(Charleston, SC) As German troops begin to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark, 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend Ellen Rosen. Through Annemarie’s eyes, audiences watch the Danish resistance help almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark—more than 7,000 souls—escape across the sea to Sweden. Number the Stars, based on the Newbery Award-winning book by Lois Lowry, has been adapted by Dr. Douglas W. Larche with Susan Elliot Larche. The production is directed by Charleston Stage's Associate Director of Education, Jesse Siak.
The youth cast includes members of Charleston Stage's Performance Troupe. The lead role of Annemarie Johansen has been double cast and will be played by Garland Mulvey and Brooke Reich. Annemarie's best friend Ellen Rosen has also been double cast and will be played by Sybil Freedman and Brinley Clendaniel. Both youth casts are joined by all seven members of Charleston Stage’s Resident Professional Acting Company: Patrick Brett, Sergio De La Espriella, Haley Denton-Hughes, Mary Kate Foley, Brian Nabors, Sara Sanderson, and Colin Waters.
ABOUT THE ADAPTOR
Dr. Douglas Larche is an internationally recognized playwright, poet and professor. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Graceland College, an M.Ed. from Wichita State University and a Ph.D. from Indiana University. He has done post-doctoral work in the playwriting and screenwriting workshops of Yale and Oxford universities and is a Norman Felton Fellow in and received an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop as his script for Number the Stars was released. Among his 60 produced or published plays and screenplays are Truth on Trial: The Ballad of Sojourner Truth, and the musical drama Angels in the Snow. Best known as the children’s book author Father Gander of Father Gander Nursery Rhymes: The Equal Rhymes Amendment, he published three new children’s plays with Dramatic Publishing as O Christmas Three!. Larche’s works have appeared on national bestseller lists, on Broadway, in thousands of newspapers, hundreds of radio programs and scores of television shows on five continents. A prolific speaker, textbook author, composer, recording artist and filmmaker, Larche was chair and artistic director of Grand View College Theatre in Des Moines, Iowa, for 14 years. He is married to Susan Elliott Larche and they have four children: Jason and Elisa Larche and Mark and Scott Kelly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THE ORIGINAL BOOK
Lois Lowry is a popular children’s book author responsible for such critically acclaimed titles as The Giver and Number the Stars. Lowry was born in 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She published her first novel, A Summer to Die, in 1977. After this serious drama, Lowry showed her lighter side with 1979’s Anastasia Krupnik, which became the first in a series of humorous books. She won her first Newbery Award for the 1989 novel Number the Stars. In 1993, Lowry received the honor a second time for The Giver, which would eventually become a 2014 film. More recent works include Son (2012) and Gooney Bird and All Her Charms (2013).
FUN FACTS
* Number the Stars won the 1990 Newbery Award.
* The books title comes from Psalm 147:4 in the Bible.
* Lois Lowry traveled to Copenhagen to conduct research and interviews.
* Lois Lowry took the photo of the girl on the cover of the book.
* There has never been a movie adaptation of Number the Stars.
January 19th: “Number the Stars” Presented by Charleston Stage at Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church Street; Based On the Newbery Award-winning Book by Lois Lowry; Adapted by Dr. Douglas W. Larche with Susan Elliot Larche; Direction by Jesse Siak; Lead Title Sponsor: The John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation; Supporting Sponsor: Dr. Carl S. Korn in Memory of His Relatives Who Perished in the Camps. As German troops begin to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark, 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend Ellen Rosen. Through Annemarie’s eyes, audiences watch the Danish resistance help almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark—more than 7,000 souls—escape across the sea to Sweden. Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 at 3:00pm. $30.75 for Adults, $30.75 for Seniors (60+) and $30.75 for Students (Ages 3-25) and Active Military. Tickets available online 24/7 at www.charlestonstage.com. Tickets by phone available Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm (Also open Sa 1pm-5pm show weeks only) by calling (843) 577-7183.
###
CHARLESTON STAGE'S NUMBER THE STARS FACT SHEET
Theatre
The Historic Dock Street Theatre (135 Church Street)
NUMBER THE STARS Performance Dates:
Jan. 19 Sa 3:00pm
Jan. 20 Su 3:00pm
NUMBER THE STARS Prices:
Adults $30.75
Seniors (60+) $30.75
Students (Ages 3-25) and Active Military $30.75
NUMBER THE STARS Tickets Now On Sale:
Order by Phone (843) 577-7183
Order online at www.charlestonstage.com
Group Rates Available: Call Mary Adkins, Box Office Manager, at (843) 647-7365
Student Rush: College student tickets, with proof of valid ID, are $10 one hour before curtain (subject to availability)
NUMBER THE STARS Designer Credits:
Based On the Newbery Award-winning Book by Lois Lowry
Adapted by Dr. Douglas W. Larche with Susan Elliot Larche
Direction by Jesse Siak
Production Management by Rafael Colón Castanera
Production Stage Management by Ashley Palmer
Stage Management by Amanda Calcutt
Scenic Design/Scenic Charge by Cody Rutledge
Costume Design by Corinne Madeen
Costume Direction by Haley Blackstock
Wardrobe Management by Eleanor Seaman
Sound Design by Luke Walchuk
Lighting Design by Jamie Brooke Ruggio
Properties Design by Courtney Gomez Odom
NUMBER THE STARS Sponsors:
Lead Title Sponsor - The John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation
Supporting Sponsor - Dr. Carl S. Korn in Memory of His Relatives Who Perished in the Camps
NUMBER THE STARS Cast:
Character Adult Cast
Uncle Henrik Knudsen/Giraffe PATRICK BRETT*
Peter Nielsen/Soldier SERGIO DE LA ESPRIELLA*
Mrs. Sophie Rosen/Ensemble HAYLEY DENTON-HUGHES*
Mrs. Inge Johansen MARY KATE FOLEY*
Mr. Rosen/Solider BRIAN NABORS*
Mrs Hirsch/Ensemble SARA SANDERSON*
Papa Johansen COLIN WATERS*
Character Youth Cast A (Performs on Jan. 19)
Annemarie Johansen GARLAND MULVEY**
Ellen Rosen SYBIL FREEDMAN**
Kirstie Johansen SARAH ELLEN WEATHERHOLTZ**
Samuel Hirsch/Soldier ANDREW LAMM**
Ensemble Girl (Woman with Baby/Soldier) LANA GUY**
Ensemble Boy (Soldier) JACK BEAUDROT**
Character Youth Cast B (Performs on Jan. 20)
Annemarie Johansen BROOKE REICH**
Ellen Rosen BRINLEY CLENDANIEL**
Kirstie Johansen KATIE BLUMETTI**
Samuel Hirsch/Soldier SHAY SEIM**
Ensemble Girl (Woman with Baby/Soldier) LAUREN HUSER**
Ensemble Boy (Soldier) AIDEN HANDEGAN**
* Member, Charleston Stage Resident Professional Actor
** Member, Charleston Stage Performance Troupe
SCBIZtv is part of the SC Biz News family, serving 100,000 high-level business execs throughout South Carolina.
Click for more from SCBIZtv.
