Thursday, January 17, 2013

New American Sign Language show among student productions

A new year in Spring Branch ISD theater opens in February with a classic George and Ira Gershwin comedy and a unique musical about the biblical Garden of Eden story told in both English and American Sign Language by student actors.

Stand-out productions will include Gershwin’s Crazy for You at Stratford High, Children of Eden at Spring Woods High, Westchester's Murders of 1940 and the much honored South Pacific at Memorial High. Many other student band, choir and orchestra performances have also been announced.

At Spring Woods High, the student cast is preparing to recount the origin stories associated with the biblical Garden of Eden as history through songs and dialogue told in both English and American Sign Language.

Children of Eden follows the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, as well as Noah and the biblical flood. However, no religious background or particular faith perspective is needed to appreciate this musical story, producers report.

Spring Woods High show co-directors Terry Hibbert and Anne Yancey have wanted to incorporate sign language into a show for many years, but searched to find the production with just the right fit for using sign language.

Theater students take on the challenge of learning to act, sing, speak, dance and use sign language as part of the Spring Woods High production of Children of Eden.


The student troupe at Spring Woods High has taken on the challenge of learning how to act, sing, speak, dance and use sign language all at once. A former sign language teacher, Cynthia Gerall, taught students how to transfer the script and its emotions into something as whimsical as their hands.

Based on music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Card, the story is told with simplicity, using minimal props and breathtaking costumes. “Children of Eden is about people. It is about real relationships and the beauty of creation. The story will leave you puzzled in awe,” Spring Woods High’s Hibbert says.

Other popular shows in SBISD this winter include Stratford High’s Crazy for You and Memorial High’s South Pacific. The George and Ira Gershwin musical comedy Crazy for You is a high energy romp that includes a case of mistaken identity, plot twists, fabulous dance numbers and a famous Gershwin score.

Cast members from Stratford High's Crazy for You 
Unforgettable tunes in Crazy for You include such songs as I Got Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Nice Work if You Can Get It, and Someone to Watch Over Me. Stratford Playhouse hit the road in pre-show performances at several locations, including Blue Willow Bookshop.

Westchester Academy's production of the musical comedy, Murders of 1940, takes the stage on Feb. 21, and promises to be a sidesplitting good time with generous servings of biting satire and irreverent wit. Join the fun as mayhem ensuses, victims drop and fingers point!

Memorial High’s South Pacific, beginning Feb. 21, is one of Broadway’s greatest musicals. It won 10 Tony Awards in 1949-50, including Best Musical, then won eight more Tony Awards the Broadway revival in 2008.

With music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, South Pacific deals frankly with the issue of racial prejudice as told through the separate love stories of an American nurse and a U.S. Navy lieutenant during World War II.

Many of its songs, including Bali Ha’i, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, Some Enchanted Evening, and Happy Talk have become popular American Songbook standards.

Tickets for many shows may be purchased online or in person through the following campus box offices:

· Stratford Playhouse – http://www.shsplayhouse.com/
· Memorial High Theatre – https://www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?theatre=mhs
· Spring Woods Safari Players – http://www.safariplayers.com/tickets

See Calendar Listings below for more upcoming events.

January 2013
31, Crazy for You, Stratford HS Playhouse (7:30 p.m.)

February
1, SBISD Boys Choir Show, Memorial HS Auditorium, (5:30 p.m.)
1-2, Children of Eden, Spring Woods HS Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
1-2, Crazy for You, Stratford HS Playhouse (7:30 p.m.)
2, SBISD String Solo & Ensemble Festival, Spring Forest MS (All Day)
2, Crazy for You, Stratford HS Playhouse (2:30 p.m.)
2-3, Children of Eden, Spring Woods HS Auditorium (2:30 p.m.)
5, ComedySportz vs. Katy Taylor, Memorial HS Black Box Theatre (7 p.m.)
6, Crazy for You Children’s Matinee, Stratford HS Playhouse (10 a.m.)
7-9, Crazy for You, Stratford HS Playhouse (7:30 p.m.)
8, Broadway Concert for Band, Choir & Orchestra, Memorial HS Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
8, ComedySportz vs. Faculty, Spring Woods HS Auditorium (7 p.m.)
8-9. UIL Solo & Ensemble Orchestra & Band Contest, Northbrook HS (All Day)
8-9, Children of Eden, Spring Woods HS Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
9, Crazy for You, Stratford HS Playhouse (2:30 p.m.)
9, Children of Eden, Spring Woods HS Auditorium (2:30 p.m.)
12, ComedySportz vs. Spring Woods HS, Memorial HS Black Box Theatre (7 p.m.)
21, Crazy for You selections, SBISD Celebration of Sharing, Memorial City Mall (8 a.m.)
21-23, South Pacific, Memorial HS Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
28, South Pacific, Memorial HS Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
28, Murders of 1940, Westchester Academy Theater (7:30 p.m.)

March
1-2, Murders of 1940, Westchester Academy Theater (7:30 p.m.)
1-2, South Pacific, Memorial HS Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
2, South Pacific, Memorial HS Auditorium (2:30 p.m.)
7, ComedySportz vs. Cy-Ranch and Cy-Falls, Spring Woods HS (7 p.m.)
22, Talent Show, Memorial HS Auditorium (Contact campus for times.)
26, Spring Choir Concert, Spring Branch MS Auditorium (6 p.m.)

April
5, ComedySportz vs. Seven Lakes HS, Memorial HS Black Box Theatre (7 p.m.)
11, ComedySportz vs. Memorial HS, Spring Woods HS Mini-Auditorium (7 p.m.)
16, ComedySportz vs. CyFalls HS, Memorial HS Black Box Theatre (7 p.m.)
19, String Orchestra Concert, Memorial HS Auditorium (7 p.m.)
19-20, Saving the Greeks: One Tragedy at a Time, Cornerstone Academy (6:30 p.m.)
26-27, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Stratford HS Playhouse (7:30 p.m.)
30, ComedySportz City Tournament, Memorial HS Auditorium (7 p.m.)

May
2-4. Radium Girls, Memorial HS Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
4, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Stratford HS Playhouse (2:30 p.m.)
5, Radium Girls, Memorial HS Auditorium (2:30 p.m.)

10, Spring Band Concert, Memorial HS Auditorium (7 p.m.) 

13, Spring Pop Concert, Spring Branch MS Auditorium (6 p.m.)
16, Beginners Band Concert, Spring Oaks Middle School (6 p.m.)
16 Symphonic/Concert Bands Concert, Spring Oaks Middle School (7 p.m.)

Note: Special reservation and pricing policies may apply for some theater and other campus events. Seniors who are 65 years old or older seeking STARCard discounts should check special reservation and pricing policies in advance.

1 comment :

  1. Cornerstone Academy will perform the comedy, Saving the Greeks: One Tragedy at a Time, on April 19 and 20 at 6:30 p.m.

    ReplyDelete

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