JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE

Winner of Sonoma County (CA) Repertory Company Youth Play Competition

The Firebird will be played out through shadow interpreting. As described by Terptheatre, “Shadow interpreting on stage places the sign language interpreter within the acting space of a play. The interpreters move on stage to position themselves near the location of a single actor – or group of actors. As the focal point of the action on stage shifts, so do the interpreters. As they move across the stage, they may enter and exit with other characters, and interact with them on occasion. Some shows call for interpreters to dance, participate in crowd scenes, move set pieces and take on other actor-like qualities.”

Photo by Erica Yoon, Kingsport Times News

Evan Guilford-Blake (The Firebird | True Magic: An A Cappella Christmas Farce with Unoriginal Music for the Entire Family) has written some 25 produced plays for adults and young audiences, which have received more than 85 productions across the U.S., in Canada, England and Australia. He has won 18 playwriting competitions (including the Tennessee Williams Competition, the NETC/Aurand Harris Award and the Utah Playfest) as well as awards for his short fiction and poetry. His other published work includes numerous articles and stories as well as the text for Butterflies, a children's picture book, and contributions to two collections of monologues.

Mr. Guilford-Blake created the workshop "The Business of Playwriting: Developing and Marketing your Play without an Agent" which he has presented at many venues, and he has also taught playwriting, drama and public speaking on various levels.

He is a member of Chicago Dramatists' Advisory Board and the Dramatists Guild. He and his wife, freelance writer and jewelry designer Roxanna Guilford-Blake, live in the Atlanta area with their two lovable, dumb-as-dirt doves, Quill and Gabriella.

Photo by Erica Yoon, Kingsport Times News

SPEAKING CAST
Narrator: Melissa Keith
Firebird: Melissa Keith
Duke: Pollie Griffin
Horse: Holly Bible
King: Colin Jeffress
Princess: Kathleen King
Lobster: Sharon Squibb
Jr. Firebird: Christina Fulcher
Servant 2: Tabitha Williams

SIGNING CAST
Narrator: Patty Harmon
Firebird: Karisha Little (Cissy)
Duke: Ashley Reuss
Horse: Carol Mohler
King: Shelby Edwards
Princess: M.J. Light
Lobster: Patty Harmon
Servant 1: Crystal Piver

CREW
Stage Manager: Tabitha Williams
Lighting Design: Karen Elb
Light Board Operator: Kasey Curtis
Props Manager: Crystal Piver
Cue Manager: Kasey Curtis
Sign Language Manager: Patty Harmon

The Firebird is directed by Janette Gaines.

“As a parent of hard-of-hearing daughters, I have witnessed the ping-pong effect of watching a play interpreted in the standard ‘on the floor’ method,” says Gaines. “I have also witnessed missed dialogue and huge chunks of storyline lost when there is no interpreter and/or the actors are in a position where their lips cannot be read. For my daughters and for all other Deaf theatre lovers, I would like to offer a play they can enjoy to its fullest along with the hearing audience.”

 

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Photos by Erica Yoon, Kingsport Times News

Click here for review by the Johnson City Press.

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Tickets can be purchased by calling the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at 423-753-1010. Firebird costs will be $5 for students, the Deaf and National Storytelling Festival ticket holders;
$10 for general admission.

Jonesborough Repertory Theatre is located at 125½ West Main Street, Jonesborough - next door to the Historic Eureka Inn, across the street from Jonesborough Presbyterian Church.