March 13-22, all shows at 8pm.
Our Town, is deceptively simple-no set, no props, minimal effects. The Stage Manager leads the audience through the every day lives of the residents of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire in 1901. States Director David Hamilton, "The play Our Town is a script designed to break all of the rules. In theater there are some very firmly set guidelines that playwrights typically work within-Wilder throws these all out the window. Wilder's play does not deal with major characters, it does not revolve around an intricate plot line, it does not have a recognizable climax. Characters continually break the metaphorical 'fourth wall', communicating with and even sitting in the audience. For these reasons the work can be best described as a concept play, perhaps more interesting for its unusual structure than for its story, the kind of play that should never have become popular with a mainstream theater audience. And yet it did."
Adds Hamilton, "Our Town has been produced in countless theaters across the country. Almost every high school drama department has done at least ONE production of the play in their history. Wilder's work is almost as widely performed as Shakespeare's, and the play has just returned to Broadway with Paul Newman playing the crucial role of the Stage Manager."
This simplicity is for the purpose of emphasizing the major theme-appreciation of the ordinary. Wilder wanted the audience to focus on the characters and their actions rather than the props and sets. Throughout the play Wilder strives for universality of characters, the town, and events. The point is that this could take place anywhere in the world.
The Rep's annual teen production draws young artists from throughout Humboldt County. This year, more than thirty-five students from Arcata, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, McKinleyville and Petrolia bring their enthusiasm and talent to the Rep stage for a two-week run. The show will then travel to Scotia for a weekend at the Winema Theatre, across from the Scotia Inn, on March 27, 28, and 29.
Hamilton's cast includes: Bridget Fenner, Daniel Scott Marcus, Henry Kraemer, Gil Peters, Margaret Fence, Sterling Johnson-Brown, Bethany Adams, Devan King, Jessie Shieman, Megan McBride, Andrew Nelson, Keenan Hand, Morgan Mae Pearsale, Lillian Damron, Brandon Marcus, Amanda Schreiber, Cassie McBride, David Martinez, Elizabeth Wright, Halsey Demant, Sarah Daniels, Rachel Cardoza, Sarah Daniels, Joshua Salado, Szasha Ozard, Laureen Tipple, Keegan Demant, Mason Demant, Jon Fisk, Hillary Hall, and Rachel Adams.
A comprehensive study guide for Our Town is available. For information and reservations, call 786-5483.
Our Town is sponsored by Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation and McMurray & Sons Roofing.
Ferndale Repertory Theatre
Post Office Box 892 • 447 Main Street • Ferndale, CA 95536-0096Tickets: (707) 786-5483 • Fax: (707) 786-5480 • Email: info@ferndale-rep.org
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