Fall Shows!
For the fall, Parker is excited to present a double header: Governing Alice by C. Denby Swanson and Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl.
Governing Alice is a modern adaptation of the classic play Antigone, which asks us if our moral commitments to law and order are more important than our duty to our families and loved ones. In this one act dramedy, a rebellious high school student named Alice must respond to the sudden and shattering death of her older brother. Up against an unyielding principal, Alice must find her own way through personal and classical tragedy. In honoring her brother, she’ll probably break some rules. Which is more important?
Eurydice is a retelling of the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of his wife. We follow Eurydice on her journey through the underworld after her death, where she struggles to remember her life on Earth, and join her as she is faced with a choice between returning to the land of the living with Orpheus or remaining in the afterlife with her father. This contemporary play explores ideas of memory, loss, and the human longing for connection.
These shows are sad, funny, and a bit quirky. While they can be appreciated by broad audiences, please consider the sensitivity of viewers, as some themes may be challenging for very young audiences.
Performance dates are December 11, 12, and 13th at 7pm in the Parker Auditorium. Run time for both shows will be two hours.
Tickets can be purchased online before the show for a discounted price. All shows will be general seating.
Theater Mission Statement
The purpose of theater at Parker is to help students learn the value of teamwork, cooperation, and creativity while participating in all elements of theatrical production. Typically, Parker performs two shows a year, at least one of which finds a role for everyone who auditions. The types of performances range from full-length contemporary plays to classics like Shakespearean drama to musicals to short one-acts. Students help to create these performances by acting, by building sets, by designing costumes and operating lights and the sound. They also provide opportunities to take leadership roles; Parker is proud to allow students to direct, assistant direct, and stage manage plays frequently. It is our belief that in addition to helping students learn artistic and technical skills that can serve them for the rest of their lives, the theater program also aligns with Parker’s larger goal of creating a welcoming, equitable, democratic community in which students can learn to use their minds well in an atmosphere of trust and decency while doing authentic work that is deeply meaningful to them.
As a community, we pursue these goals through:
- A commitment to finding age-and-skill-appropriate roles for students at all levels of their learning
- A commitment to developing expertise and skill on an individual basis for students who participate in theater
- A commitment to bringing a variety of stories and styles to the stage
- A commitment to authentic learning, commitment, and artistic integrity
How to Participate in Theater
Every show is its own opportunity!
- Students are encouraged to attend regular biannual theater meetings at the beginning of each semester.
- Participation is free for students doing technical theater, including set building, props, costumes, lights and sound.
- There is a $100 participation fee for students who are acting, directing, or stage managing. These fees can be waived in the case of student need.
- Student Theater Fees can be paid on UniPay under Theatre. You can also hand in a check made out to Parker School at the Main Office with "theater fee" in the memo line.
How to Contribute to Parker Theater
- We always need adult/parent volunteers to help with set construction as well as with short-term specialized jobs like dance choreography, fight choreography, costumes, etc. If you have a talent in one of these areas, please reach out to Ryan Ruopp at rruopp@theparkerschool.org.
- We are in the process of raising funds for two expansion projects. We’d like to purchase a curtain for the front of our stage and a shed to store lumber. This will require long-term fundraising, but if you’d like to contribute to either of these projects, please send a check to the school made out to Parker School with "curtain donation" or "shed donation" in the memo line. You can also make a donation on UniPay and indicate where to apply the donation in the Description box.
