"The Neverending Story," based on the novel by Michael Ende, is a very challenging show to put onstage and even more so…
Neverending Story at GLTG
“The Neverending Story,” based on the novel by Michael Ende, is a very challenging show to put onstage and even more so with 11-14 year olds. The tweens at the GLTG have risen to the challenge, however, and are conquering their journey to Fantastica with creativity and lots of hard work.
In the play, a boy named Bastian (or in this version, a girl, played by Alex Lanese) is bullied and overlooked at school. A well-meaning, albeit creepy, bookseller introduces Bastian to a book called “The Neverending Story.” As Bastian reads about brave young hunter Atreyu (Katie Sweet), who is on a mission to heal the Childlike Empress (Emily Woolf), she becomes more and more entranced in the story. Fantastica is in danger of being conquered by the Nothing, a darkness that is sweeping over the land. As Bastian reads on, she learns that she is needed to save Fantastica and gets swept into the story.
The setting is nothing short of fantastic, and the cast and director are using their imaginations to bring the story to life. With umbrellas, cotton stuffing, scraps of fabric, hours of sewing, tons of duct tape, hot glue, and spray paint, the scenes bloom onstage. Director Angela Miloro-Hansen loves this creative challenge, and incorporates the cast into the setting as much as possible–and they do play everything, from swamps to grassy plains to clouds. The cast is constantly moving.
In addition to intense onstage acting and set work, the 11-14-year old cast has also been learning dances and drumbeats, thanks to the choreography of Tia Workman and Kelly Tapager.
Performances run Aug. 14-16 at Geauga Lyric Theater Guild in Chardon. Marquee sponsor for this production is Mapledale Farm.
Tickets are only $6 and reservations can be made online at www.geaugatheater.org or by calling the box office at 440-286-2255.
Fairmount Fall Registration
Registration for Fairmount Center for the Arts’ fall session is now open. The nonprofit art center is offering students of all ages classes, workshops and private instruction in art, dance, theater, music and fitness.
Fall session is broken into two seven-week sessions: session I is Sept. 2 through Oct. 19 and session II is Oct. 20 through Dec. 7. Classes are priced for seven or 14 weeks.
To register, call 440-338-3171, email info@fairmountcenter.org with registration and payment information, stop by the Center with registration and payment at 8400 Fairmount Road in Russell Township or register online at www.fairmountcenter.org.
