FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2010
Media Contact: Sarah Pressler
240.644.1387
press@roundhousetheatre.org
Student Work Shines in The Misanthrope,
the Eighth Annual Sarah Play at
Round House Theatre Silver Spring
ROUND HOUSE THEATRE PROVIDES GUIDANCE
FOR STUDENT-DRIVEN PROJECT
(Silver Spring, MD) Round House Theatre presents a production of The Misanthrope as the Eighth Annual Sarah Play. Directed by Poolesville High School student Matt Dicken, The Misanthrope runs April 30 – May 9, 2010 at Round House Theatre Silver Spring. Tickets are now on sale at $15 general admission ($10 for Round House subscribers, senior citizens, patrons under 30, and groups of 10 or more) and can be purchased at the Round House Theatre Box Office by calling 240.644.1100 or online at roundhousetheatre.org.
Gossip reigns when Molière’s classic comedy of the French upper-crust is transported into the biting social scene of private schools in Manhattan’s fabulously wealthy Upper East Side. The new twist on Molière’s timeless play reflects the human tribulations of fitting in, finding love, growing up and discovering – or inventing – who we are.
The Sarah Play is the country’s only theatrical production, offered as part of a regional theatre’s regular programming, that is directed, designed, stage managed, and performed entirely by high school students.
The Sarah Metzger Memorial Play provides high school students from the Washington, DC metropolitan area the resources and guidance to mount a theatrical production at Round House Theatre under the mentorship of professional theatre artists and practitioners.
All participants are paired with designated mentors from the theatre’s programming staff to ensure a professional, high quality experience. The theatre covers all related finances, allows access to equipment and supplies, and provides support in the areas of marketing and public relations.
The Sarah Play celebrates the memory of Sarah Metzger, an inspiring and active member of the theatre community in her school and at Round House Theatre, who was killed in an automobile accident during her freshman year of college. One of the Round House family’s lasting memories of Sarah is that, while still a high school student, she independently mounted a full-scale theatre production. After her passing, her family worked with Round House to create The Sarah Metzger Memorial Fund. Through the generosity of many contributors, this fund provides the financial resources each season for similarly passionate and motivated high school students to create a fully-realized production with a professional theatre company.
THE CAST
William Neal Kenyon III (Alceste) is a senior at the Lab School of Washington, DC and played the title role of Dracula in last year’s Sarah Play. William is part of the thespian society and has appeared as Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Lab School’s Kelly Theater. He was also Antonio in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice at Lab School. Over the summer he attended acting classes in Los Angeles, CA. He is currently planning to go to Columbia College in the Fall.
Kari Barclay (Philinte) is ecstatic to be acting in his first Sarah Play. He’s currently a sophomore at Richard Montgomery, where he acts in plays, directs one acts, and techs musicals. The past four years, a big part of his life has been Traveling Players Ensemble camp, where he’s acted in Shakespeare, Molière, Commedia, and more. Thanks to Matt, fellow actors, Danielle, stage managers, tech, Round House staff, and the folks. Have a brilliant show!
Aidan Eubanks (Oronte) is a sophomore at School Without Walls. He has previously appeared in Washington Latin’s 2008 production of Romeo and Juliet as Romeo. He has also participated in the Folger Shakespeare Festival twice, first in 2007 with Washington Latin’s production of Twelfth Night as Sir Toby Belch and this year in School Without Walls’ production of Hamlet as King Claudius.
Emma Lou Hébert (Celimene) is so thrilled to have been a part of this year’s Sarah Play! She has appeared in The Blue Room as part of Act Two’s One Act Play Festival and in Northwood High School’s production of Grease. A member of City Dance’s Select Program, and Renegade Dance Company, she has also studied at Contradiction Dance and the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and she is looking forward to continuing her studies in dance and theatre next year in college. For Ma and Da, with all my love.
Sara Mozersky (Eliante) is excited to be a part of the Sarah Play Program at Round House this year! She is a senior at Northwood High School. Sara most recently appeared in Night Must Fall at Northwood High School as Mrs. Bramson, and as various characters in the comedy sketch show Laughing Matters with the Comedy Academy. She wants to thank the cast and crew for all the hard work they put into this show, and everyone who came to see it!
Sophia Hoffacker (Arsinoe) is a sophomore at School Without Walls, where she recently appeared as Ophelia in Hamlet. At Imagination Stage, she has completed their Acting Conservatory, spent two years in their Speak Out On Stage Senior Program, and recently appeared in their Shakespeare Project Class’ production of Macbeth as Macbeth. She also spent three years at Traveling Players Ensemble summer camp, where she performed in two Moliere plays and As You Like It.
Mikaela Kelley (Acaste) is a sophomore at Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School. Her theater credits include: Anne-Marie in Number the Stars, Joan (John) in Much Ado About Nothing, Ruth in Pirates of null, an ensemble dancer in White Christmas. She is so happy to be participating in The Sarah Play.
