Dreyfoos Thespians Offer Encore Performance of MIDSUMMER
When the Dreyfoos School of Arts (DSOA)Theatre Department combined the works of Shakespeare and legendary classic rock group, The Moody Blues last November, the result was the creation of a musical called MIDSUMMER which had four sold out performances. By popular demand, the Dreyfoos Thespians will hold an encore presentation March 9 at 7:00 p.m. and a special “Save the Arts” Gala performance March 10. Tickets ($15.00) for the March 9 performance may be purchased by calling 561-802-6052 or by going on-line to http://www.seatyourself.biz/awdsoa. The March 10 Gala performance tickets ($50.00-$100.00/includes reception) are available by calling 561-805-6298. The show will be presented in the school’s Meyer Hall Theater (located one block north of the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach).
Described by the Florida State Thespian Festival Main Stage Screening Committee adjudicators as “brilliant, creative, and beautiful,” the show has been selected as one of only ten representing the state at the 2012 Festival with a performance in Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. This is the largest high school theatre festival in the world with over 7,000 in attendance.The DSOA troupe will have five hours to load-in the set and only two hours to strike it. DSOA holds the record for bringing the most Main Stage shows to this festival.
The musical is based upon Shakespeare’s classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which tells the story of two pairs of star-crossed lovers who encounter faeries and pranksters in the forest of Athens. Putting a new spin on the story, creator/director Beverly Blanchette (Dean of Theatre) has set the play in modern Greece and has added “faerialists” to provide an illusion of flight.
Midsummer features Moody Blues’ favorites Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon. Musical direction and arrangements are provided by Bruce Linser (with special orchestrations by Anthony Espina), choreography by Garry Q. Lewis, scenic design by Michael McClain, scenic artistry by Cindi Blank Taylor, costume design by Penelope Koleos-Williams, lighting design by Stuart Reiter, and technical direction by Edward Blanchette. Midsummer is produced by Marcie Gorman-Althof and managed by Wade T. Handy.
Of special note is the aerial artistry choreographed by Rain Anya of The Paper Doll Militia.Anya, a 2002 Dreyfoos graduate, returned to her alma mater with the assistance of the Hearst Foundation which provides grants for guest artists to train/mentor young performers. The Midsummer “faerialists” worked with Anya during the two month rehearsal process to be able to maneuver the hanging silks adorning the brightly-colored, wonderland set.
For more information, contact Ms. Blanchette, 561-802-6061 or email Beverly.blanchette@palmbeachschools.org.
