Grove Community Playmakers present “The Crane Wife” at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday performances and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees today through June 27, 2010, at The Playmakers, 121 W. Third St., Grove, OK. The recommended minimum age level is elementary school age.
According to a news release, “The Crane Wife” is based on an ancient Japanese folktale, adapted for the stage by Barbara Carlisle. She has has formed the story into a stirring theatrical experience, with lovely imagery, stylized choreography, and a mixture of narrative and theatrical conventions adapted from Japanese theatre. This haunting tale is unlike any other Playmaker production and will entertain adults and children alike. The music by David P. Newsome underscores the stylized movement of the Village Chorus who use narration, masks, puppets, and mime to tell the tale. The play is produced with assistance from The Oklahoma Arts Council and by special arrangement with Anchorage Press Plays.
Carlisle writes for a multigenerational audience so that children and adults can experience theatre together. The minimum age for this production is elementary school students.
The cast of adults and youth include Villagers: Ashley Davidson, Jimmie Gwin, Hailee Gwin, Jaxson Oakley, Meghan Stowe and Sunny Uttley. The role of the peasant, Kokuro is performed by Justus Fletcher. Kirby Williams portrays the Crane Wife. Dancers are Emma Lawson and Kennedy Tackkett. Josh Fletcher and Bob Brogdon take turns in the role of a Samurai.
The Playmakers have chosen to put the play in the Heian period, somewhere between the 9th and 12th centuries. Marge Chowning has designed the period clothing for the cast with historical accuracy as a guideline. Dennis Neff has produced the sound track. Masks and puppets are made by Flora Elmore and Vicki King. Set and prop construction is by Jimmie Gwin with set decoration is by Jonathan Elmore. Lighting is designed by the director, Suzanne Boles, with technical assistance from Keith Klickman.
For more information, call (918) 786-8950 or e-mail 1groveplaymakers@sbcglobal.net. Adult tickets are $15 including tax; students (first through 12th-grade) are $8 including tax. Tickets are available online. Pay What You Can Afford seats are available at most performances.
Category: grove community playmakers
The Grove Community Playmakers kick off the holiday season with an adaptation by Scott Davidson of the classic children’s story, “The Velveteen Rabbit,” by Margery Williams. Performances will take place at 121 W. Third St., Grove, OK.
A short play about holiday giving, “The Lost and Found Christmas,” is also included. It is a production from The Paper Bag Players by Judith Martin and music by Donald Ashwander.
“We wanted a holiday show that would allow children 3-4 years to the theatre,” said Director Suzanne Boles in a news release. “We haven’t performed for children this young since we produced ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’s Christmas Tail.’ Of course, the very sensitive ‘Velveteen Rabbit’ is a good way for all children and adults to remember what’s real about Christmas,” she added.
The plays are produced with assistance from the Oklahoma Arts Council and supporters of the Playmakers.
The production opens Friday, Nov. 27 and each weekend through Sunday, Dec. 6. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m.; the Tuesday performance is at 7 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.
The Playmakers ask that there be no children younger than 3 years old, and to please determine that all children are able to sit through a performance of more than one hour without distracting actors or other members of the audience. There will be one intermission with special entertainment.
Reservations are necessary. Adult tickets are $13.50 and students (pre-school – High school) $6.75. A special admission fee for “lap-sitters” (ages 3-4) is $3 per child. There is a special group rate for youth groups with children first-grade through mid-school. The rate for ten children or more is $5.50 each. There must be one adult for every 3-4 children; ticket price for these adults will be $11.50 each. “Pay What You Can Afford” tickets are also available. Talk with box office volunteers when making reservations. For more information, go to http://www.gcplaymakers.com/, call (918) 786-8950 or e-mail 1groveplaymakers@sbcglobal.net.