Augustana Theater is putting a twist on classic children’s stories. For the first time, “Aesop’s (oh so slightly) Updated Fables” will be performed.
Augustana has never performed a children’s show before. The new venture will be performed on the Potter Hall Stage on Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 13 and 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Another different aspect of this show is that the director, Jackie McCall, is not a faculty member of Augustana College, but she is an alumnus.
“When I was working on shows at Augustana as a student we got to work on all aspects of mounting a production, but usually we only dealt with one aspect at a time,” McCall said. “Now as a director, I’ve had the pleasure of working with all of members of the production team at once to bring our vision to the stage.”
“Aesop’s (oh so slightly) Updated Fables” puts a twist on the stories that we all grew up reading.
Sophomore Raven Hoffman mainly plays Mrs. Tortoise in the production, but also plays various smaller parts.
“We change roles throughout the show,” Hoffman said. “There are about 30 parts and only nine actors, so we have to switch it up a lot.”
The theatre department is not known for doing many light-hearted shows, but this show brings a new sense of opportunity to the theater department.
“Aesop’s (oh so slightly) Updated Fables” is a 45 minute production geared towards children, and the cast has been preparing for a different audience.
“The most worrisome thing is performing in front of kids,” Hoffman said. “Jackie keeps telling us to have backup lines if the kids do something crazy.”
The opening night will be the first performance the actors do in front of children. McCall is used to working with children, especially in the theater. She works as a children’s educator for The Old Creamery Theatre in Iowa.
“I approach directing a children’s show much the same way that I approach a show intended for adults,” McCall said. “Although the styles are very different, the job of the director of any show is the same: to tell the story. Or six stories as is the case with ‘Aesop’s (Oh So Slightly) Updated Fables.’”
These stories will allow audiences to see a different side of Augustana Theater.
“Having the opportunity to be a guest director at Augustana has been amazing,” McCall said. “I’ve gotten the chance to reconnect and work with a number of people from when I was a student and meet and collaborate with new theater artists. The cast and I have very much enjoyed our rehearsals, so we hope that audiences will have just as much fun watching the show as we have had putting it together.”
Tickets are available in advance at the box office in Bergendoff.