[NEohioPAL] A Dickens of a Summer at Rabbit Run Theater

[Rabbit Run]

FOR:               Rabbit Run Theater

                        P. O. Box 235, 49 Park St.

                        Madison, OH  44057

 

CONTACT:    Karen Ziegler, Director of Marketing

                        440-428-5913

 

DATE:            May 21, 2012

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - A Dickens of a Summer! at Rabbit Run Theater

 

It is definitely not "business as usual" at Rabbit Run Theater in Madison
this summer.

 

2012 marks the 200th birthday of the world renowned author, Charles Dickens.
In celebration of this literary genius, Rabbit Run is throwing a birthday
bash that will last all summer long.

 

A Dickens of a Summer!  goes beyond our standard theater season.  It is an
enhanced theatrical experience providing numerous events and opportunities
to experience Victorian England, its times and customs.

 

All of the productions chosen for the summer are based on the works of
Dickens

The season opens June 1 with the one-man show, The Mystery of Charles
Dickens, followed by the heartwarming musical Oliver!  July brings the epic
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and the summer ends with the
musical with no ending, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

 

A pop icon of his age, Dickens was immensely popular not only in his native
England but throughout the western world, and his popularity has waned
little over the past 140 years.   Prolific author (15 novels, hundreds of
short stories), actor, theatrical director, lecturer, advocate for
children's rights and social critic, Dickens not only entertained the world
at large; he changed it forever.

 

The Shows

 

The one-actor show, The Mystery of Charles Dickens, by Peter Ackroyd, brings
to life no less than 49 of Dickens most beloved and some not-so-loved
characters.  Rabbit Run is the only theater to ever produce this show aside
from the productions in London's West End and on Broadway featuring actor
Simon Callow.  Actor and Dickens enthusiast, Mark Cipra, is the featured
performer.  The Mystery of Charles Dickens runs for two weekends only, June
1 through June 9.

 

The three-time, Tony Award winning musical Oliver! is a family friendly
production in more ways than one.  Not only are family members of any age
encouraged to come, but the cast itself is made up of no fewer than nine
families who have at least two family members in the cast.  Oliver! with
music, lyrics and book by Lionel Bart, runs from June 15 through June 30. 

 

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, by David Edgar is an epic
production that was phenomenally successful in London and New York.  The
show was originally produced by London's Royal Shakespeare Company and is
considered one of the greatest theatrical experiences of our time.  This
two-part show is rarely produced due to its scope and scale.  Nickleby opens
July 6 and runs to Aug. 5.

 

Closing out the summer from Aug. 17 through Sept. 1 is The Mystery of Edwin
Drood, a musical by Rupert Holmes.  The murder mystery by the same name was
Dickens last and unfinished work as he died before he could disclose
"who-done-it".  Each night the audience decides who the culprit is making
this a show that never ends the same way twice.

 

The Events

 

Show-specific events are planned all summer long to give Rabbit Run patrons
the opportunity to not only see Victorian culture as depicted in a play but
to participate in Victorian culture giving them a broader theater
experience.

 

A Dickens of a Summer - A Reading Celebration is a book reading and
discussion series held in collaboration with the Madison Public Library, the
Morley Library and the Perry Public Library.  In this unique literary
experience, participants can read a book, discuss the book and see the play
making Dickens's incomparable characters come alive. 

 

The featured novels for this series are Oliver Twist (Perry Public Library),
Nicholas Nickleby (Morley Library) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Madison
Public Library), corresponding to the productions at Rabbit Run.
Participants may read one or all of the books. 

 

As an added benefit, all participants in the reading program receive two
Rabbit Run Theater show tickets to the production corresponding to the book
in the series.  Registration and participation is required to receive the
show tickets.    

 

Kirsten Parkinson, Associate Professor of English at Hiram is the
season-long humanities scholar for this reading program and will give the
presentations and lead the discussions for each of the Dickens works
featured.  This book series is funded in part by the Ohio Humanities
Council.

 

A Dickens Dance.   Guests will learn several English country dances similar
to those seen in the feature films Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Sense and
Sensibility.  Live music and a dance caller will be on hand to lead the
dances Saturday, June 30, prior to a performance of the musical Oliver! and
Sunday, July 29 in between the matinee and evening performance of The Life
and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.  A Dickens Dance begins both evenings
at 6 p.m. on the grounds of the theater.  Tickets are $8/person (does not
include show ticket).  Call the box office at 440-428-7092 for reservations.

 

A Day of Dickens  On three Sundays only, July 22, July 29 and August 5,
patrons may see both Part I and Part II of The Life and Adventures of
Nicholas Nickleby.  In between performances they may enjoy a Dickens Dinner
on the theater's patio.  The Dickens dinner is a traditional Englishman's
meal.  The boxed dinner features a choice of either a hearty roast beef
sandwich, a chicken salad sandwich or a cucumber sandwich.  Fresh garden
vegetables with dressing, homemade English potato crisps, fresh seasonal
fruit with cream, English shortbread and Welsh tea cake and beverage are all
included.  Tickets for A Day of Dickens are $45/person (includes a ticket to
Part I and Part II as well as boxed meal. 

 

The Frivolity and Fashions of the 1800's  What did people do for fun before
the electronic revolution and what is with those hoop skirts, anyways?  On
Saturday, Aug. 19, guests will participate in popular parlor games of
Victorian England as well as a fashion show of the latest trends, circa
1860.  Light refreshments will be served.  Frivolity and Fashions begins at
6 p.m. at Rabbit Run Theater.  Tickets are $8/person (does not include
theater ticket).  Period dress is encouraged, but not required.

 

A special added bonus for those with an interest in the Dickens productions
at Rabbit Run Theater is a season-long online ticket lottery.  Individuals,
both adults and students will have the opportunity to register online to win
a pair of tickets to one of the Dickens productions.  Rabbit Run has
committed to providing tickets for every individual performance throughout
the entire season.  The online ticket lottery is supported in part by the
Ohio Humanities Council and through the generosity of a private donor.  To
enter this free ticket lottery, beginning May 17, visit
www.rabbitrunonline.org <http://www.rabbitrunonline.org/> .  One entry per
person per week.

 

Theater tickets are available by calling the box office at 440-428-7092 or
online at www.rabbitrunonline.org <http://www.rabbitrunonline.org/> .  Box
office hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m.  The onsite box
office opens Wednesday, May 23.

 

Rabbit Run Theater is located at 5648 W. Chapel Rd., Madison.  It is one of
the few remaining barn theaters in Ohio.  The theater operates under the
auspices of Rabbit Run Community Arts Association, a comprehensive fine arts
association offering instruction in all the major disciplines of the fine
and performing arts.  

 

RRCAA receives partial funding from the Ohio Arts Council.  Corporate
sponsors for the summer include McDonalds of Damon Morgan Corp., Fredon
Corporation, Behm Family Foundation and Phoenix Residential.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

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