Audiences will set sail on the journey of a lifetime, complete with cutthroat pirates, a treasure map and a courageous boy entangled in a dangerous swashbuckling expedition, when Ken Ludwig's TREASURE ISLAND arrives at Cincinnati Playhouse. This epic theatrical adaptation runs through May 19 (Opening Night is April 26).
Get a first look at the production below!
"
Ken Ludwig's adaptation of the
Robert LouisStevenson novel will sweep the audience up into the adventure of a lifetime," says
Blake Robison, artistic director and director of the Playhouse production. "His story is a faithful, straightforward adaptation exploring the father/son dynamic between boy and pirate, peppered with funny dialogue and awesome sword fights."
TREASURE ISLAND features all of the memorable elements of Stevenson's tale, considered one of literature's best adventure novels. The beloved adventure in exotic lands with mysterious treasure is also a brilliant coming-of-age story with a hero, Jim Hawkins, and has an entertaining cast of memorable pirates and villains, including Long John Silver.
Robison directed TREASURE ISLAND about ten years ago as artistic director of Round House Theatre. Now he's returning to it to share with Cincinnati families the story that appeals to the kid in all of us.
"It's been a priority for me that the Playhouse offers some multigenerational fare every season, in addition to A Christmas Carol," Robison explains. "Bringing these stories to life on stage allows families to enjoy the theatrical experience together. When a kid is 8, 9 or 10 years old and able to sit through a full-length play, we want to provide that opportunity. And it's a story of a young boy growing up and finding his moral beacon. These are things we want for all of our children. Jim does them under extraordinary circumstances!"
The extravagant production will include period costumes from 1774 and a set that rotates, shifts and transforms into a pirate ship, English tavern and island jungle, bringing the story to life.
Ludwig told Samuel French of his play, "What could be better? We love pirates! They're fun. They're crazy. They're the first antiheroes, aren't they? They're bloodthirsty. They kill people. They do terrible things. They steal things. But we're rooting for them. We're in love with them. And Long John Silver is a great example of that."
The Playhouse also produced
Ken Ludwig's Baskerville during its 2016-2017 season. The comedic adaptation of Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series proved to be a hit with Cincinnati audiences, including families.
CAST: Em S. Grosland (Jim Hawkins);
Jeffrey M. Bender (Long John Silver/Jim's Father);
Austin Reed Alleman (George Merry/Bailiff's Son/Bristol Sailor);
Rin Allen (Anne Bonny/Jim's Mother/Assistant Fight Choreographer);
Thomas Brazzle (Black Dog/Josiah Bland);
Michael Broadhurst (Blind Pew/Job O'Brien);
Grant Goodman (Billy Bones/Captain Smollett); Max Monnig (Israel Hands/Reverend Mainwaring/Calico Jack);
Barry Mulholland (Dr. Livesey); Marco Adriel Muñoz (Justice Death/Cut Purse/Inn Guest);
Andy Paterson (Squire Trelawney/The Bailiff); JT Stocks/
Taha Mandviwala (
Tom Morgan/Ezekiel Hazard/Boy with Barrow/Inn Guest);
Michael Anthony Williams (Ben Gunn/Inn Guest/Bristol Sailor)
PRODUCTION:
Blake Robison (Director); Jeffrey Modereger (Set Designer); Mathew J. LeFebvre (Costume Designer); Jaymi
Lee Smith (Lighting Designer); Matthew M. Nielson (Sound Designer/Additional Music);
Drew Fracher (Fight Choreographer);
Stephanie Klapper (Casting Director); Andrea L. Shell (Stage Manager); Jenifer Morrow (
Second Stage Manager)
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