Kara Melton (Clitandre) is a graduating senior at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD. At her school she has appeared as Puck in a Fall Scene Festival and most recently as Renfield in the 2008 – 2009 Sarah Metzger Memorial Play production of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
ARTISTIC TEAM & PRODUCTION STAFF
Neil Bartlett (Playwright) Neil was an early member of Complicité, and has directed at the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Court, for the Royal Shakespeare Company, at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the American Repertory Theater in Boston. From 1994 to 2005 he was the Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, where his work included collaborations with Improbable and Robert Lepage as well as 27 classical plays and 5 Christmas shows. His adaptations of Dickens (Oliver Twist , A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations) have been widely performed throughout Britain and North America; these adaptations, as well as his translations of Genet, Kleist, Labiche, Marivaux, Molière and Racine, are all published by Oberon books. Neil has recently directed The Maids for the Brighton Festival, The Pianist at the first Manchester International Festival, An Ideal Husband at the Abbey Theatre Dublin and Romeo and Juliet at the RSC, devised and directed Everybody Loves a Winner for the second Manchester International Festival and directed Britten’s opera The
Turn of the Screw at Aldeburgh . His most recent novel, Skin Lane, was shortlisted for the Costa Prize; his future projects include collaborations with Handspring Puppet Company at the National Theatre in London, and with Opera North. You can find out more about his work at www.neil-bartlett.com
Matt Dicken (Director), a Poolesville HS senior, is delighted to be making his directorial debut. Recent acting credits: PHS’ Footloose (Chuck Cranston), Pillow Talk (Jonathan Forbes), Beauty and the Beast (Beast); Act Two’s 42nd Street (Julian Marsh), Cabaret (Herr Schultz), The Crucible (Danforth); Montgomery Playhouse’s Children of Eden (Abel/Ham). Matt studies voice under Bonnie Kunkel. Matt is a graduate of Signature Theatre’s Overtures: Musical Theatre Institute and the Folger Shakespeare Library’s High School Fellowship Program.
Sarah Marx (Lighting Design) is thrilled to return to the Sarah Play after directing last year’s Dracula. Some favorite onstage roles include Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Pericles in Pericles, Thomasina in Arcadia, and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing; she is currently directing a student-run, music-based production of Pericles. In her spare time, she enjoys books, guitars, conversation and tea.
Katie Myers (Costume Design), is a sophomore at Walt Whitman High School, and positively thrilled to be involved with this show. This was a new experience, as she has never designed any costumes before, ever, for anything, although she enjoys throwing clothes all over her bedroom floor and leaving them there. Sort through the clothes and you may find a whole world of Annie Hall vests and really fantastic feathered hats. Her goal for the future is mainly: more hats. She also enjoys acting, and will be performing in a Commedia dell’arte troupe this summer with the Traveling Players Ensemble. Anyway, before she goes off on a giant tangent on how awesome her involvement with the Sarah Play has been, Katie will utilize her zen-like self-control skills and simply say: Enjoy the show!
Erinn “Gus” Sinnott (Stage Manager) is excited to be working as stage manager on her first show at Round House Theatre. Previous experience includes shows such as Meet Me in St. Louis and The Diviners at the Academy of the Holy Cross, in addition to seventeen others. She would love to thank Mary, Jess, Matt, Kelly, and the cast for making this an amazing experience.
Adin Walker (Choreographer) Adin is a student at the Field School in Washington, DC. He has studied dance at the Washington School of Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School, and currently studies dance in the Pre-Professional program at the CityDance Center at Strahtmore. Adin is the founding artistic director of the youth-run Renegade Dance Company. This summer, Adin will be choreographing A Chorus Line at the Wildwood Summer Theater. Adin is very excited to be on the Sarah Play team!
Colin Wiencek (Sound Designer) is currently a junior at Montgomery Blair High School where he is the sound designer for the school plays. He is thrilled to be taking part in such an intense show with such a great cast. He is also a photographer for Silver Chips Online, the Takoma Voice, and next year, the Gazette.
Mary Wildsmith (Assistant Stage Manager) This is Mary’s first show with Round House Theatre, and she is thrilled to be involved in this year’s Sarah Play. She has worked stage management, production, construction, and running crew for numerous shows in the past five years after a brief foray into the realm of ensemble acting. Mary would like to thank her family, friends, Kelly, Jillian and wonderful cast/design team. Special thanks to her fantastic stage manager, Gus, and mentor, Jess.
Brandon Crabtree (Sound Board Operator) is very excited to be a part of The Misanthrope. This is Brandon’s first time working at Round House Theatre. Brandon last worked on The Merry Wives of Windsor where he was involved with lighting. When not doing theatre, Brandon enjoys fine dining and extensive napping. Special thanks to Colin for telling him to be a part of this show, and his mom for letting him.
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