Cleveland Play House/CWRU Graduate Ensemble Star in
Tuck Everlasting
CLEVELAND (January 14, 2008) – The Theatre for Children Series at The Cleveland Play House at 85th and Euclid produces the stage adaptation of the classic and beloved book, Tuck Everlasting. The play will run in the Play House’s Brooks Theatre, January 29-February 23, 2008. Public performances will be held on Saturdays at 1:00 and 3:00 pm.
The roles in Tuck Everlasting are filled by the entire CPH/CWRU Graduate Acting Ensemble class of 2008.
"I am so thrilled that this group of young actors is working to inspire the next generation of theatre audiences here at The Play House,” says Mark Alan Gordon, Associate Director of the CPH/CWRU Graduate Acting Program.
The novel, Tuck Everlasting, was written by Ohio native and Laurel School graduate Natalie Babbitt. An award-winning author, Babbitt remained reluctant about having her book adapted for the stage. She relinquished, however, when her son-in-law, Mark Frattaroli, approached Babbitt about the adaptation. This stage version of Tuck Everlasting is most true to the novel, as Babbitt had a hand in the adaptation. Tuck Everlasting was first presented at Louisville Children’s Theatre as a workshop in 1991.
ABOUT TUCK EVERLASTING
Tuck Everlasting is the story of Winnie Foster, a girl who is bored with being surrounded by adults, and sets out for an adventure. She leaves her hometown, but when she is kidnapped by Jesse Tuck and his family, she’s offered the chance for immortality. Tuck Everlasting is one of the most talked-about children’s stories of recent years; it became a hit Disney film and is now a wondrous play for the stage.
ABOUT THE CAST
TOM DEGNAN (Angus Tuck) CPH: Pride and Prejudice (spring 2008), Doubt (understudy, spring 2008) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, Little Foxes CLEVELAND: The Specificity of Paradise, The Seagull, Eldred Theatre REGIONAL: Monomoy Theatre (multiple credits) EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008); BA, University of Notre Dame
AMANDA DUFFY (Mae Tuck) CPH: Pride and Prejudice (spring 2008), A Christmas Story (understudy) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, Little Foxes CLEVELAND: The Specificity of Paradise, The Seagull, Eldred Theatre TOURING PRODUCTIONS: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, ShakespeareLIVE REGIONAL: Utah Shakespearean Festival (multiple credits), The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (multiple credits) EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008)
NATHAN GURR (Miles Tuck) CPH: Pride and Prejudice (understudy, spring 2008) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, Little Foxes CLEVELAND: The Seagull, Eldred Theatre; The Taming of the Shrew, Great Lakes Theater Festival EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008); BA in Theater and Philosophy at Whittier College in Los Angeles
DAN HAMMOND (The Stranger in the Yellow Suit) CPH: Of Mice and Men (understudy), Pride and Prejudice (spring 2008), The Chosen (understudy) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, Little Foxes CLEVELAND: The Specificity of Paradise, The Seagull, Eldred Theatre; Lunacy, Dobama Theatre OTHER CREDITS: co-founder of Standing Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008); BA in Theatre from Loyola University Chicago; The School at Steppenwolf Theatre (2007)
DERIC McNISH (Jesse Tuck) CPH: Pride and Prejudice (spring 2008), The Chosen (understudy) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, Little Foxes CLEVELAND: The Specificity of Paradise, The Seagull, Eldred Theatre; Peter Pan, Porthouse Theatre; Othello, The Ohio Shakespeare Festival REGIONAL (select): The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Cider Mill Playhouse, Expanded Arts/Ludlow Ten, The Kraine Theatre, National Theatre of the Performing Arts, La Mama TELEVISION: “Third Watch” FILM: White Room, Lead Paint EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008)
ANNIE PAUL (Winnie Foster) CPH: Pride and Prejudice (spring 2008), Doubt (understudy, spring 2008), Americans (FusionFest) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, Little Foxes CLEVELAND: The Specificity of Paradise, The Seagull, Eldred Theatre; King Lear, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival REGIONAL: American Players Theatre (multiple credits) OTHER THEATRES: Theatre X (multiple credits), Renaissance Theaterworks (multiple credits) EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008)
