PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Monday, November 1, 2010 CONTACTS: Ari Lipsky, [email protected] or Patrick Finlon, 315-443-2636 or [email protected]
Syracuse University Department of Drama presents
Jungalbook A Contemporary Jungle Sets the Stage for Kipling’s Nobel Prize-Winning Work
By Edward Mast Based on The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling Directed by Felix Ivanov
STORCH THEATRE at SYRACUSE STAGE Opens: November 12 Closes: November 21
(Syracuse, NY)—Take an excursion into a playground full of imagination and physical dexterity. Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s books and poems, Edward Mast's Jungalbook springs to life on a contemporary jungle gym, illustrating how a child's imagination can create an exciting new world out of everyday objects. Jungalbook is the season’s second offering from Syracuse University’s Department of Drama in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Directed by Felix Ivanov, Assistant Professor of Acting and Movement, the work will run November 12 through November 21 in the Storch Theatre at Syracuse Stage. For tickets call 315-443-3275 or visit http://vpa.syr.edu/drama.
Faithfully adapted from Kipling's 1894 Nobel Prize-winning The Jungle Book and its sequel, Mast's adaptation, first performed in 1982, aims to bring Kipling's timeless stories and poems into the present. The script is laden with dark undertones and intense fight sequences, unlike some popular film adaptations of the book.
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Ivanov's background in movement and stage combat is heavily utilized in the production. Instead of relying on masks and costuming to represent a specific animal, the cast has rehearsed movement techniques evoking various animalistic qualities.
Within the animalistic movement, the actors have also been challenged to discover ways of communicating character. “The actors have to find how they connect with the characters,” notes Ivanov. “It’s not just about trying to move like a bear or imitate an animal. It’s about finding a specific internal characteristic that motivates each character and pushes the story forward.”
Jungalbook will feature Christian Leadley (seen last season as Jeff in I Love You Because) as Mowgli, in addition to Jon Schoss as Baloo the Bear, Farasha Baylock as Bagheera the Panther, Matt Smith as Sherakhan the Tiger, and Chelsea Rolfes as Akela the Wolf.
SYNOPSIS
Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s books and poems, the intertwined tales of Mowgli, the “mancub,” get a contemporary spin as Kipling’s timeless characters come to life. The familiar story of Mowgli—raised by Akela the wolf, tutored by Baloo the bear and protected by Bagheera the panther—climaxes in the final showdown with Sherakhan the tiger. Along the way, Mowgli learns the laws of the jungle and the price paid for breaking them. Unlike some popular film versions, this adaptation adheres closely to Kipling’s stories and captures the poetic spirit of the original tales.
PLAYWRIGHT
Edward Mast (Playwright) was born in California and now lives in Seattle with his wife and daughter. His plays and solo performances have been seen in New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Kansas City, Honolulu, Oxford, Tashkent, Jerusalem, and other cities. Recent productions include Seneca with Samizdat Theatre; Shearwater River with Chain Link; No Problem, a puppet show with Cardboard Theatre; S2 at Annex Theatre; Tent City Planet, Antigone’s Nation, Sleepwalking Apocalypse and Shadows of Exile with the Theatre Squad; The Million Bells of Ocean at Moving Arts and American Theatre Company; and adaptations of Prometheus Bound/Unbound at the Bailiwick Theatre, The War Prayer at The Coterie, Uncle Vampire at Write/Act, the Chinese classic Peach Blossom Fan at the CalArts Center For New Theatre, and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea at the Resident Theatre Company. His play Sahmatah: Memory of Stones (co-written with Hanna Eady), has been touring Israel since 1998. His plays Jungalbook, Dinosaurus, and Wolf Child: The Correction of Joseph are published by Anchorage Press, and his plays The Hobbit and Trickster Mountain or the Tengu of Kami by Dramatic Publishing Company. He has received commissions, awards, grants and fellowships from Seattle Arts Commission, Artist Trust, Seattle Childrens Theatre, American Alliance for Theatre and Education, CalArts Center for New Theatre, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
DIRECTION
Felix Ivanoff (Director) is a graduate of the prestigious Schukin Theatre School at the Vakhtangov Academy Theatre and the Stasov Musical School (violin) in Moscow,
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Russia. He is also well versed in the art of the musical clownery, physical comedy, stage combat, movement and character dance. He also has achieved the master’s level in the Chinese martial art Kuoshu, and black belt/Shodan rank in Judo. Based on his diverse knowledge and skills, Felix has developed an original dynamic training method for the actors for which he has gained an international recognition. He has formerly taught at The Moscow Art Theatre School, The Lunacharsky State Theatre University and The Gnessin College of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia, and has been a visiting professor at The Academy of Fine Arts in Maastricht, Holland. Felix also choreographed the combat, movement and character dance scenes for over three hundred Russian drama and puppet theatres, motion pictures and television. Presently, Felix is an assistant professor at the Drama Department of Syracuse University. He has previously taught at The Juilliard School, The Actors Center, Brooklyn College, and SUNY Purchase; Rutgers University, NJ; The Hartt School, Hartford, CT; and The North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston Salem, NC. His stage movement and combat choreography has been seen at many American venues including The Acting Company, Lincoln Center Theatre, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Theatre Workshop, The Wooster Group, The Pearl Theatre, The Cherry Lane Theatre, Soho Repertory Theatre, Soho Playhouse, and TELE/VEST in NYC; The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, MN; The Shakespeare Theatre Festival in Cleveland, OH; The Shakespeare Theatre in the Washington, D.C., among others.
