PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, October 14, 2014 CONTACT: Kristina Starowitz, Public Relations Manager 315-443-8603 or [email protected] Public Performance Scheduled October 18th for Children’s Show Annabel Drudge… and the Second Day of School (Syracuse, NY)— A public performance of this year’s Bank of America Children’s Show Annabel Drudge… and the Second Day of School, produced by Syracuse Stage and the Department of Drama in Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), will be held at 10:00 a.m. on October 18, 2014 in the Storch Theatre at 820 East Genesee Street. One hour in length, Annabel Drudge… and the Second Day of School is appropriate for all ages. In lieu of hosting an Open House this fall, Syracuse Stage is offering complimentary tickets to the public for this event. Seating is limited and can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 315-443- 3275. Performed in striking visual terms, Annabel Drudge… and the Second Day of School by Lauren Unbekant offers an extraordinary opportunity to share a rich theatrical experience with students. The writer/director, designers, performers, and production crew are students and professionals from Syracuse University Department of Drama and Syracuse Stage. Annabel Drudge had a very bad first day at her new school...and she’s not going back. “Not with another 179 days left to go.” Her ever positive parents Phillip and Ima Drudge try to convince Annabel that she is special and will find friends who won’t care that she wears a leg brace. Annabel doesn’t want to be “special,” she just wants to fit in. The colorful and entertaining play follows Annabel as she discovers how special she really is through the help of her "Nana," a midnight journey to Istanbul and a pair of magic slippers. The Annabel Drudge experience shared an important message about "accepting who you are, and staying positive through difficult times." The sold-out fall tour of Annabel Drudge… and the Second Day of School began in September and continues through mid-December. Tour stops include elementary schools in Syracuse and throughout Central New York including performances in Auburn, Oswego, Syracuse, Baldwinsville, Cicero and Parish. Cast in the production are students from SU’s Department of Drama: Jillian Wipfler (as Annabel Drudge), Rachel Towne (as Ima Drudge), Keith Caram (as Phillip Drudge), Thomas Countz (as Nana Drudge). EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SYRACUSE STAGE The Bank of America Children’s Tour brings high-energy, interactive, and culturally diverse performances to elementary school audiences. 1 artsEMERGING takes students on an in-depth exploration of our mainstage season using a multi- cultural, multi-arts lens. The Young Playwrights Festival challenges students to submit original ten-minute plays for a chance to see their work performed at Syracuse Stage. Young Adults Council Program is a high school student committee creating pre-show events to promote a deeper understanding and connection to the themes of our current production. These students come from a variety of local schools and actively engage with the theater arts professionals at Syracuse Stage. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA (SU DRAMA) SU Drama offers conservatory-style training in a university setting shared with a resident, professional theater (Syracuse Stage), presenting an unparalleled combination of teaching professionals and diverse performance and production opportunities. SU Drama offers four conservatory-style bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree programs in acting, musical theater, stage management, and theater design and technology, as well as a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree program in drama that features a Theater Management track. Undergraduates put classroom theory into practice through productions and various special opportunities, including Wednesday Lab, study abroad, the NYC-based Tepper Semester, the Sorkin in L.A. Learning Practicum, numerous community engagement initiatives, and the opportunity to participate in workshops or discussions with such visiting artists as Taye Diggs ’93, Aaron Sorkin ’83, Vanessa Williams '85, Frank Langella ’59, David Henry Hwang, Tim Miller, Tony Kushner and more. 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. ABOUT SYRACUSE STAGE Syracuse Stage is Central New York’s premier professional theatre. Founded in 1974, Stage has produced more than 300 plays in over 40 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres. Each season 70,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays, and bold interpretations of classics and musicals, featuring the finest theatre artists. In addition, Stage maintains a vital educational outreach program that annually serves more than 15,000 students from 14 counties. A solid core of subscribers and supporters helps keep Syracuse Stage a vibrant artistic presence in Central New York. Additional support comes from the government, foundations, corporations and Syracuse University. Syracuse Stage is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and a member of the Arts and Cultural Leadership Alliance (ACLA), the University Hill Corporation and the East Genesee Regent Association. Syracuse Stage is a member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association in the country. 2 INFO SHEET Syracuse Stage and SU Drama present The Bank of America Children’s Tour Annabel Drudge… and the Second Day of School Written and Directed by Lauren Unbekant Assistant Director Andrew Garrett Script Dramaturgy by Kyle Bass October 18th 10:00 a.m. Free Admission Storch Theatre at 820 East Genesee Street CAST Jillian Wipfler, Annabel Drudge Ima Drudge, Rachel Towne Phillip Drudge, Keith Caram Nana Drudge, Thomas Countz DESIGNERS Meggan Camp (Scenic Design) Devon Ritche (Costume Design) Jonathan Herter (Sound Designer) STAGE MANAGER Sarah Bozenhart TOUR STOPS Casey Park, Auburn Roberts K-8, Syracuse C.E Riley, Oswego Reynolds, Baldwinsville Bellevue, Syracuse Van Duyn, Syracuse Holy Family, Syracuse Dr. Weeks, Syracuse APW Elementary, Parish Hughes, Syracuse Cicero, Cicero Webster, Syracuse Seymour, Syracuse McKinley, Syracuse LeMoyne, Syracuse Greene Central School, Greene Elden Elementary, Baldwinsville St. Margarets, Mattydale Franklin, Syracuse Ed Smith, Syracuse Minetto, Minetto HW Smith, Syracuse ### 3 .