Salt Lake Acting Company News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY PRESENTS ‘HOW I BECAME A PIRATE’ BASED ON THE BOOK BY MELINDA LONG, ADAPTED BY JANET YATES VOGT & MARK FRIEDMAN DIRECTED BY PENELOPE MARANTZ CAYWOOD
Salt Lake Acting Company is thrilled to present our 3rd annual children’s play HOW I BECAME A PIRATE based on the book by Melinda Long, adapted for the stage by Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman. This musical is a perfect holiday tradition to share with your family! HOW I BECAME A PIRATE will run December 9- December 30, 2011 in our Upstairs Theatre. SLAC is proud to continue its tradition of producing professional children's theatre that honors children’s creativity and intelligence.
HOW I BECAME A PIRATE, winner of the Irma S and James H Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature, is a story of adventure and finding one's own heart through song and dance - a path that can't be found on any treasure map. When Braid Beard's pirate crew invites Jeremy Jacob to join their voyage, he jumps right on board. Buried treasure, sea chanteys, pirate curses -- who wouldn't go along? Director and Choreographer Penelope Caywood says, “Pirates represent a life without cares, where you can do whatever you want without worrying about what adults have to say about it. That’s the type of adventure that Jeremy embarks on in the show and that’s what I want the audience to experience.”
Sharing the role of Jeremy Jacob are 12-year-old students of the Youth Theatre at the University of Utah, Michael Tao and Fynn White. The pirate crew will be played by SLAC veterans Austin Archer, Alexis Baigue, Randall Eames, and Shannon Musgrave along with SLAC newcomer J. Michael Bailey who will be playing Captain Braid Beard.
SLAC is proud to merge arts and education through offering Title I schools that often lack access to the arts seven free performances of the play for their K-2 students, complete with a study guide, pre-play warm up and post-play discussion with the actors. SLAC will once again form literary partnerships with the Salt Lake Public Library and King’s English Bookshop. Director, Penelope Caywood commends SLAC’s efforts to heighten the live theatre experience for people of all ages, “At SLAC they do not believe in ‘dumbing down’ shows for the younger audience but instead, they invest in high quality theatre for children.” Watching children beam and come to life during and after each performance is truly rewarding for SLAC, reaffirming the notion that theatre and the arts are vital to the human experience.
The Salt Lake Acting Company will be holding a clothing drive to benefit children and teens being served by Salt Lake County Youth Services. Donated clothing will benefit youth in state custody because of abuse and neglect and teens utilizing the Homeless Youth Walk In Program. Donations will be received through Youth Services nonprofit arm, ShelterKids, and are tax deductible.
During the run of HOW I BECAME A PIRATE, Utah Food Bank will have a presence in SLAC’s lobby. SLAC is proud to benefit the Food Bank’s BackPack Program for children. Utah Food Bank’s Kids Cafe provides hot, nutritious meals to children in low-income after-school programs at schools, community centers and Boys & Girls Clubs around Salt Lake County. Visit
www.saltlakeactingcompany.org for a list of items needed.
Inspired by SLAC’s children’s production and both organizations’ efforts to plant the seed of creative curiosity early in life, we invited younger and older students from the Visual Art Institute in Salt Lake City to exhibit in our Green Room Gallery during the run of HOW I BECAME A PIRATE. The Visual Art Institute was established in 1978 and its mission is to encourage students to integrate their creativity into every aspect of their thinking, education, and life. VIA provides exceptional visual art programs to elementary through high school students, including year-round classes and an intensive figurative workshop in the summer.
SLAC offers its heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the following supporters. They help make the Salt Lake Acting Company’s production of HOW I BECAME A PIRATE possible by underwriting the free Title 1 School Matinees and overall production:
Sweet Candy Company
Nordstrom
C Comstock Clayton Foundation
Henry W & Leslie M Eskuche Foundation
Holland & Hart, LLP
KeyBank
Anderson & Karrenberg
COMPANY BIOS
MICHAEL TAO (Jeremy Jacob) joins this crew for his first show at Salt Lake Acting Company. Michael is a student in training at the University of Utah Youth Theatre where he has appeared as Jim Nasium in THE RINGS AROUND ROSIE and as Rufus Bilge in SHOWTIME ON THE SHOWBOAT. He attends West High School.
