Imagination Stage's Speak Out On Stage to Present FANATICS, 5/29-31

Imagination Stage's Speak Out On Stage Ensemble will perform Fantatics, a musical devised by students in grades 4 through 6, May 29-31, 2015 in the Christopher and Dana Reeve Theatre. Fantatics is conceived by members of the Speak Out On Stage (SOOS) Ensemble, and is written by Jack Novak with original music by Alex Abdoulaev.

Fantatics runs in Imagination Stage's Reeve Theatre May 29-30, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. and May 31, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, and may be purchased online at www.imaginationstage.org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or via phone at 301?280?1660.

"A number of this year's SOOS ensemble brought in their obsessions with various pop culture 'fandoms,' such as Doctor Who, The Hunger Games, and The Fault in Their Stars. Other students hadn't seen the shows, or read the books, or weren't that interested in them. That brought a lot of questions into the process: What is a "real" fan? How can you prove that you're a real fan? Does it matter?" explains director Alison Gee. "The design team supports us by having our fictional fandoms dominate our stage space as posters, merchandise, and logos. At the same time, the design elements emphasize the separations between the groups; the set design physically separates the groups while the costumes reveal a different color scheme for each fandom (and the non-fan outsiders)."

Comprised of 22 students from across the DC metro area ranging from grades 4-6, the Speak Out On Stage Ensemble is an audition based, year-long program dedicated to creating a new musical conceived by Imagination Stage Students. During their first semester, students build their acting and musical theatre performance skills while also collaborating on script and music ideas for their show. They work with artistic staff in a variety of mediums (improvisational activities, discussions, research, character exercises, etc.) to build inspiration for their play. Students also attend acting technique class with their director, building skills and vocabulary that will help them in rehearsal later in the year. The playwright and music composer complete the original script and score while the director works with a professional design team on production elements for the show.

Directed by Alison Gee, Fanatics is supported by an entire team of professional designers and artists, including Kris Thompson (Lighting Designer), Celestine Ranney-Howes (Costume Desinger), Collin Ranney (Scenic Designer), and Alex Abdoulaev (Music Director and Composer).

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