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Event
The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow
Improv Playhouse Theater
735 N. Milwaukee, Libertyville, Il 60048
847-968-4529
Improv Playhouse will be performing the Washington Irving classic story "The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow" as a staged radio drama on October 31 at 7:30 & 9:00pm. The story has been adapted many times for stage and screen, most recently as film with Johnny Depp and a loosely associated series cancelled on Fox TV. David Stuart, Executive Producer at IP and the Director of Sleepy Hollow is very excited about this adaptation which he and many others claim is, "by far the closest to the original novel." This radio drama adaptation staged at the Improv Playhouse Theater is an imaginative 60-minute performance (or radio-live-on-stage) adaptation of Washington Irving's famous short-story, perfect for Halloween with an Autumn feel prior to Thanksgiving with an additional focus on an Early-America time period. Stuart explains that "radio plays are easier to produce than traditional stage-plays, because there are no sets, costumes or memorization required, although our actors do wear wardrobe similar to 1940's radio acting ensembles." Since this is a Halloween production Stuart will produce the radio play, the cast, sound effects, and background music with full effect of fun and family friendly creepiness. These work the way movie music enhances spookiness or other emotional states. "Our script dramatizes Irving's classic short-story, bringing to life scenes and characters that were merely described in the original, including the one-room schoolhouse, the Van Tassel household, the country damsels, the townsfolk's ghost stories, singing-master Ichabod's terrible church choir, the quilting frolic, and the climatic chase by the Headless Horseman", says Stuart.
The treatment is both spooky and funny, with a poetry duel, a rained-out pie-contest and several are-they-or-aren't-they dream sequences with the Horseman. "As with our adaptations of Dickens' Christmas Carol and Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life!, the show is suitable for all audiences, yet performable by our terrific ensemble of actors. However, it is not dumbed-down for kiddies." Stuart explained that the script remains true to Washington Irving's short story, bringing plenty of authentic 1789 elementsfrom Major Andre, to Isaac Watts to Jonathan Edwards to Hudson Valley folktales. Many people do not realize that old radio dramas have become popular for many theater companies, especially around the winter holiday season. "These are mostly adaptations of classic works of literature into hour-long radio plays," says Stuart. "Many of these were CBS Radio Theater and the Mercury Theater on the Air's performance of timeless classics. Boris Karloff narrated a version of the story on a 1977 LP with original songs and sound effects. BBC Radio 7 has repeatedly broadcast a three-part reading of the story with Martin Jarvis as the Narrator. Very cool stuff!" Improv Playhouse will also be creating a festive environment with treats and other fun surprises during the night of performances including a costume contest. "It is going to be a night of just plain clean fun," says Stuart.
In addition to directing the performance, Stuart will be playing several roles. The rest of the cast includes other SAG-AFTRA actors beside Stuart with new and veteran ensemble members rounding out the cast. Performance times: 7:30 & 9:00. Pre-Sale: Adults. $12.50 & Students $5.00. At the Door: $15.00 Adults: $7.50 Students. Visit www.improvplayhouse.com or call 847-968-4529 for ticket orders.
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LocationImprov Playhouse Theater (View)
735 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Libertyville, IL 60048
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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