FYNN WHITE (Jeremy Jacob) is happily making his debut at the Salt Lake Acting Company. Fynn is a student in training at the University of Utah Youth Theatre where he has appeared as Odysseus in THE FIRE THIEVES and as Gimple in THE WISE MEN OF CHELM. He attends Wasatch Junior High School.
AUSTIN ARCHER (Shark Tooth the Pirate) is thrilled to be back with the Salt Lake Acting Company. He has been previously seen on the stage at SLAC as "Patty Henry" in SATURDAY’S VOYEUR 2011, "Haemon" in TOO MUCH MEMORY, and "Shye" in TRENCHCOAT IN COMMON as part of SLAC's New Play Sounding Series. This performance is dedicated to his eight nieces and nephews, who constantly help him to stay silly, and to see the world through the limitless eyes of a child. Enjoy!
J. MICHAEL BAILEY (Captain Braid Beard) has performed extensively throughout the western United States and Canada. Some of his favorite roles include Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES, Sweeney Todd in SWEENEY TODD, George in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, and The Leading Player in PIPPIN. In addition to his life as an actor, J. Michael is a singer/songwriter and has released three studio albums under his own Restless Water Records label. He is excited to be a part of his first SLAC production as well as being in a show his three wonderful kids can enjoy. Mary, you are everything…
ALEXIS BAIGUE (Swill the Pirate) has appeared in: GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA (GOOD MORNING JULIET), ANGELS IN AMERICA, Part One: Millennium Approaches, eleven summers of SATURDAY’S VOYEUR (at S.L.A.C.), DEAR WORLD (Sundance Summer Theatre), BEYOND THERAPY, THE SEX HABITS OF AMERICAN WOMEN (Pygmalion Productions), THE BOYS IN THE BAND (Wasatch Theatre), SURFIN’ SAFARI (Desert Star Playhouse), JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS, SPEAKEASIE (TheatreWorks West), ANASTASIA (StageRight), WIT (Emily Company), NO EXIT (SallyFourth), SUMMER AND SMOKE, CABARET, RHINOCEROS, QUEEN CHRISTINA, ANTIGONE, THE RIMERS OF ELDRITCH, LOYALTIES (University of Utah), YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, and THE TREE OF LACE (Salt Lake Community College); staged readings: MOTHER COLLEGE, THE LIVELY LAD, BUNBURY, THE CANCER DIARIES, CHARM, PROPHETS OF NATURE, ANGELS IN AMERICA, Part Two: Perestroika (S.L.A.C.), THE UNDERPANTS, THE VIOLET HOUR, THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE, MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE (Utah Contemporary Theatre), WISH UPON, BOX KITE (Avalon Isle), Cahill’s CUP, Beecher’s THE IMMACULATE ABORTION, and Wessels’ RECTUM! He received Q Salt Lake’s Fabby Award for Actor of the Year, 2008, and Best Performance, 2011.
RANDALL EAMES (Pirate Pierre) graduated Magna Cum Laude from Weber State University with a degree in Theatre Arts. He is happy to be returning to SLAC’s stage after appearing in last season’s SATURDAY’S VOYEUR. Some of his favorite roles include: one of the guys in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ABRIDGED, Flute in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Roy Johnson in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, part of the company of UNDER CONSTRUCTION and Willard in FOOTLOOSE. He would like to thank all of those involved in this process and his friends, family and educators for their endless support.
SHANNON MUSGRAVE (Max the Pirate) is thrilled to be aboard this ship with this fine crew! She was last seen on SLAC’s stage as Betsy Ross and Kate K. in SATURDAY’S VOYEUR 2011. She also appeared in the 2010 and 2009 versions of VOYEUR and played Hattie, the fabulous pink poodle in SLAC’s first children’s play, GO, DOG. GO! Last season, Shannon read the role of Dell in the NPSS reading of Kathleen Cahill’s COURSE 86B IN THE CATALOGUE. Other local credits include 42ND STREET (Pioneer Theatre Co.), MUSICAL OF MUSICALS and SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK (The Grand Theatre), ROMEO & JULIET and THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Pinnacle Acting Co.) She also choreographed THE WIZARD OF OZ and OLIVER! at the Grand Theatre. Shannon received her BA in Musical Theatre from Weber State University, and is privileged to work as the Executive Assistant for the Salt Lake Acting Company.
