Gainesville Theatre Alliance Presents WonderQuest's SLEEPING BEAUTY, Opening Today

Next week, the Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University will rumble with the roars of dragons and the excitement of thousands of school children and families as the Gainesville Theatre Alliance presents WonderQuest's 83rd production, Sleeping Beauty written and directed by Gay H. Hammond. This year, audiences will be transported to an ancient Asian world of wonder and fantasy to meet an array of characters including fairies both good and evil, and one 30-foot dragon. Family performances will open September 26th at Brenau University's Pearce Auditorium, 500 Washington St., NE, Gainesville.

Winner of the SETC Sarah Spencer Award for Excellence in Child Drama, WonderQuest is the young audiences division of the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, a nationally acclaimed collaboration between University of North Georgia, Brenau University, Theatre Professionals and the Northeast Georgia Community

Beginning with the classic tale by the Grimm Brothers, the WonderQuest creative team reimagined the story with an Asian twist. According to playwright and director Gay H. Hammond, she was inspired by "the tulip trees [on Brenau's campus] in full bloom, and dropping their bright pink blossoms in the wind-I thought, 'wow, this is what cherry blossoms would look like on a larger scale'...and the central image of the Cherry Tree made me think of Asian folklore."

The new setting ads a challenge for the cast since, as Hammond explains "it is-for most of the cast-an alien culture, with a lot of things to learn."

"I appreciate that she's tough, demanding hard work from the cast and crew and doesn't put up with laziness. However, in addition to her high expectations, Gay has a way of painting the world of the play around us as she directs." explains Jackie Mileson, Brenau University senior who has appeared in numerous GTA productions.

Seen last season as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and Charlotte Palmer in Sense and Sensibility, Mileson returns this year as the evil fairy Nighshade bent on Princess Dawn Blossom's demise.

"It's a wonderful challenge playing a woman who delights in evil, deception and power," Mileson reveals. "I'm thrilled to be learning how to be the most powerful character on stage with the small frame I have and in a role that doesn't need to yell to be in control." According to Mileson, Hammond's presence has been crucial to her character development: "I love having the playwright in the room for this play. At our read-through rehearsal, Gay went through the characters giving us insight into their names, relationships and roles within the play...It probably would have taken a while for me to be aware that 'nightshade' isn't simply an illustrative villain's name but also a deadly plant."

Nightshade's elaborate costume, designed by Jeannie Crawford, has also presented Mileson with new challenges: "[it] has one of the longest trains [Crawford] has ever built. It's been fun figuring out how to operate [it]. Every aspect of this costume, including the talon-like nails, heavy sleeves and long tail of a train only serve to help me feel more reptilian, dragon-like."

Crawford returns this year for her 8th season as costume designer for WonderQuest. She and Hammond have a long standing artistic relationship. When asked about Crawford, Hammond reported, "Working with Jeannie is DIVINE! Inspirational, intensely educational and truly amazing. In all my years in the theatre-including being a costumer myself for a couple of years-I have NEVER come across a more brilliant, creative and textured artist! We have an incredible communication with each other, our aesthetics complement each other's, and watching her drape fabrics in the early parts of her process never fails to spur me to greater creative choices in my own work."

Another exciting element in this production is the presence of the dragon masters. Not only do they control a 30-foot long dragon; they also narrate the tale through poetic language and physical flourishes. Audiences will witness a mix of martial arts, dance, formalized gestures and stunts.

"The dragon is scary," admitted Hammond. "He is also beautiful, fantastic and thoroughly thrilling. But... he is also big and scary."

North Georgia theatre patrons can be part of this mystical tale beginning Sep.26, as well as numerous pre and post show events, including two meet-the-actors receptions and a "Cherry Blossom and Dragon Tea". The show is rated G.

The play runs weekends, today, Sep.26-Oct.4. Tickets to family performances are $7-12. Patrons can find details of special events and select their own seats at www.gainesvilleTHEATREalliance.org or by calling the GTA Box Office at 678-717-3624.

Photo by Simpson Custom Photography

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