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We produce several Main Stage and Second Stage shows
each year. Main Stage shows are produced by the program as
extracurricular activities. These shows are done with full support
for technical aspects. The auditions and crews for these shows are open
to all students. Second Stage shows are typically student produced
and driven. This includes budgets, casting, technical needs, etc.
Special events include any outside group, such as the University of
Texas, or culminating events like the End-of-Year Exhibition.
Metamorphoses: a play by Mary Zimmerman
First performed by students at Northwestern University, where
playwright Zimmerman is a professor of performance studies, this play
opened at Broadway's Circle on the Square Theatre in March 2002.
Based on Ovid's transformation myths, the play subtly mixes the ancient
stories of pathos and tragedy with cotemporary language, humor, and
thought, all enacted in and around a large pool of water in the center
of the stage. The themes of love, the inevitability of change, and
the human ability to adapt to change are timeless, as is amply
demonstrated by the sometimes eerie closeness of a vignette to the
original lines from Ovid, which still manage to resonate with modern
viewers.
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
The play
begins years after Oedipus is given the throne of Thebes. The
chorus
of
Thebans cries out to Oedipus for salvation from the
plague
sent by the gods in response to Laius'
murder.
Throughout the play, Oedipus searches for Laius' murderer and promises
to exile the man responsible for it, ignorant of the fact that he is the
murderer. The blind prophet,
Tiresias, is called to aid Oedipus in his search; however, after
warning Oedipus not to follow through with the investigation, Oedipus
accuses him of being the murderer, even though Tiresias is blind and
aged. Oedipus also accuses Tiresias of conspiring with
Creon,
Jocasta's brother, to overthrow him.
Oedipus then calls for one of Laius' former servants, the only surviving
witness of the murder, who fled the city when Oedipus became king to
avoid being the one to reveal the truth. Soon a messenger from Corinth
also arrives to inform Oedipus of the death of Polybus, whom Oedipus
still believes is his real father. At this point the messenger informs
him that he was in fact adopted and his real parentage is unknown. In
the subsequent discussions between Oedipus, Jocasta, the servant, and
the messenger, Jocasta guesses the truth and runs away. Oedipus is
stubborn; however, a second messenger arrives and reveals that Jocasta
has hanged herself and Oedipus, upon discovering her body, blinds
himself with the golden
brooches on her dress. The play ends with Oedipus entrusting his
children to Creon and leaving in exile, as he promised would be the fate
of Laius' murderer.
Toys Take Over Christmas by Patricia Clapp-Cone
This year, we will team up with
Second Youth Family
Theatre to present a children's theatre piece aimed at
upper-elementary and middle school students. The production will
feature members of Second Youth and McCallum's company on stage, in
design roles, and probably performing at two different venues as the
show transitions from an Academy production to a Second Youth production
somewhere in the community.
A hardhearted and selfish Toymaker refuses to sell the toys he makes.
He thinks they are all prefect you see. But his magic has made
them almost real. So real in fact that they want to escape the toy shop
and play with real children. When one doll finds a jar of magical
hearts, she gives one to each of the other toys. She decides to rally
the toys around her in hopes of changing the Toymaker's own heart.
Will they succeed? Only the audience will know.
Musical Revue - Origins
With a growing musical theatre program at the Fine Arts Academy, our
new Musical Theatre class will perform a revue of songs cataloguing the
evolution of the American Musical. From Greek times to liturgical works,
opera and all the way up to West Side Story, learn how America
put its stamp on one of the most popular performance forms in the world.
Fashion Show
For the third year in a row, this all student produced fashion show
will hit the McCallum stage. If the first two years were any indicator,
expect great things!
Once On This Island by Ahrens and Flaherty
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND was
Ahrens' and Flaherty's first real taste of success (they went on to
write the hit RAGTIME: The Musical, SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL, the film
ANASTASIA, and the stage version of the film MY FAVORITE YEAR). Based on
the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, the show is a twist on the
traditional "Little Mermaid" tale, and tells the story of Ti Moune, a
poor peasant girl who falls in love with Daniel, an upper class boy
whose life she saves after a car crash. Central to the story are four
gods that the peasants believe rule their lives. The gods of Love , (Erzulie)
Earth (Asaka), Water (Agwe) , and Death (Papa Ge) cause the lives of the
young lovers to intersect, and send Ti Moune on the fateful journey that
tests the strength of her love.
Set in the French Antilles, Once On This Island boasts a score that is
immediately and continually reflective of this locale. There are
rousing, upbeat numbers like "Mama Will Provide," and "Some Say," as
well as poignant ballads like "The Human Heart"and "Forever Yours".
While some of the numbers stand on their own, there can be no mistaking
a song from "Once On This Island" with a song from any other show,
because Ahrens and Flaherty never betray the story's Caribbbean roots.
Once On This Island originated at Playwrights
Horizons on April 6, 1990. It opened at the Booth Theater on
Broadway on October 18, 1990 and played for 469 performances. The show
also received eight Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical, Best
Score and Best Book. On May 12, 2002, the original Broadway cast
reunited for a special two concert benefit performance benefitting
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund.
The Green Bird by Carlo Gozzi
"The Tale of the Green Bird is the most daring play that ever issues
from my inkwell," declared Carlo Gozzi.
Renzo and Barbarina are twins of King Tartaglia who were supposed to
have been killed at birth. However, they were found and adopted by a
poor sausage-seller. The tale follows the twins' comically
tumultuous rite of passage through the temptations of desire and vanity.
Whole World: Student Rep 08
As is the tradition, the last main stage show of the year is an
entirely student affair. They choose, direct, cast, design, and
produce the repertory production of shows. This year they take on
non-western theatre. From Latin America to South Asia and Africa,
the plays chosen will feature different cultures and different stories.
TBA Musical Featuring the songs of Cole Porter
Through devised theatre work, the students of the Musical Theatre
class will present a world-premiere musical featuring music by Cole
Porter. They will invent and write the story, design, choreograph
and perform this original work as a culminating project for the year.
End of Year Expo!
Theatre Academy students at all levels participate in an end of year
event to present their final projects. These often include scenes,
monologue work, devised pieces, and portfolio presentations.
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