Brigham Young University’s Young Company will present a performance tailored toward young audiences of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Tuesday through Saturday, Oct. 17-20 and 23-27 in the Margetts Theatre. The play will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday’s performances will include matinees at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Tickets are $7 for weekend performances and $6 on weeknights and matinees. Children ages two to11 will receive a $2 discount. For tickets, visit the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-4322 or byuarts.com/tickets.
Directed by Teresa Dayley Love, the play tells the familiar story of things not always being what they seem in the strange town of Sleepy Hollow, where perceptions are clear one moment and hazy the next. Four actors embody numerous characters and involve the audience in bringing to life the tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman in this classic story about the illusions we create and the delusions we harbor.
“This play is true to the wry spirit of Washington Irving’s short story,” said Love. “Two storytellers stir our imaginations as they play multiple characters who live in the post-American Revolution village of Sleepy Hollow, New York.”
“At certain points during the performance, audience members are invited to make sound effects, and play townsfolk and even doors and windows,” she said. “Because of the heavy audience involvement, there is a clear understanding that this is a story, and we are all, actors and audience, pretending together.”
The Young Company consists of faculty and students who combine their talents to bring theatre art to elementary school students. BYU Arts recommends age eight and above as the appropriate age range for this play.
“It is not dark. However, there is talk and personification of mischievous ghosts,” said Love. “This is a version of our touring production which plays in first to sixth grade in elementary schools in Utah and Salt Lake counties. Age eight is very appropriate, but six to seven is fine if the child is not overly sensitive (for example, could watch a ‘Scooby Doo’cartoon, or Disney's ‘Beauty and the Beast’ or ‘Aladdin’ and not have nightmares).”
The cast features Averill Corkin, Devin Wadsworth, Johnny Spelta, Lindsay Clark, Lisa Lundberg, Logan Hayden and Maile Hekeia.
The technical crew of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” includes Becky Wallin, outreach coordinator; Jennifer Reed, production manager; Brittany Corbett, stage manager; Travis Coyne, technical director; Ward Wright, scenic designer; Josh Fawcett, lighting designer; Alanna Kruger, costume designer; Ashley Cook, assistant costume designer; Holly Garner, makeup designer; Laruen Wilkins, makeup designer; Aileen McIntosh, properties designer; Megan Chase, dramturg; and Spencer Johnson, assistant stage manager.
This production is sponsored by the BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts. For more information, contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348 or ken_crossley@byu.edu.
Writer: Preston Wittwer
