Children of Eden features music and lyrics by award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin). Lee Byron, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, will direct the production. Performances will be held in the Hoerner Theatre in Dillingham Center, premiering November 3 at 8:00 p.m. and running at selected times through November 14.
Children of Eden is a secular retelling of the Bible’s Book of Genesis and uses a rich musical score to tell the iconic stories of Eve biting the apple and Noah building the ark. The show tells stories of family, focusing on questions, arguments, vows children make not to repeat the mistakes of their parents, and feelings they have when they realize they have done just that. The characters resemble next-door neighbors more than icons from the distant past as they struggle to raise their families, keep them together, and teach them the difference between right and wrong.
Ticket prices for Children of Eden range from $4.50 to $10.00 and can be purchased at Ticket Center Ithaca by calling (607) 273-4497 or online at www.ithacaevents.com. Group discounts are available. Performance times are as follows: 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 14, as well as 2:00 p.m. on November 8.
The musical direction of Children of Eden is by Brian DeMaris, assistant professor of music performance, and the choreography is by Mary Corsaro, associate professor of theater arts. All designs for this production have been created by students majoring in theatrical production arts. The scenic design is by David Arsenault ’10, costume design is by Ainsley Anderson ’10, sound design is by Jordan Lytle ’10, and the lighting design is by Christine Goldman ’10.
The cast features Eric Morris ’10 as Father, Michael Haller ’10 as Adam, Abbe Tanenbaum ’10 as Eve, Alex Rolecek ’10 as Cain, Lukas Hoback ’13 as Abel, Thaddeus McCants ’10 as Head Snake, Denzel Edmondson ’12 as Seth, Emma Poole ’11 as Seth’s Wife, Daniel Lindgren ’12 as Noah, Jessica Bennett ’11 as Mama Noah, Bruce Landry ’12 as Japheth, Lysie Shutrump ’10 as Yonah, Steven Moore ’11 as Ham and Snake, Megan Watt ’11 as Aysha and Snake, Ned Donovan ’12 as Shem, Jamie Amos ’11 as Aphra and Snake, and Lindsey Bullen ’11, Andrew Karl ’12, Mallory Newbrough ’12, Amber Wood ’11, Elizabeth Hake ’12, Hannah Dubner ’12, and Amberlee Weber ’12 as Storytellers.
The stage manager is Hannah Dorfman ’10 and the assistant stage managers are Jessica Jardon ’12 and Benjamin Anderson ’12. The dramaturge is Jessica Askew ’11.