Canyon Crest Academy to Present TWELFTH NIGHT and LES MISERABLES SCHOOL EDITION, Feb-March 2014

Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) Envision Theatre will present William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", guest directed by Jason Maddy, from February 28 - March 8, 2014 at the CCA Black Box Theatre. The production team also includes Jeremy Sewell (CCA Technical Director/Set Designer) and CCA Students Mandy Wirt (Assistant Director) and Kara Mendez (Stage Manager). For tickets, visit www.cca-envision.org/events/tickets.html.

Twelfth Night, or What you will, is William Shakespeare's most musical play and is believed to be his final comedy. A lifetime of Will Shakespeare's experimenting with the tools of comedic storytelling leads us to Viola's journey of loss, mistaken identity, and foolery, on the island of Iliyria, shared with some of Shakespeare's most memorable characters and complimented by the early music of Billy Joel.

Guest Director Jason Maddy is an accomplished actor, performing with theatres all over San Diego, including productions at The Old Globe, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and Cygnet Theatre to name a few. Regional theatres include Utah Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival and The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival. As an educator, Jason is a Teaching Artist with The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse and North Coast Repertory Theatre. Independently, Jason coaches auditions and individual techniqueworkshops. Other Directing/ Fight Choreography credits include Love's Labour's Lost (Canyon CrestAcademy), The Glass Menagerie, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Pirates of Penzance, Macbeth, Rebel Without a Cause and various one acts and youth productions for festivals, conservatory programs and high schools. Jason received his M.F.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

CCA Envision Theatre will also present "Les Miserables: School Edition," directed by CCA Envision Theatre Coordinator Amy Blatt, performed entirely by CCA students from March 21-29th at the CCA Proscenium Theatre.The production team also includes CCA Vocal Musical Director/Conductor-Anne Whatoff, CCA Instrumental Music Coordinator-Amy Villanova, CCA Technical Director/Set Designer-Jeremy Sewell, Costume Coordinator-Janet Pitcher and Stage Manager-CCA Student Beatriz Pereira.

This epic story recounts the struggle against adversity in 19th century France. Imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, petty thief Jean Valjean is released from his 19-year term and not only becomes an honest man, but the mayor of a prosperous town and a loving adoptive father - violating his parole in the process. The relentless Inspector Javert, who makes a decent life for Valjean impossible, consequently pursues him. Only years later, after Valjean proves his mettle during a bloody student uprising and saves the life of a young man hopelessly in love with Valjean's adopted daughter, does the ex-convict finally feel fully redeemed.

Amy Blatt, CCA Envision Theatre Coordinator is a Graduate of San Diego State University, in General Theatre Arts. She is a former Actors' Equity Association Stage Manager. Ms. Blatt has stage managed productions at San Diego Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Starlight Civic Light Opera, San Diego State University, and Grossmont College.

Canyon Crest Academy delivers not only an outstanding education but has the unique Envision arts program supported by donation dollars. Envision utilizes working artists as instructors. These professional artists work with the visual and performing arts students to deliver an outstanding arts experience at a professional level. CCA's theater program has won numerous awards and recognition. Performances are known as above and beyond a 'high school theater show'. The Canyon Crest Academy Foundation is a parent-led 501(c)(3) organization providing fantastic opportunities across academics, athletics, and the arts, and creating an environment where students can thrive. Your tax-deductible donation to the CCA Foundation is vitally needed to continue our support of these programs. You can donate online at www.canyoncrestfoundation.org.

For more information, email envision.theatre.cca@gmail.com, or follow the theatre on Facebook and Twitter @CCATheatre.

Photo Credit: Canyon Crest Academy

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