"Exquisite"  "Wondrous"  "Visually radiant"

BY MARY ZIMMERMAN

  • May 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 PM
  • May 7, 8 at 1:00 PM
  • $10 general admission
  • studio environment
  • BOX OFFICE INFO 929-997-3994 / northboxoffice@gmail.com

The Appleton North High School theatre department will present Tony Award-winning playwright Mary Zimmerman’s critically acclaimed play, THE WHITE SNAKEon May 5TH -8TH in the Appleton North High School auditorium.  

This enchanting adaptation of the 1,000+ year-old Chinese fable has been reimagined across art forms throughout the centuries. Girl meets boy and falls head-over-heels in love; trouble is, the girl is a white serpent from the spirit world who must join the human world in order to pursue her heart’s desire while using all her magic powers to defeat the spirits and monsters which threaten her life and her great love.  Zimmerman brings to this timeless romance her usual brilliant mix of ingenious stagecraft, song, abundant humor, and compassion.  The New York Times called the production, “exquisite” and “wonderous.”  The Huffington Post described it as “visually radiant. . .theatrical magic.” 

This is the latest in a series of the playwright’s works which have been presented by the North Theatre program including METAMORPHOSES, ARABIAN NIGHTS, THE ODYSSEY, SECRET IN THE WINGS, ARGONAUTIKA and JOURNEY TO THE WEST.  North theatre educator and director Ron Parker states, “We are very committed to Mary’s work.  She’s an amazing playwright and theatre artist.  In the past she has granted us permission to produce works even before they have been published!  Twice she has honored us with attending our performances.  While she is unable to attend this year due to prior commitments, she has already sent us her well wishes and expressed her excitementon our latest production of her work.   It is a great honor to have this renowned, world-famous artist aware and supportive of this little high school in Wisconsin!  THE WHITE SNAKE is one of her newest works that focuses on a story that is extremely popular throughout Asia, but is virtually unknown to us in the West.  It is very exciting to bring this great work of Eastern literature to audiences here.” 

North’s production will feature a large cast, an original score by Britishcomposer Jay Chakravorty and innovative staging. Audience members will be seated directly upon the stage in a “studio environment” to make them part of the action and storytelling.   Performances time are:  May 5th, 6th and 7th at 7:30 p.m. and May 7th and 8th at 1:00 p.m.   General admission is $10.00.   Tickets are available at the door one hour before each performance.  Seating is limited.    Box office contact info:  929-997-3994 / northboxoffice@gmail.com

Contact Ron Parker, director via e-mail:  parkerronaldc@aasd.k12.wi.us .