PROPOSAL 2018-2019 What Makes a Monster and What Makes a Man? 1
Arsenic and Old Lace By Joseph Kesselring *will be* produced through special arrangements with Dramatists Play Service Thursday Saturday October 4-6 at 7pm Nightly** Winter One Acts Friday & Saturday December 14-15 at 7pm Nightly** Atypical Boy By Laurie Brooks *will be* produced through special arrangements with Dramatic Publishing The Unknown Part of the Ocean By Sheri Wilner *will be* produced through special arrangements with Playscripts The Hunchback of Notre Dame Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by Peter Parnell *will be* Produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International Thursday Saturday April 11-13 at 7pm Nightly ** **-proposed dates - able to be changed 2
Arsenic and Old Lace By Joseph Kesselring *will be* produced through special arrangements with Dramatists Play Service Thursday Saturday October 4-6 at 7pm Nightly Comedy time 105-120 minutes 11 Men, 3 Women Performance Rights: $300 ($100 per show) PLOT SUMMARY: We meet the charming and innocent ladies who populate their cellar with the remains of socially and religiously "acceptable" roomers; the antics of their nephew who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt; and the activities of the other nephew these require no further description or amplification here. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE is a must for all nonprofessionals, a ready-made comedy hit. REASON FOR CHOICE: This show is a classic to both the theatre and non theatre crowd, which means easy audience numbers. This show is also a comedy which we have not had a chance to really grow talent in. The show follows the season theme of What Makes a Monster and What Makes a Man, by showing us the sides of the two aunts who are believing they are doing right by ending their roomers lives early, we also encounter a villain who is trying to do right again by recreating his life and instead turns into a physical monster to embody the inner monster he has created over the years, and of course the brother who gets thrown into the midst of all of this. Tech wise, this show is a singular set which will make building and load in simple and cheaper. Light and sound are still basic but growing on our experience of practical lighting and sound use. Costuming we are in a period piece but nothing too extreme yet, a nice way to keep building our stock of costumes. This show will be a good way to reacquaint our former techies with talents and skills learned in the previous show, however, it also allows them to teach the new technicians and gain further skills when it comes to realistic/practical shows. 3
Winter One Acts Friday & Saturday December 14-15 at 7pm Nightly Atypical Boy By Laurie Brooks *will be* produced through special arrangements with Dramatic Publishing Interactive w/audience time 45-60 minutes 3 Men, 3 Women, 4+ M/F Performance Rights: $160 ($80 per show) PLOT SUMMARY: In a fantastical world (not entirely unlike our own) where "conformity is compulsory," Boy cannot conform. Others make a desperate attempt to fix him, but neither they nor he can change his nature. Labeled a monster by the experts, Boy is shunned until, heartbroken and alone, he disappears into a world of monsters. There, Boy struggles with Hugo, ruled by his monster side, and is drawn to Girl, who is still in touch with her true feelings. A metaphor for invisible disabilities and disenfranchised youth, this play asks the question: Will Boy hold on to his humanity and accept himself, or will he become a monster? A cautionary tale that presents a comic anti-model of behavior, this entertaining fable for all times and all ages tells about the beauty and danger of being different in a world where conformity is valued and individuality is feared. Preshow audience interaction with the ensemble sets the tone for this highly original play, and a unique interactive experience called "The Forum" is built into the running time of the play to actively involve the audience in exploring the timely issues of belonging, conforming and individuality. REASON FOR CHOICE: This show is an interactive audience piece which the students have not attempted yet. This show is also involving our first ever Theatre For a Cause which brings about a message or a meaning to get the audience talking which is how we treat those unlike us. The show does involve puppetry and nontraditional elements which will evolve the students talents and skills to a standard that will be common in college and professional realms. Tech wise this show will involve creating a fantasy world but also one that can be similar to today s world. A new way for both actors and technicians to think and a way to tie in fantastical monsters into what we may call monsters in real life. 4
Winter One Acts Friday & Saturday December 14-15 at 7pm Nightly The Unknown Part of the Ocean By Sheri Wilner *will be* produced through special arrangements with Playscripts **Will also be Competition Piece** Drama time 15-20 minutes 2 Women Performance Rights: (unknown most likely $50 per show) PLOT SUMMARY: Eight-year-old Sophie loves to entertain her mother with fantastical stories. But what's a little storyteller to do when her mother's cancer is scarier than anything in her imagination? REASON FOR CHOICE: This show will be our competition piece due to small cast and small set options. This show will be hard as it is so short but packs a powerful punch. Just like with Atypical we will stage this show in a thrust configuration which puts the audience a lot closer than the actors and technicians are used to. This show will be performed throughout the year as we hone into it and create a solid competition piece. The show fits with the Season Theme as it shows us those monsters we combat in life such as cancer, depression, and how do we combat something we cannot physically see and all sought through the eyes of a child. 5
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by Peter Parnell *will be* Produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International Thursday Saturday April 11-13 at 7pm Nightly Musical Drama/Comedy time 105-130 minutes 21+ mixed M/F Performance Rights: (estimated) $1,471- $1,990 PLOT SUMMARY: Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film s Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell s new book embraces story, theatre, and features verbatim passages from Hugo s gothic novel. The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenthcentury Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be "Out There," observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the gypsies and it s up to Quasimodo to save them all. A sweeping score and powerful story make The Hunchback of Notre Dame an instant classic. Audiences will be swept away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical. REASON FOR CHOICE: First and foremost the recognizable name will again draw audience numbers and regain trust with the community in our department. The show is also available with CD accompaniment and does not need a live orchestra. The show has a variety of roles ranging from the typical leads, to the typical chorus roles but also involves dancer only, singer only and actor only positions. Roles can be shaped and formed to the performer. Tech wise we will use a singular set again but add in technical elements such as projection and special effects. This show will be an amazing leap forward for the students in both tech and performance. The theme for the season is pulled straight from this show, which focuses on the evils and kindnesses of humanity. 6
Cast Numbers: Show Name Needed Cast Desired Cast Total for Season Arsenic & Old Lace 11 m/ 3 w 11 m/ 3 w 14 Atypical Boy 3 m/ 3 w, 4 m/f 3m/3f, 7+ m/f 24-27+ The Unknown Part of the Ocean The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2w 2w 26-29+ 21 m/f 40+ m/f 47-69+ Tech Numbers: Show Name Needed Tech Desired Tech Total for Season Arsenic & Old Lace 8 15+ 8-15+ Atypical Boy 6 10 14-25+ The Unknown Part of the Ocean The Hunchback of Notre Dame 4 6 18-31+ 15 25-30+ 33-61+ Student Opportunities (Estimate) for 2018-2019 Season: Cast: 47-69+ Crew: 33-61+ Total Students: 80-130+ 7
Signatures of Approval Please sign and date once you have read and approved the proposal with attached scripts. Please contact Kimberly Wibbenmeyer with questions or edits needed. Dr. Jennifer Schmidt - Principal Jason Merkel - Asst. Principal & Activities Director Bart Denbow - Asst. Principal Steven Becker - Theatre Manager Natalie Moore - Choir Kimberly Wibbenmeyer - Theatre Angela Chambers - Asst. Theatre/Speech 8