PENELOPE MARANTZ CAYWOOD (Director/Choreographer) is best known for her work with University of Utah’s Youth Theatre program where she has been the director for the past 5 years. She has directed a Youth Theatre production every year while with the program and is also responsible for all the educational and outreach programming as well as an association with the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program (along with Kingsbury Hall and the Salt Lake City School District). This summer Penny took 17 Youth Theatre students to perform an original musical which she composed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as representatives of the United States. Locally, Penny has choreographed for The Grand Theatre, Utah Opera, Rogers Memorial Theatre, Weber State University; musically directed for Plan-B; and directed at Rogers Memorial Theatre and SLAC. Penny’s career in the theatre started when she was 5 years old. She travelled across the country in a youth singing group, sang on children’s records, and learned jazz and tap from incredible teachers. While she lived in California, Penny was involved in the creation of a youth theatre company in Palos Verdes called Curtains Up! She was also a very active as an actor in musicals for civic light operas with an occasional job in the pit as a flautist. Penny is so delighted to be working with Salt Lake Acting Company again.
DARRIN DOMAN (Musical Director) has performed on many stages throughout the Wasatch Front. He has been in more than 25 local productions with regional and international credits as well. Darrin is happy to be in the spotlight, singing and dancing on stage, or working behind the scenes. He has been Musical Director for 6 productions and production pianist for many others. Some favorites include INTO THE WOODS, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND and NUNSENSE. Darrin is thrilled to part of the team for HOW I BECAME A PIRATE and congratulates Salt Lake Acting Company for being brave enough to produce professional children’s theater. In his “free” time, Darrin sings with the Utah Chamber Artists. He works full-time at the University of Utah Hospital and is pursuing a quest to see the 7 Wonders of the Modern World—5 down, 2 to go.
DANIELLE KAUERZ (Educational Correspondent) graduated from the University of Utah in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. Since then Danielle has taught fourth grade at Redwood Elementary School in Granite School District and coaches their Girls on the Run Team. She is a graduate of iSchool and the eMINTS program which focuses on technology in
the classroom as well as social interaction, inquiry-based learning and student research. Danielle is currently a graduate student at the University of Utah. She is obtaining a Masters of Education through the Educational Psychology Department in Instructional Design and Educational Technology.
FACT SHEET
SLAC PRODUCTION HOW I BECAME A PIRATE
PLAYWRIGHT Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman
BASED ON THE BOOK BY Melinda Long
DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER Penelope Marantz Caywood
SOUND DESIGN Josh Martin
CAST Austin Archer, Alexis Baigue, J. Michael Bailey, Randall Eames, Shannon Musgrave, Michael Tao, Fynn White
SET DESIGN Keven Myhre
LIGHT DESIGN Jesse Portillo
COSTUME DESIGN Brenda Van Der Wiel
SOUND DESIGN Darrin Doman
EDUCATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Danielle Kauerz
SLAC NOTES:
Groups (10+) Kids $10 – Adults $20
Subscribers Kids $12 – Adults $22
Full Price Kids $15 – Adults $2
DATES & TIMES: DECEMBER 2011
HOW I BECAME A PIRATE
Adapted by Janet Yates & Mark Friedman
Book copyright © 2003 Melinda Long
Illustration copyright © 2003 David Shannon
Published by Harcourt Books
NOW PLAYING & EXTENDED:
World Premiere of (a man enters) by Elaine Jarvik and Kate Jarvik Birch, with Joyce Cohen, Terence Goodman, Amanda Mahoney, Deena Marie Manzanares & Jesse Peery. Directed by Alexandra Harbold.
DATES Opened: November 2, 2011
Closing: December 11, 2011
TIMES Wed – Sat - 7:30 p.m.
Sun- 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Season subscribers are the heart of Salt Lake Acting Company. See the rest of the season as a subscriber and always pay the lowest price while having the privilege to exchange your tickets as many times as you want for free. Becoming a subscriber is the best way to support this unique theatre.
Season ticket packages that include 5 plays range from $61-$186.
SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 professional theatre found in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists. SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under a STP Actors Equity Association contract. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.
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Cynthia Fleming
Executive Producer
Salt Lake Acting Company
801.363.7522
