[NEohioPAL] The Complete History of Theatre -- Condensed!

[wsd]

Miller South Commedia dell'Arte Troupe presents "The Complete History of 
Theatre - Condensed!" for one special performance at the Weathervane 
Playhouse on Saturday, April 18th at 7:30 PM to benefit the 
Weathervane's general operating fund.  All tickets are five dollars.  
Call the theatre for reservations: 330 836-2626.  For directions to the 
theatre:  http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/directions.asp

Created by the troupe under the direction of Wendy S. Duke, this 
scenario is a romp through theatre history in ways that Oscar Brockett 
(author of a well-known college text book) never imagined!  From the 
roots of theatrical performance in pre-history through Ancient Egypt and 
Greece, Asia, Rome, the Dark Ages, the Renaissance in Europe, American 
theatre and all the way through 20th century "isms" -- this is a living, 
breathing and highly slapstick time line of theatre history.  Excellent 
entertainment for the novice as well as the theatre history buff, "The 
Complete History of Theatre - Condensed!" was created by the troupe and 
was over four years in the making.   A Complete History of Theatre - 
Condensed is a perfect example of arts integration -- infusing the 
standards of acting as well as social studies in one project.

Commedia dell'Arte was born in Renaissance Italy, a form of popular 
market place comedy featuring masks, stock characters and lots of 
physical comedy.  It is the ancestor of circus clowns, harlequinades, 
vaudeville comics, silent film comedy stars, and television sit-coms.  

Miller South drama students receive commedia training in 6th grade and 
may audition for the troupe in 7th and 8th grade.  We are pleased to 
have worked with visiting commedia artist Gale McNeely for the past 
three years.  Now in our twelfth year, the troupe has performed commedia 
adaptations of Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, Hamlet  and the Tempest.  
Our annual A Commedia Christmas Carol continues to delight local 
audiences.  We have performed for groups and events throughout the area 
and beyond, including performances with the Akron Symphony Orchestra, 
Akron Arts Expo, the Highland Square Festival, Shakespeare in the Spring 
at the University of Akron, Cleveland Public Theatre's Vaudeville Show, 
the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln Nebraska, the Ohio State 
University's Renaissance Faire, and Union Station in Washington, DC.

Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts is a public 
magnet school for the arts in Akron, receiving the highest grade on our 
state report card of "Excellence With Distinction."  All students must 
audition to attend the school in either drama, music, visual art or 
dance. The school is located at 1055 East Ave in Akron, OH.

We are now taking bookings for this production. We are particularly 
interested in performing for high school and college history of theatre 
classes as well as for theatre festivals and other public events.  We 
will consider in state and out of state performances for the rest of 
this school year and during the summer and the 2009-2010 school year.  
This piece will become a permanent part of our touring repertoire.

For further information, contact Wendy Duke at wduke at akron.k12.oh.us.