Theater at Monmouth Announces Page to Stage & Write On! Student Playwriting Project

In 2015 Theater at Monmouth continues its long tradition of arts education for young people with two programs: Page to Stage and the Write On! Student Playwriting Project. Each program provides students hands-on opportunities to explore their creative voices with professional artists. For grades pre-k to 8, TAM's Page to Stage Tour brings a world premiere adaptation of the classic The True Story of Little Red to schools across the state. The third annual Write On! Student Playwriting Project invites students in grades 5 through 12 to make their voices heard by submitting their own original plays for an opportunity to be presented in TAM's 2015 Summer Season.

Since its founding, TAM has a brought classic literature to students across the state through education tours and in-school residencies. Each spring, TAM brings adaptations of classic literature to students through Page to Stage. Created for grades pre-k-8, Page to Stage deepens understanding of, appreciation for, and connection to classic literature for learners of all ages. TAM's Page to Stage program annually reaches more than 9,000 students from York to Limestone, Rangeley to Lubec.

Through support from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Write On! integrates the art of playwriting into the middle and high school curriculum to enhance academic and culturally literacy, creative expression, and communication skills. Students learn the importance of language structure, grammar, and word choice as a means of clearly communicating their own thoughts, choices, and imaginations through the development of an original play. Write On! includes professional development workshops for teachers, curriculum guides, and classroom visits with professional teaching artists continuing TAM's mission to take learning in and through the arts to all corners of the state.

2015 Page to Stage Tour: The True Story of Little Red

TAM's world premiere adaptation of the Charles Perrault classic by Dawn McAndrews brings the beloved story to life while exploring stereotypes and misperceptions. The True Story of Little Red will tour to schools and community centers across the state from April 27 through May 22.

We all know the story of Little Red, who set off through the woods to bring sick Grammy some bread. But what if Red wasn't so sweet, and Grammy not helpless but strong, the Woodsman a bully, and the Wolf the top dog? Sometimes we judge people based on the image we see and not on the person they are underneath. So how do we know which version of the story is true? In the end we'll leave that

decision to you.

A Portland-based actor, fight director and teaching artist, Max Waszak is very excited to be making his professional directing debut with this production. At TAM, Max has performed in fourteen productions in the past three years including Henry IV, Part 1, Knight of the Burning Pestle, and Romeo & Juliet He is proud graduate of UNC Greensboro.

The True Story of Little Red features Carissa Meagher as Little Red, Ian Kramer as The Wolf, Jamie Beth Weist as Granny, and Daniel Rios as The Woodsman. Set design by Stacey Koloski, costume design by Elizabeth Rocha, and lighting design by Jim Alexander.

A free public performance at Cumston Hall is available during MayFaire on Saturday, May 16th at 1:00pm. For The True Story of Little Red performance details visit www.theateratmonmouth.org or call 207.933.9999.

2015 Write On! Student Playwriting Project

Student playwrights from across the state are invited to make their voices heard by submitting an original 10-minute play (grades 5-8) or a one-act play (grades 9 - 12) to Theater at Monmouth's Write On! Student Playwriting Project. Plays are reviewed by a jury of professional theatre artists, and finalists receive a workshop and stage-reading of their play as part of TAM's 2015 summer season.

Student writers work with professional directors and dramaturgs to edit and revise their scripts, participate in casting the roles, attend rehearsals offering feedback on their intentions, and sit on stage during the performance to place the spotlight directly on their work. One grand finalist receives a $500; all selected playwrights benefit from the opportunity to have their original play produced at a professional theatre.

2015 Student Submission forms are available at www.theateratmonmouth.org/education. Student submissions must be received no later than May 1, 2015.

For more information on how to become involved in Write On! (as a teacher in the classroom or as an aspiring young writer) call 207.933.9999.

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