Forty-five To Play In Children's Production

Forty-five children and teens from the Huntsville area will help trace the attempts of Odysseus to return home with his men after their victory over Troy in The Children’s Theatre Festival’s production of “The Odyssey.”

Performances, sponsored by Sam Houston State University’s department of theatre and dance and the Huntsville Arts Commission, will be held June 22-24, at 7 p.m. all three days.

Homer’s play, adapted by Gregory A. Falls and Kurt Beattie and directed by theatre and dance chair Penny Hasekoester, is told in a series of flashbacks that tell of Odysseus’ and his men’s battle with the Cyclops, as well as a struggle against the gods and the sirens of the seas.

The cast includes Josh Walls as Odysseus, Claire Cooper as Penelope, Brian Tidwell as the Cyclops, and Frances Bellow as Circe. The gods Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon and Hermes will be played by Peirs Anderson, Cameron Shirley, Kelsey Smith, Kevin Zoeller and Joseph Lyons, respectively.

Also in the cast are Austin Ainsworth, Jacy Anthis, Joeann Bon Jorno, Austin Collins, Ellyse Collins, Dustin Cooling, Callie Cooling, Kate Cooper, Kelbi Delaune, Bryan Glasgow, Shea Horner, Sean James, Amber Jamison, Kelsey Kelly, Tony Klespis, Sarah Lane, Maya Lewis, Matt Little, Sam Lyons, Jacob Maddox, Illyana Mansfield, Randi McRae, Megan Moore, Summer Niles, Alex Norman, Omar Ramirez, Garrett Reeves, Audra Rowe, A’Rhyan Samford, Jade Schact, Stan Smith, Blake Avery Thomason, Ashley Volkmer, and Phoenix Williams.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. For more information, call the University Theatre Center at 936.294.1339.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
June 15, 2005
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