TAYLOR VALENTINE (Narrator/Constable) CPH: Pride and Prejudice (spring 2008), The Chosen (understudy) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, The Little Foxes REGIONAL: Warehouse Theatre, New Conservatory Theatre Center, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, ACT, Shotgun Players, San Jose Repertory Theatre EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008); BA, Catawba College; Journeyman Program, The Warehouse Theatre in South Carolina
MELYNEE SAUNDERS WARREN (Granny Foster) CPH: Pride and Prejudice (spring 2008), Doubt (understudy, spring 2008) CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: As You Like It, Big Love, Heartbreak House, The Little Foxes CLEVELAND: The Specificity of Paradise, The Seagull, Eldred Theatre; King Lear, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival REGIONAL: Monomoy Theatre, Hedgerow Theatre EDUCATION: MFA, CWRU Western Reserve University-The Cleveland Play House (2008)
THE CREATIVE TEAM
NATALIE BABBITT (Author) is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. For Tuck Everlasting (1975) she received the Christopher Award for juvenile fiction, American Library Association Notable Book, U.S. Honor Book, and the International Reading Association choices list, among many other awards. Babbitt says that she writes for children because she is “interested in fantasy and the possibilities for experience of all kinds before the time of compromise.” Babbitt has been called one of our nation’s most important and gifted children’s writers. Among Natalie Babbitt’s numerous other wonderful works are: Dick Foote and the Shark (1967), The Search for Delicious (1969), The Something (1970), and The Eyes of the Amaryllis (1977).
MARK FRATTAROLI (Adaptation) Before Mark Frattaroli adapted Tuck Everlasting, other writers had tried to adapt the novel, but never to the satisfaction of author Natalie Babbitt. Frattaroli loved the book, but when he first approached Babbitt (his mother-in- law) she was reticent. Eventually, both Frattaroli and Babbitt were pleased with the adaptation, and it was ready for production. Frattaroli says what was important to him as the adaptor was keeping the text of the book as true as possible. He believes that the story is important, but that Babbitt’s words are even more important. Frattaroli’s goal was to keep the language intact in a stage-worthy play. Mark Frattaroli is an English teacher in Connecticut. He attended Connecticut College for his B.A., and received his Masters in Theatre at Brown University. He first presented Tuck Everlasting at the Louisville Children’s Theatre as a workshop in 1991. He has also adapted Babbitt’s novel The Search for Delicious.
SARAH MAY (Director) began her career at The Cleveland Play House in the 1960’s. More recently for the Play House she has taught acting to children and adults and directed The Emperor’s Nightingale for young audiences. Sarah spent 10 years in New York City performing, directing, and developing educational programs for Playwrights Horizons, Henry Street Settlement, and Roundabout Theatre. She returned to Cleveland to serve as Director of Education for Great Lakes Theatre Festival and to found their outreach residency program. Sarah served as Artistic Director of Karamu Theatre for many years, and she has been a guest director for most area theatres. Her Beck Center production of A Piece of My Heart won the 2001 Northern Ohio Live Magazine Award of Achievement in Theatre. She has been nominated for that same award on five other occasions (My Children, My Africa at Dobama, Mulebone at Karamu, Having Our Say for Ensemble, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill starring Rasheryl McCreary, and Six Degrees of Separation for Charenton.) She has been honored by Scene magazine, which named Six Degrees the “Best Theatre Production” of 2003, and The Diary of Anne Frank at Beck “Best Production” of 2006. Sarah’s 2006 production of Anne Frank is currently being revived at The Beck Center featuring George Roth (seen in CPH’s The Chosen and Ella) as Otto Frank. Other recent productions include Bryony Laverty’s Frozen and Rebecca Gilman’s timely dramas Boy Gets Girl, and Spinning Into Butter for Beck Center, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg for Charenton Theatre, and Brian Friel’s Translations and Philadelphia, Here I Come! Later this spring audiences will have the opportunity to see her production of Alan Bennett’s dazzling play The History Boys on Beck’s Main Stage.
