MONROE - Monroe High School will stage the swashbuckling adventure "Treasure Island" Nov. 18-20 at the Performing Arts Center.
The two-act drama is based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. This adaptation, by Ken Ludwig, had its world premiere in London in 2007.
"Treasure Island" features the antics of a treacherous band of pirates and a makeshift group of sailors and civilians in search of buried treasure. The play is set in England and the West Indies in 1774 and depicts the coming-of-age adventure of Jim Hawkins, a 14-year-old boy who wants to fill the void left by the disappearance of his father. Hawkins comes to possess a coveted treasure map and embarks on a entangled journey in search of buried treasure.
The play is directed by Romy Cherney and Kathy King, both long-time teachers at MHS and veterans of the MHS theater.
Auditions were held in late September and rehearsals began Oct. 4. Due to strong interest, Cherney and King decided to dual-cast several of the principal roles.
"We're really excited about the opportunity to present this play this way," Cherney said. "Casting the play this way not only showcases the great talent and creativity these young actors possess, but it essentially creates with different personalities and traits, two different ensembles and therefore, different versions of the same play. It's no doubt challenging, but the cast has really embraced it, and we can't wait to see and experience the fruits of all their labor.
"This is a challenging and ambitious production in many ways, but we are banking on pulling it off at a high level. I think everyone coming to this play is going to get a real treat. This cast is fun and energized, we have fun every day, and we all want to fill the house for this one."
The cast includes 30 MHS students. The cast is as follows:
Jim Hawkins: Haylen Finch/Avery Erb; Long John Silver: Ryan Treuthardt/Jared Hardy; Billy Bones: Bridget Kelly/Amy Whiteman; Blind Pew: Vincent Wartenweiler; Captain Flint: Anders Nelson: Captain Smollet: Taylor Soddy; Ben Gunn: Jared Hardy/Ryan Treuthardt; Squire Trelawney: Erica Johnson; Dr. Livesey: Becca Maxwell; Jemmy Rathbone: Kevin Friske; Tom Morgan: Avery Erb/Haylen Finch; Israel Hands: Amy Whiteman/Bridget Kelly; George Merry: Andrea Sarlas/Olivia Corder; Ann Bonny: Hailey Bradshaw/Lauren Bazley; Justice Death: Lauren Bazley/Hailey Bradshaw; Black Dog: Olivia Corder/Andrea Sarlas; Ezekiel Hazard: Alli Luetenegger; Jim's Father: Madeline McGrange; Jim's Mother: Emily Gerrits; Josiah Bland: Madeline McGrange; Calico Jack: Devon Boul; Cut Purse: Molly Wyss; Job O'Brien: Alyson Groom; Reverend Mainwarring: Sami McCoy; the Bailiff: Patrick White; Baliff's son 1: Alex Kloepping; Baliff's son 2: Kim Evans; Boy with barrow: Christina Tuttle; Inn Guest 1: April Bury; Inn Guest 2: Mikayla Friske; Bristol Sailor 1: Craig Kennison; Bristol Sailor 2: Amber Shafer; Widow Drews: Honey Rind.
In addition, about 30 other students are fulfilling support positions within the Theatre Crew and the Stagecraft class. Numerous other volunteers, both student and adult from the school and the community, are also helping.
Both Cherney and King have extensive experience in theater and dramatic productions in many roles including direction, but this is a first collaboration as directors of a play at MHS.
King, MHS art teacher and department chair, has been the originator, leader, and advisor for the MHS Theatre Crew for more than the past decade supporting both the play and musical production each year over that time. Theatre Crew is involved in set design, construction, and decoration; collecting, cataloging, and managing props; designing, preparing, fitting, and managing costumes; and managing makeup.
Cherney has been the primary set builder and technician as well as the technical director for every production at MHS since 2009. Cherney has directorial experience in two other schools prior to coming to MHS in 1990, but "Treasure Island" is his first full directing position at MHS.
"We're doing some different things for this play to really encourage ticket sales and to boost audience attendance and participation," Cherney said. "We want to fill this house. It is a beautiful facility; a full-size, full-accommodation theater, and this cast and all the kids and adults in MHS theater are working their tails off. Now, we're having fun doing it, but we really want people to come to this play and completely enjoy this experience with us. We're making a big pitch, and we're asking for a lot of support - from students, to teaching staff, to parents, and community members."
Performance times are 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.
Tickets are $6 either in advance or at the door. Tickets are half price for anyone with a student or staff ID; IDs from other schools will be honored. Admission for those dressing as a pirate is $1. Children under 8 and under are admitted free.
Tickets will be available at MHS before and after school in the PAC lobby and during the day in the MHS office.
The Monroe Arts and Academics Booster Club will also be selling pirate treats at "Treasure Island," and sponsoring the pirate band "Sweet Life" to play in the M-Room lobby before the play and during intermission. "Sweet Life" is a four-piece bandcomprosed of Monroe's Bill Rients, Dave Soderberg, Patrick Bodell and Erik Madsen. The band plays original pirate and seafaring music written by Terry Hollembaek.
