Traditional tales with a twist

Geneva High School students, under the direction of English teacher Linda Quantock, will present Paul Sills' "Story Theatre" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Geneva High School Auditorium.

Sills, well known in Chicago theater as the founding director of "Second City," uses traditional tales from Aesop's Fables and the Grimm Brothers' Collections in an innovative style. It is sometimes referred to as "tandem storytelling," where the company of actors play multiple characters and frequently provide the narration for their own characters as well as for the action that is unfolding on the stage. The original New York production received multiple Drama Desk Awards and Tony Nominations and Awards in 1971.

The Geneva High School production will be highlighted by contemporary music and sound effects identified and created by the student performers and musicians. The performance includes such familiar stories as "The Golden Goose" and "Henny Penny" along with eight other tales.

Tickets for the production will be sold at the door and are $3 for students and senior citizens and $5 for adults.

Cast members include Brenden Kane, Alicia Schooley, Steve Sledzinski, Roxanne Gentry, Claire Ramming, Becky Borowiak, Chris Hanson, Dylan Houser, Heidi Butler, Jessica Knockstedt, Jenna Wojcik, Ashley Roush and Andrew Rau. Mike Gold and Hallie Koontz are serving as student assistants for the production.

Musicians include Val Schuetz, Brian Hendren, Patrick Fuhrman, Emily Hebling, Mollie Griffin and Marty Roman.

English teacher Chris Arnett is the technical director and is working with a large group of students who are creating the set, designing lights and sound, serving as ushers and multiple other capacities.

For more information, call (630) 464-3800.