CAMERON CALEY MICHALAK (Scenic Designer/Assistant Technical Director) CPH: Man of La Mancha (assistant technical director), Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (assistant technical director), The Chosen, (assistant technical director) A Christmas Story (assistant technical director) CLEVELAND: Once Upon a Mattress, Oberlin Auditorium; Starmites, Hall Auditorium; Proof, William Allman Theatre; Honk, Little Theatre OFF-OFF-BROADWAY: The Messiah, Workshop Theatre Company; Art Nouveaux, Wings Theatre OTHER CREDITS: The True Tragedy of the Mortician, Inaugural Washington D.C. Fringe Festival EDUCATION: BA, Baldwin-Wallace College
SHERRICE KELLY (Lighting Designer) EDUCATION: BA, University of California Santa Cruz; CPH Lighting Intern; Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program Student Production Liaison OTHER CREDITS: Shakespeare Santa Cruz Assistant Lighting Designer, Shakespeare Santa Cruz Assistant Production Manager
KIMBERLY CASTLE (Costume Designer) CPH: Ferdinand the Bull, Alice in Wonderland CLEVELAND: Ten Minutes from Cleveland, The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, Dobama Theatre; A View from the Bridge, Ensemble Theatre; Coffee Cantata, Signor Deluso, The Impresario, Baldwin-Wallace College EDUCATION: BA in Theatre and Business Administration, Baldwin-Wallace College
RICHARD B. INGRAHAM (Sound Designer) CPH: Lake of Panthers, Jocasta, Blues for An Alabama Sky, Harvey, The Guardsman, Touch the Names, The Arkansas Bear, Two Trains Running, Seascape, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Nightfall: An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe CLEVELAND: Beauty and the Beast, Holy Ghosts, Frozen, Equus, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Beck Center for the Arts; Take Me Out, Lunacy, Shorn, Pillowman, Night Bloomers, A Number, The Goat, Dobama Theatre REGIONAL: University of Evansville, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Playhouse Square, Shakespeare and Company, Willoughby Fine Arts Association OTHER CREDITS: Consultant to Stage Research Incorporated and Richmond Sound Design; Show Control Programmer, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
RON WILSON (Fight Choreographer) CPH: Man of La Mancha, Well, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Underpants, Forest City, Jekyll and Hyde, Dinner with Friends, I Hate Hamlet, Cyrano, The Emancipation of Valet de Chambre, A Small Family Business, Seascape, Blue Room, A Kiss for Cinderella CWRU/CPH MFA PROGRAM: Hurlyburly, Bus Stop, Little Foxes, Big Love, Heartbreak House, A Midsummer Night’s Dream CLEVELAND: Tartuffe, Great Lakes Theatre Festival REGIONAL: Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse, The Hangar Theatre, The Kitchen Theatre CORNELL UNIVERSITY: Twelfth Night, Red Noses, Les Liaisons Dangerouses, The Rover, The Royal Family, The Curious CWRU of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Cyrano, Noises Off, A Streetcar Named Desire, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, The Cherry Orchard, King Lear, Marat/Sade EMORY UNIVERSITY: The White Devil, Taming of the Shrew OTHER: Director of the CWRU/CPH MFA Program and Chairman of the Department of Theater and Dance at CWRU Western Reserve University
JERROLD SCOTT (Dialect Coach) CPH (select): Heartbreak House, Bus Stop, Vincent in Brixton, Hay Fever, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Waverly Gallery, Emancipation of Valet de Chambre, A Small Family Business CLEVELAND: Amy’s View, Dobama Theatre; A Christmas Carol, Great Lakes Theatre Festival REGIONAL: The Studio Theatre, Theater of the First Amendment, South Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Washington Stage Guild, Round House Theatre, Wooly Mammoth Theatre, Washington Shakespeare Festival, Contemporary American Theatre Company EDUCATION: MFA, University of South Carolina/The Shakespeare Theatre
Founded in 1915, The Cleveland Play House is the first permanently established professional theatre in the United States. More than 12 million people have attended over 1,300 productions at The Play House – including more than 130 American and/or World Premieres. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Bloom and Managing Director Kevin Moore, The Cleveland Play House is an artist-driven theatre that serves the Greater Cleveland community by holding true to its mission:
To produce plays of the highest professional standards that inspire, stimulate, and entertain our diverse audiences, and to conduct training and educational programs that enhance the quality of life for those we serve and help to insure the future of theatre.
The Ohio Arts Council helps to fund The Cleveland Play House with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
###
Alison Bibb-Carson
Associate Director of Communications and Marketing
The Cleveland Play House
8500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
216.795.7000 x236
SEEINGISBELIEVING...www.clevelandplayhouse.com