The two-act drama is based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. This adaptation, by Ken Ludwig, had its world premiere in London in 2007.
"Treasure Island" features the antics of a treacherous band of pirates and a makeshift group of sailors and civilians in search of buried treasure. The play is set in England and the West Indies in 1774 and depicts the coming-of-age adventure of Jim Hawkins, a 14-year-old boy who wants to fill the void left by the disappearance of his father. Hawkins comes to possess a coveted treasure map and embarks on a entangled journey in search of buried treasure.
The play is directed by Romy Cherney and Kathy King, both long-time teachers at MHS and veterans of the MHS theater.
Auditions were held in late September and rehearsals began Oct. 4. Due to strong interest, Cherney and King decided to dual-cast several of the principal roles.
"We're really excited about the opportunity to present this play this way," Cherney said. "Casting the play this way not only showcases the great talent and creativity these young actors possess, but it essentially creates with different personalities and traits, two different ensembles and therefore, different versions of the same play. It's no doubt challenging, but the cast has really embraced it, and we can't wait to see and experience the fruits of all their labor.
"This is a challenging and ambitious production in many ways, but we are banking on pulling it off at a high level. I think everyone coming to this play is going to get a real treat. This cast is fun and energized, we have fun every day, and we all want to fill the house for this one."
The cast includes 30 MHS students. The cast is as follows:
Jim Hawkins: Haylen Finch/Avery Erb; Long John Silver: Ryan Treuthardt/Jared Hardy; Billy Bones: Bridget Kelly/Amy Whiteman; Blind Pew: Vincent Wartenweiler; Captain Flint: Anders Nelson: Captain Smollet: Taylor Soddy; Ben Gunn: Jared Hardy/Ryan Treuthardt; Squire Trelawney: Erica Johnson; Dr. Livesey: Becca Maxwell; Jemmy Rathbone: Kevin Friske; Tom Morgan: Avery Erb/Haylen Finch; Israel Hands: Amy Whiteman/Bridget Kelly; George Merry: Andrea Sarlas/Olivia Corder; Ann Bonny: Hailey Bradshaw/Lauren Bazley; Justice Death: Lauren Bazley/Hailey Bradshaw; Black Dog: Olivia Corder/Andrea Sarlas; Ezekiel Hazard: Alli Luetenegger; Jim's Father: Madeline McGrange; Jim's Mother: Emily Gerrits; Josiah Bland: Madeline McGrange; Calico Jack: Devon Boul; Cut Purse: Molly Wyss; Job O'Brien: Alyson Groom; Reverend Mainwarring: Sami McCoy; the Bailiff: Patrick White; Baliff's son 1: Alex Kloepping; Baliff's son 2: Kim Evans; Boy with barrow: Christina Tuttle; Inn Guest 1: April Bury; Inn Guest 2: Mikayla Friske; Bristol Sailor 1: Craig Kennison; Bristol Sailor 2: Amber Shafer; Widow Drews: Honey Rind.
In addition, about 30 other students are fulfilling support positions within the Theatre Crew and the Stagecraft class. Numerous other volunteers, both student and adult from the school and the community, are also helping.
Both Cherney and King have extensive experience in theater and dramatic productions in many roles including direction, but this is a first collaboration as directors of a play at MHS.
King, MHS art teacher and department chair, has been the originator, leader, and advisor for the MHS Theatre Crew for more than the past decade supporting both the play and musical production each year over that time. Theatre Crew is involved in set design, construction, and decoration; collecting, cataloging, and managing props; designing, preparing, fitting, and managing costumes; and managing makeup.
Cherney has been the primary set builder and technician as well as the technical director for every production at MHS since 2009. Cherney has directorial experience in two other schools prior to coming to MHS in 1990, but "Treasure Island" is his first full directing position at MHS.
"We're doing some different things for this play to really encourage ticket sales and to boost audience attendance and participation," Cherney said. "We want to fill this house. It is a beautiful facility; a full-size, full-accommodation theater, and this cast and all the kids and adults in MHS theater are working their tails off. Now, we're having fun doing it, but we really want people to come to this play and completely enjoy this experience with us. We're making a big pitch, and we're asking for a lot of support - from students, to teaching staff, to parents, and community members."
Performance times are 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.
Tickets are $6 either in advance or at the door. Tickets are half price for anyone with a student or staff ID; IDs from other schools will be honored. Admission for those dressing as a pirate is $1. Children under 8 and under are admitted free.
Tickets will be available at MHS before and after school in the PAC lobby and during the day in the MHS office.
The Monroe Arts and Academics Booster Club will also be selling pirate treats at "Treasure Island," and sponsoring the pirate band "Sweet Life" to play in the M-Room lobby before the play and during intermission. "Sweet Life" is a four-piece bandcomprosed of Monroe's Bill Rients, Dave Soderberg, Patrick Bodell and Erik Madsen. The band plays original pirate and seafaring music written by Terry Hollembaek.