Metamorphoses

Mark your calendars! The Leland and Gray Players will present Mary Zimmerman’s METAMORPHOSES March 15 through 17 in the Dutton. The second show in the Players 16^th season, Zimmerman’s adaptation of several myths found in ancient Roman poet Ovid’s fifteen-volume work of transformation myths is, in turns, wry, farcical, satirical and tragic. A rollercoaster of change, the script is an exploration of the poignancies and foibles of humankind.

Zimmerman'swork was originally was designed to take place in and around a large pool on the stage.The Players’ production will, instead, play on a set designed by sophomore Maezie Cramp which allows venues for the various myths to emerge and recede as the scenes and situations change.

Juxtaposing the ancient and the contemporary in both language and image, the play’s tone echoes themes of change and contrast from the humor of Phaeton's therapy session to the tragedy of Midas and his daughter. A cast of 25 and a crew/design team of nearly the same size have begun work on staging and scenic production as well as on analysis and interpretation of the many characters that comprise the myths.

Various productions of this play have been awarded five Los Angeles Drama Critics Awards, the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work/Adaptation and several Bay Area Theatre Critics Awards including Best Production. METAMORPHOSES played around the United States and Off Broadway before moving to Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre in March 2002.

Each Players’ season is designed to bring audiences a range of entertainment from, for example, the parodic antics of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE to more thought-provoking material such as METAMORPHOSES to a range of vignettes --zany to poignant, song to dance --in the Players annual cabaret, HATS OFF, slated this year for May 24-26.

METAMORPHOSES can be seen in the Dutton Gymnasium on Thursday, March 15 at 7; Friday, March 16 at 7:30 and Saturday, March 17 at 3 and 7:30. Tickets are $5, for adults and $3 fir students and seniors. For more information write Annie Landenberger, director at alandenberger@lelandandgray.org.

SPAE 2012

Leland and Gray Players’ fifth annual Summer Performing Arts Exploration camp for students entering grades 5 through 8 will be held July 22 through August 4, 2012. For information and a brochure, write alandenberger@lelandandgray.org now or find it in late February on the Players and Leland and Gray websites.