Seattle Repertory Theatre and The Center School Analyze Mother - Daughter Relationship with Boxes

by Andrea Allen Directed by Scott Koh

May 21 and 22, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

Seattle, WA - Under the guidance and direction of Seattle Repertory Theatre teaching artists, over 50 high school students from The Center School will present a new play Boxes written by Seattle Rep Education Director Andrea Allen on May 21 and 22 in Seattle Rep's Leo K. Theatre. Over the last four months, the students have learned about costume and set design, set construction, playwriting, and acting in two different TCS classes, and then applied those skills to bring the script to life. Tickets are $5.00 general admission or free with student ID and are on sale now at 206-443-2222. Drama Intensive, now in its seventh year, allow students who are enrolled in the Rehearsal and Performance class build their acting techniques and offer personal responses to Allen, which she then incorporates into the script. Once the script is finished, the acting students audition for roles and begin an intensive rehearsal process, under the direction of Scott Koh and Music Director, Christopher Dewar. At the same time, students in the Design and Production class learn from professionals about set and costume design for theatre while also getting the chance to see and respond to local theatre productions. Under the leadership of Design and Production lead Teaching Artist Jess Smith, Emily Sershon (sets), and Wyn Pottinger-Levy (costumes), the Design and Production students help design and build the technical elements of the show. The Play: This year's Drama Intensive, Boxes, is a modern retelling of the Greek myths of Pandora and Persephone. Allen explores mother-daughter conflict and the themes of loss, regret, and hope through the stories of two modern teenage girls who are finding their way in the midst of the pressure to be perfect, popular, and true to themselves. Once they have released the good, the bad, and the ugly from the box, they are left to pick up the pieces and find the one remaining quality left in the box: hope. The production includes original music by Chris Dewar, performed by a talented cast of student musicians and actors. "I've been interested in the Greeks for a long time - since well before my Latin scholar days in high school," said Allen. "The stories are mythic, of course, but always seen through the lens of humans and their daily struggles and needs. I find that combination fascinating. Early on in the writing process, I started thinking about the story of Pandora. A voice came into my head: ‘This is a story about a box.' And that is still the first line of the play." Info about the Seattle Rep can be found here.