2002-2003 SEASON MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCES

Everything Old Becomes New Again
-- Our 17th Season --

Every year as we plan our new season of plays, the challenge is to find those stories beloved from our childhood (old and young alike) and see if we can bring them to life on our stage in a manner that will illuminate, challenge and excite our actors, our design team and our audiences. As a youth theatre we face many challenges in our literature. As adults we have fond memories of old tales read to us in our childhood. Young readers have had many new tales introduced to them, as well as the old tales we remember. As our world has expanded we increasingly find many different versions of those familiar tales we once thought had only one voice and culture. Join us this season as we explore some old stories in new guises!

  1. Rumpelstiltskin (October 25 - November 3, 2002)
  2. A Christmas Carol (December 6 - 15, 2002)
  3. Anne of Green Gables (February 21 - March 2, 2003)
  4. As You Like It (April 25 - May 4, 2003)
  5. Dragon Magic (June 21 - 29, 2003)

RUMPELSTILTSKIN
adapted by Siarde Evans
from the West Indies Collection

Performances: October 25, 26, 27 and November 1, 2, 3, 2002
(Fridays at 7:00 pm, Saturdays/Sundays at 3:00 pm)

 Auditions: September 4 and 5, 2002 from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm

 "Oh, Illustrious and Mighty King . . . my daughter is spinning a whole field full of finest gold thread."

Our fall season begins with a retelling of an old tale. We have traced it in its various guises from Germany, to England, to Scotland, to an obscure tale in the West Indies recently retold and newly illustrated by Virginia Hamilton. We liked the rhythms of the language and the twists of the tale. It has been adapted by Siarde Evans (who adapted our African Little Red Riding Hood), in collaboration with the playwriting class and Sylvia Langworthy. Siarde's sense of poetry and the rhythm of the language have culminated in a new sound of an old familiar tale.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
adapted by Sylvia Langworthy
from the story by Charles Dickens

Performances: December 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15, 2002
(Fridays/Saturdays at 7:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm)

 Auditions: September 4 and 5, 2002 from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm

 "... it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us."

In December we bring to our arena stage for the first time in seven years our version of the time-honored classic A Christmas Carol. We shall allow the language of Dickens to guide us as we use Movement, Puppet Masks and Costumes to bring a new look to an old story. Join us as we follow Scrooge in his journey of discovery - just in time for the Holidays.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
adapted by Sylvia Langworthy
from the story by L. M. Montgomery

Auditions: January 8 and 9, 2003
Performances: February 21, 22, 23, 28 and March 1, 2, 2003
(Fridays/Saturdays at 7:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm)

 "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think."

What could be more cheerful than following the story of this red-haired heroine during the cold gray months of January and February? We shall follow as many adventures as we can as Anne comes to live in Avonlea and finds not just one ... but many kindred spirits to enrich her life.

AS YOU LIKE IT
by William Shakespeare

Auditions: March 5 and 6, 2003
Performances: April 25, 26, 27 and March 2, 3, 4, 2003
(Fridays/Saturdays at 7:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm)

 "All the world's stage
And all the men and women merely players."

Spring ushers in green grass, flowers and sunny days as we transform our theatre into the forest of Arden with one of Shakespeare's most charming comedies: As You like It. Four sets of lovers find one another in this magical world of shepherds, clowns and disguises.

DRAGON MAGIC
by Masque Playwrights

Performances:
  Saturday, June 21, 2003 at 7:00 pm
  Sunday, June 22, 2003 at 3:00 pm
  Monday, June 23, 2003 at 3:00 pm
  Friday, June 27, 2003 at 3:00 pm
  Saturday, June 28, 2003 at 7:00 pm
  Sunday, June 29, 2003 at 3:00 pm

 "A dream of dragons and magic from around the world ..."

Fire-breathing, flashing scales, flying, multi-winged and swishing tails ... dragons from around the world will congregate at the Masque Youth Theatre in June. Join us as we move from country to country in our search for the most magical dragon of all.