CAST
Ross Baron (Monkey/Buffalo) is a junior Acting major from Warren, NJ. Danny Bateman (Hyena) is a junior Acting major from Rutland, Vermont. Farasha Baylock (Bagheera, the Panther) is a junior Acting major from New York City. Mark Blane (Hyena) is a senior Acting major from Valparaiso, Indiana. Samantha Blinn (The Wolf) is a sophomore Musical Theater major from Woodstock, GA. Tara Carbone (Monkey) is a junior Musical Theatre major from Las Vegas, Nevada. Brenna Carolan Carlin (Vulture) is a senior Acting major from Sleepy Hollow, NY. Sean Coyle (Grab, the Wolf) is a junior Acting major from Collingswood, NJ. Troy Dangerfield (Hathi, the Elephant) is a senior Acting major from San Francisco CA. Ben Holtzman (u/s Mowgli) is a sophomore Musical Theatre major from Jericho, NY. Anya Johnson (Vulture) is a junior Acting major from Olympia, Washington. Sammi Lappin (Hyena) is a senior Acting major from Boston. Christian Leadley (Mowgli) is a senior Musical Theater major from Rochester, NY. Shawn C. Nabors (Gray, the Wolf) is a junior Acting major from Brooklyn, NY. Christopher Pesto (Kaa, the Python) is a senior Acting major from Katonah, NY. Chelsea Rolfes (Akela, the Wolf) is a senior Acting major from Cincinnati, Ohio. Jon Schoss (Baloo, the Bear) is a senior Acting major from Ossining, NY. Matt Smith (Sherakhan, the Tiger) is a senior acting major from St. Regis Falls, NY. Lindsey Van Horn (Vulture) is a senior Acting major from Pacific Palisades, California.
PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Gleason (Set Designer) is a junior Set, Lighting, and Costume designer from Jordan, NY. Emily Springer (Costume Designer) is a senior Stage Management major from Greensburg, PA. Kara Ramlow (Lighting Designer) is a junior Lighting Design major from Wilmette, IL.
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Shay Garber (Stage Manager) is a senior Stage Management major from Mission Viejo, CA.
TICKETS
Tickets for the Syracuse University Department of Drama’s production of Jungalbook are $18 for adults, and $16 for students. $15 rush tickets are available at the door, one hour before curtain. Wednesday, Nov. 17 is Pay What You Can Night for students with a valid SUID. For tickets and more information, contact the Department of Drama Box Office at 315-443-3275 or visit http://vpa.syr.edu/drama.
VPA AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
The SU Department of Drama is housed within the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). VPA is committed to the education of cultural leaders who will engage and inspire audiences through performance, visual art, design, scholarship and commentary. It provides the tools for self-discovery and risk-taking in an environment that thrives on critical thought and action.
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Syracuse University Department of Drama presents
Jungalbook A Contemporary Jungle Sets the Stage for Kipling’s Nobel Prize-Winning Work
By Edward Mast Based on The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling Directed by Felix Ivanov
STORCH THEATRE at SYRACUSE STAGE Opens: November 12 Closes: November 21
Designers: Elizabeth Gleason (Set Designer) Emily Springer (Costume Designer) Kara Ramlow (Lighting Designer)
Shay Garber (Stage Manager)
Cast: Ross Baron (Monkey/Buffalo) Danny Bateman (Hyena) Farasha Baylock (Bagheera, the Panther) Mark Blane (Hyena) Samantha Blinn (The Wolf) Tara Carbone (Monkey) Brenna Carolan Carlin (Vulture) Sean Coyle (Grab, the Wolf) Troy Dangerfield (Hathi, the Elephant) Ben Holtzman (u/s Mowgli) Anya Johnson (Vulture) Sammi Lappin (Hyena) Christian Leadley (Mowgli) Shawn C. Nabors (Gray, the Wolf) Christopher Pesto (Kaa, the Python) Chelsea Rolfes (Akela, the Wolf) Jon Schoss (Baloo, the Bear) Matt Smith (Sherakhan, the Tiger) Lindsey Van Horn (Vulture)
Performances: November 12 - 21 Nov. 12 – 8 p.m. Nov. 13 – 8 p.m. Nov. 14 – 2 p.m. Nov. 17 – 8 p.m. Nov. 18 – 8 p.m. Nov. 19 – 8 p.m. Nov. 20 – 2 p.m.
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Nov. 20 – 8 p.m. Nov. 21 – 2 p.m.
Ticket are $18 for adults and $16 for students. $15 rush tickets are available at the door, one hour before curtain. Wednesday, Nov. 17 is Pay What You Can Night for students with a valid SUID. For tickets and more information, call 315-443-3275 or visit http://vpa.syr.edu/drama.
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