Posted 12:01 pm Friday, October 03, 2008
Tyler Civic Theatre 'Arabian Nights' Opens Friday, Oct. 10
The Tyler Civic Theatre will present "Arabian Nights" Oct. 10-12 and 17-19 in the Rogers Children's Theatre, officials announced.
The six public performances will be at 7 p.m. on two Friday, Oct. 10 and 17 and Saturday Oct. 11 and 18. Sunday matinees on Oct. 12 and 19 are scheduled for 2 p.m.
The audiences for the other performances, at 9:45 a.m. Oct. 13-16, will be school classes.
The play, adapted by Lowell Swortzell from the classic tales of "The Entertainment of a Thousand and One Nights," opens the Rogers' seventh season with the tale of Scheharazade.
In the play, Scheharazade is next in a long line of Royal Sultan's brides.
Previous brides have been killed by the Sultan after one night of marriage.
As the fascinated members of the royal court listen along with the entranced Sultan, Scheherazade spins "The Story of the Speaking Bird."
As the fascinated members of the royal court listen along with the entranced Sultan, Scheherazade spins "The Story of the Speaking Bird."
Scheherazade is so skillful at weaving the tale that she saves her own life and brings happiness to the Sultan and the kingdom.
In this production, audience members will experience the story come to life on the stage as "The Story of the Speaking Bird" and its magic and moral lessons become the centerpiece of the production.
Director Felicity Enas has selected a cast including veterans of plays in the Rogers Children's Theatre and the Braithwaite Theatre, as well as persons who have not appeared previously in full productions on either of the Tyler Civic Theatre Center's (TCTC) stages.
Producer Cindy Fowler and Ms. Enas have also worked together to create exotic costumes for the entire cast.
Hannah Jacobsen plays Scheherazade; Dwain Hare, plays the Royal Sultan; Jeff Regian plays the Royal Vizier; and Bryn Birt plays Dinarzade, Scherazade's sister.
The characters in "The Story of the Speaking Bird" include the following: Ashlee Lanning, Callie Crozier; Mackenzie Fowler, Jeremy Kelly, Mar'Cordric Collins, Austin Sheridan, James Dent, LeeAnna Burgdorf, Shela Burgess, Jasmine Hubbard, Jessica Purser, Whitney Rogers, Amanda Wells, Kailey Kotter, Christian Carter, Hunter Regian, Lexie Rains, Austin Sheridan, William Rischard, James Dent, Zach Belk and Joel Gibson.
Since this is the first production of the Rogers Children's Theatre in 2008-2009, patrons can still purchase season tickets at real bargain prices.
The cost for a ticket to all four shows is $30.
Individual tickets for each show are $10 for adults and $8 for students.
Tickets are available at the box office at 400 Rose Park Drive, Tyler; by calling 903-592-0561; and via www.tylercivictheatre.com.
To inquire about booking a group for any of the performances - school or public - call the Rogers Children's Theatre at 903-593-7827.
As an added attraction at public performances, audience members will have the opportunity to purchase a chance ticket for a real-life story-telling workshop conducted by Evelyn James, founder of East Texas Storytellers.
James is donating this opportunity as a fundraiser for TCTC's 2009 U.K. Troupe, a group of 22 young actors who will take an American play to England and Scotland next August. Chance tickets will be sold for $1 apiece or six tickets for $5. The winning ticket will be drawn at the closing matinee on Oct. 19.
The prize, which has a $400 retail value, is a two-hour storytelling workshop for children, ages 11 or older, or adults.
Students will learn to create original stories and polish their telling of traditional tales and/or Biblical tales.
Travel up to 40 miles from Tyler is included, with a minimum number of three students and a maximum number of 15 students.
The workshop must be held before Feb. 15, 2009.
The Tyler Civic Theatre Center is a nonprofit regional theater complex offering nine plays to the public in 2008-2009 and a wide range of educational opportunities in the dramatic arts to children and adults. TCTC's mission is to entertain, educate, and enrich, through theater.
The Tyler Civic Theatre Center is a nonprofit regional theater complex offering nine plays to the public in 2008-2009 and a wide range of educational opportunities in the dramatic arts to children and adults. TCTC's mission is to entertain, educate, and enrich, through theater.
