0 Ratings / 0 Comments
Andrew Milke of Hillcrest High School, Christopher Guerrero, Leilani Tiapula and Dencia Baltimore of W.T. White High School, Danica Salazar and Nicholas Bostick of Thomas Jefferson High School and Lauren Rasch of Ursuline are featured in the 26 member cast of Junior Players' production of A Midsummer Night's Dream which will run July 29-August 3, 2008.
Junior Players' summer production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream willfeature 26 youth from area high schools, and will have a Bollywood theme with music, dance and vibrant costumes! The production will open Tuesday, July 29th at 8:15 PMat theSamuell-Grand Park Amphitheater, 1500 Tenison Parkway in East Dallas. A total of 6 free performances will be held Tuesday, July 29th through Sunday, August 3rd. The production will be directed by Valerie Hauss-Smith andproduced in collaboration with Shakespeare Dallas. Anastasia Munoz will be Assistant Director. Junior Players' production will be set in India and will feature Bollywood music and dance. Director Valerie Hauss-Smith parallels the show to a "Bollywood Moulin-Rouge" in that prominent songs from classic and contemporary Bollywood movies are woven into the production, thus moving the plot forward. For veterans of Hindi films, the songs add another layer to the production whilst newcomers are treated to a spectacular entertainment number. The 26 cast members have worked meticulously with choreographer Raaz "Ross" Hughes on various forms of dance including Bollywood Funk and Bharat Natyam in addition to learning the Hindi lyrics to all the songs. 2008 marks the eighteenth Junior Players' Discover Shakespeare production. Junior Players' goals are to introduce children and youth to Shakespeare and use the production experience to help the cast make the transition from high school to college and the professional theater community. Director Valerie Hauss-Smith has been most recently seen onstage with Shakespeare Dallas and the Classical Acting Company and has taught for Junior Players since 2002 as well as developing educational programs for Shakespeare Dallas. She has trained with Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts as well. Costume Designer for Junior Players' production is Bruce Coleman Set Design is by Clare Devries, and Lighting Designer is Tristan Decker. Choreographer is Raaz “Ross” Hughes and Sound Design is by JP Program Director Vikas Adam.Junior Players provides arts education and programming completely free to children and youth throughout the city. Production Sponsors are the Comerica Bank, Citigroup Foundation, Chase, Holloway Family Foundation, TACA, Texas Commission on the Arts, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs andand Sponsor is WFAA TV 8 and The Dallas Morning News. Media Sponsor is Diya Magazine. All performances are FREE of charge and will begin at 8:15 PM. The gates open at 7:30 PM and people are welcome to bring their own food and beverages.
