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Sleepy Hollow - A Musical Theatre Premiere

Presented by Weber State University Department of Performing Ar at Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts

October 30-November 7, 2009

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Weber State University Department of Performing Arts presents Sleepy Hollow, book and lyrics by Jim Christian, music by Tom Edward Clark, directed by Jim Christian, in the Allred Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts. The November 7 matinee will feature American Sign Language interpretation. Sleepy Hollow follows the well-known tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, both iconic characters of Early American folklore. These characters were first created in print in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow a short story by Washington Irving contained in his collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., first published in 1820. Christian says 'I intend for this production to be a really good ghost story that will give people the shivers. In this play normal people of 1820 will be living in extreme circumstances in a world that isn't completely real - they are cursed! For this reason, I recommend that only children 10 and older attend.' To help create the supernatural events that occur in the story Paul Draper, anthropologist, magician and mentalist has been contracted as a consultant. Draper, a 2002 WSU graduate (anthropology and theatre) is requiring that everyone associated with this production sign a nondisclosure contract so that the secrets of the special effects are not revealed. Christian has another musical theatre script that has met with considerable success: Pirated!, based on Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, this play has received rave reviews from critics coast to coast and was performed in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Christian joined forces with Utah composer Tom Edward Clark this past spring to set Sleepy Hollow lyrics to music. They have been at work shopping the music with a small group of performers all summer. David Blackburn, a freelance orchestrator and old friend of Christian's, has produced the completed score for the theatre orchestra. Jaime Frank, a WSU theatre senior, is creating an eerie and skeletal set that transforms into a forest, a school room, a fancy country farmhouse and the desolate territory in between. Costume designer, WSU faculty Catherine Zublin, will recreate the historical period in earthy, country colors, as well as leather horse head masks.