[NEohioPAL]"Titanic, the Unsinkable Dream" at Miller South

[WSD]

Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts
Drama Department
1055 East Ave.
Akron, OH 44307
330-761-1765

For Immediate Release:

"Titanic, the Unsinkable Dream," a musical by James Holmes and Peter
Hallman, will be presented by Miller South School for the Visual &
Performing Arts on Friday, May 3rd at 9:00 AM and Saturday, May 4th at 7
PM in the school auditorium.  Both performances are open to the general
public. Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for Senior Citizens and
Students.

An historically accurate portrayal of the R.M.S. Titanic from
construction yard to final resting place on the ocean floor, this
British musical features a cast of 90 singers, actors and dancers
portraying over 140 characters on board the Titanic. According to the
authors:  “The story does not focus on any individual’s story but rather
the wider story of how this very famous disaster touched not just the
lives of those most directly involved but the whole society of the day
and beyond. It is an epic story with many facets ranging from moments of
individual folly or heroism to the themes of technological possibilities
running ahead of understanding and how people separated by conventions
of the day shared the same ultimate
fate.”

The dramatic musical score features songs such as “Construction Song &
Hymn” in which we see the epic work of building the ship, “Unsinkable,
Unthinkable!”, a powerful duet between Captain Smith and ship designer
Thomas Andrews, and “Let Us Out, Let Us Free!”, in which we experience
the fear and panic of the 3rd class passengers trapped below as the ship
sinks.  Choral groups include the construction crew, dockside crowds and
workers, 1st class passengers, 2nd class passengers, Steerage
passengers, and the Ship’s crew.  Dancers portray social class
differences through waltz, rag and jig dances as well as signifying  the
capricious forces of nature in several Iceberg Motif dances.

The entire cast and crew recently spent a day at the Titanic exhibition
in Cleveland, to gain additional insight in to the tragedy and the
characters they will be portraying.  The day they chose to visit was
April 15th, the 90th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking.  The day's
activities included a Coast Guard memorial
wreath laying on Lake Erie.  The Coast Guard's Ice Patrol was founded as
a direct result of the Titanic disaster.

Miller South Drama Parents will host a “shipboard” Parisian Café in the
school’s dining hall from 6 – 7 pm on Saturday, May 4th. Audience
members may listen to the Titanic’s ship orchestra play authentic 1912
era music, and also purchase deserts and coffee, tea or punch.  Nine
members of the cast representing alll areas of Titanic’s social and
working classes will be in costume and available to
provide conversation and information about the ship and its journey.

Wendy S. Duke directs the musical, with music direction by Sarah
Kaufman, choreography by Amy
Heffernan and design and technical direction by Jack Gwinn. The school
is located at 1055 East Ave. in Akron. For further information, call the
school at 330-761-1765.