Local Carthage students head to Ireland to put on play

Submitted by Carthage College

Local students Brea Beelow of Mundelein, Elodie Senetra of Palatine native, and Rose Grizzell of Naperville are headed for Ireland this month with the Carthage College Theatre Department to perform an original play — one they helped create — on Ireland's oldest stage.

Carthage College is in Kenosha, Wis.

The students will perform in “A Clamour of Rooks” by Irish playwright Martin Maguire on the stage of the Smock Alley Theatre, the oldest theater in Ireland. The project is part of Carthage's January Term and Visiting Artist Program. The students, along with Carthage Theatre Professor Neil Scharnick, will be in Ireland Jan. 21 to Feb. 2.

The Smock Alley Theatre is one of Europe's landmark theaters. Believed to be lost to history, a full archaeological excavation in 2009 uncovered the theater's original foundation. Over the past decade, efforts were undertaken to restore the theater that was originally commissioned by King Charles II.

The Carthage students will be the first Americans to perform on the Smock Alley stage.

Carthage students worked with Smock Alley Theatre director Patrick Sutton to help create “A Clamour of Rooks.” Sutton, head of the Gaiety School of Acting, the National Theatre School of Ireland, led a fall workshop at Carthage in which students developed characters and ideas for the play.

After the students return stateside, they will perform “A Clamour of Rooks” on Carthage's campus. The play's American debut will be 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15. Performances will continue through Feb. 23.

For additional show times, and to see the complete 2012-13 Carthage Theatre season, visit www.carthage.edu/theatre/current-season.

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