This summer’s production of The Aracoma Story is already in rehearsals and getting ready for its July 20 opening night. Pictured at right in a production photo supplied by The Aracoma Story Inc., is Laura Hatfield, who will be portraying Princess Aracoma and playing the role of Boling Baker is Shawn Adkins. (Photo/Beth Forester)
A cast of about 70 local residents from all across southern West Virginia are spending the next several weeks under the guidance of director Bill France, a press release from The Aracoma Story Inc., said.
“Rehearsals started small with only the core members of the cast practicing in the Aracoma Story Inc. office on Main Street in Logan,” the release said. “Practices have now moved to an area school gym with combat rehearsals and full group rehearsals underway. Finally, the entire group will move onstage at the Liz Spurlock Amphitheater in about a week, getting ready for the show’s opening on July 20.”
The new version of the historical drama that began last year is back again this summer, the release said.
This year there’s been some tweaking of the script and a new opening has been written for the show by France and Geoff Allen, who are both former cast mates that returned to the show last year. “This modern restoration of a romantic mountain legend is set amidst a backdrop of early life within the savage territories of Ohio and West Virginia,” the press release said. “Intertwining tales (tell) of the Shawnee indians and the capture of a young British Scout, Boling Baker, during the westward expansion of settlers. The show includes Baker's near execution at the hands of Chief Cornstalk's tribe and his defiant rescue by the daughter of Cornstalk, Princess Aracoma. It’s a grand story of lovers torn between duty & desire. The two ultimately settled with their tribe in an area where the city of Logan (sits) today.
“This inventive re-telling of an area classic, thrilled large audiences last year, and quickly became one of the most enjoyed TAS productions in years,” the press release continued. “The story unfolds through a tragic series of events in the lives of Aracoma and Boling’s tribe, weaving a modern day glimpse of early West Virginian life among the mountains, with a supernatural twist.”
Ticket info is available through the website www.thearacomastory.com or by calling the Aracoma story office at 304-752-0253.
Post a Comment
