Web posted
August 9, 2007
Star performers take over the stage at UAS
JUNEAU EMPIRE
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| brian wallace / juneau empire |
 Readying and Rehearsing: The cast of "The Woman Carried Away by the Killer Whale" rehearses a scene Monday at the University of Alaska Southeast. From left are Cheyenne Siverly, 11, Levi Rinehart, 13, Kelly St. Clair, 13, Jessica Rocco, 13, and Kevin Allen, 9. |
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Star Performances
What: Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous, presented by Perseverance Theatre.
• "Children Of Eden": Directed by Roger Benington. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
• "The Woman Carried Away by the Killer Whale": Directed by William Hubner. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16; 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
• "The Merry Wives of Windsor": Directed by Abby Gerdts. 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17.
Where: Noyes Pavilion, University of Alaska Southeast.
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students; festival passes (three shows) $25 adults, $13 students; all tickets at the door.
For information: (907)364-2421.
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Perseverance Theatre's Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous takes to the stage this weekend, as a group of 14- to 18-year-old students present the Alaska premier of the two-act musical "Children of Eden."
Based on the book of Genesis and co-written by Stephen Schwartz (the man behind "Godspell" and "Pippin"), the 16-year-old play has its first run at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at the University of Alaska Southeast's Noyes Pavilion.
It's one of three plays marking the culmination of the five-week STAR program. The theatrical training program, for kids ages 10 through 18, began July 16.
All performances are at the outdoor Noyes Pavilion.
One group of students, ages 10 through 13, will star in "The Merry Wives of Windsor," William Shakespeare's zany tale about Sir John Falstaff and his pursuit of the wives of Windsor.
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| brian wallace / juneau empire |
| Alisia Nelson, 11, and Reilly Schrader-Dee, 11, right, get into character for William Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" during rehearsal at UAS. The plays are part of Perseverance Theatre's five-week Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous. |
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Director Abby Gerdts, a graduate of the Juilliard School's drama division, is a New York City-based actress, director and teacher who also has worked in South Africa, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She is the founder of Artists Striving to End Poverty, www.createsomethinggood.org.
The other group of 10- to 13-year-old students will act in "The Woman Carried Away by the Killer Whale," a Haida puppet and mask story adapted by Ann Boochever under advisement by Sealaska Heritage Institute. The story chronicles the tale of a young man who takes a voyage under the sea to save his wife. Students built the masks and puppets.
Director Bill Remington Hubner is a storyteller, puppeteer, singer and actor who has performed on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. He designs lighting, sound, sets and props for small theaters and cabarets. He was part of the original company of "The Lion King" on Broadway and has built puppets for the Comedy Central show "Crank Yankers."
"Childen of Eden" director Roger Benington, born in South Africa, holds a master's degree in directing from the University of Utah and studied directing at the Juilliard School under the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's Young Artist Fellowship. He founded Tooth & Nail Theatre in Salt Lake City and has won numerous grants for his work.
Karin Abromaitis, a physical performance instructor in the Washington, D.C., area, is the program's resident movement instructor. She has taught mime, mask, movement, stage combat and juggling. Abromaitis works with Membrane Ensemble Theatre and is an Artistic Associate of Horizons Theatre. She has taught teacher development workshops for the Kennedy Center since 1999.
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