LBHS Presents Thornton Wilder’s Our Town
Laguna Beach High School Theatre presents Thornton Wilder’s Our Town
Laguna Beach Unififed School District, Oct 8, 2019, Media Release
Production Dates:
October 25, 26 & November 1, 2 at 7:00 PM
October 27 & November 3 at 2:30 PM
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Laguna Beach High School Theatre invites audiences to a performance of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town at the Laguna Beach High School Artists Theatre beginning Friday, October 25 at 7 p.m.
Set in the small town of Grover’s Corners, Our Town follows the relationship of young lovers Emily Webb and George Gibbs over the course of 1901 to 1913. Narrated by special guest artist Mark Dressler in the role of the Stage Manager, audiences follow the Webb and Gibbs families through three acts as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually—in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre—die.
“Mr. Mark Dressler brought a unique brand of passion to his work as he directed and produced scores of successful classical, contemporary, and musical theatre pieces throughout his 25-year tenure at Laguna Beach High School and Thurston Middle School,” said current Laguna Beach High School and Thurston Middle School Theatre Teacher and Director, Alexis Karol. “Something special occurs when our alumni artists collaborate with our current students, there is a certain level of trust that falls into place immediately. This year, with an alumnus directing and Mr. Dressler performing, there is a clear sense of tradition being handed down at each and every rehearsal,” she concluded.
The playwright’s stage directions call for Our Town to be performed on an unadorned stage: “No curtain. No scenery. The audience, arriving, sees an empty stage in half-light.” The play’s narrator is named after an important theatrical crew member: the Stage Manager. This crucial character has the power to communicate directly to the audience, but can also interact with the characters.
“I am excited to perform on stage for the first time in nearly 40 years,” said former high school and middle school theatre teacher Mark Dressler. He continued, “I am especially thrilled to be under the direction of my former student, Celena DelPizzo-Howell who performed in Our Town the last time I produced it at Laguna Beach High School.”
Tickets are on sale now at lbhs.booktix.com (Students $12 / Adults $17 / Premium $22).
