Children's Theatre Ensemble Performs 'Dragons!'

SALISBURY, MD---After a group of scientists makes a surprising discovery deep in a cave, Salisbury University’s Children’s Theatre Ensemble sets off to solve the mystery using stories about dragons from cultures around the world.

Dragons!, an original production written by Andrew Heller, is Friday-Sunday, January 16-18 and 23-25, in the Black Box Theatre of Fulton Hall. Curtain is 7 p.m. for Friday shows, 1 and 3 p.m. for Saturday and Sunday shows.

Every season SU students, under the direction of Heller, put on a children’s theatre production involving literature.

“Not only do they build this Dragon world we are creating, but they have to perform it as well,” said Heller, of SU’s new Department of Theatre and Dance.  “It is a crash course in everything!”

This year, they received help from local students from Pemberton Elementary, the Salisbury School, Broadwater Academy in Exmore, VA, and an after school program at Epworth United Methodist in Willis Wharf, VA. During workshops, the area students helped create everything from capes for Aztec gods and other royal attire, to trees, dragon scales and bones. They get to see their work in action during a series of school-only performances, followed by a Q&A session with the cast and crew.

“It’s a wonderful outreach program that includes young children in the pre-production process and gives our students the opportunity to interact in new and exciting ways,” Heller said.

The cast consists of SU students Matthew Lewis, Carly Ball, Rachel Barrett, Crista Campbell, Matt Trowbridge, Katy Likovich, Andrew Woods, Michelle Meier, Alex Ambridge, Tim Lum and Jessica Wilson.

The crew includes stage manager Mitchell Melton, assisted by Jessica Wilson; properties mistress Rachel Barrett, assisted by Michelle Meier; set and sound designer Brandon Roe; set constructor Lauren Danzig; costume and dragon designer Camilla Morrison; lighting designer Matthew Mitchell; school coordinator Crista Campbell; master electrician Matt Lewis; and faculty technical advisor Tom Anderson.

Admission is $5. Tickets are available at the door. For more information call 410-543-6228 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu/theatreanddance.