'The Legend of Hercules' returns to Children's Theatre of Elgin Nov. 15-17
Zeus, Hercules, Pandora and more of your favorite characters from "The Legend of Hercules" will once again grace the stage of Children's Theatre of Elgin this November.
Written by CTE's own Sarah Akemann, "The Legend of Hercules" tells the story of the homecoming of Hercules - half man, half god - and the competition of goddesses on Mount Olympus for his affections.
A cast of 87 performers ranging from second to ninth grade will bring this multigenerational musical interpretation of the world of the Greek gods on Mount Olympus to life in an all-new way.
Audiences of all ages will enjoy dancing in their seats to adapted lyrics of hit music including "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Paint it Black," "Shake Your Tailfeather" and "High Hopes!"
"The energy and passion our incredibly talented cast members have brought to this production is mesmerizing," said producer David Comings. "There is no doubt in my mind that everyone will leave the theater with a smile on their face."
This is the second time CTE has presented "Legend of Hercules" within the past decade, having first put on the show in 2011.
One advantage to this year's production is that the creative team is almost all made up of CTE alumni - director Sarah Robertson, choreographers Kevin Kline and Jocelyn Vanderwiel, production coordinator Larissa Catalano, production assistant Russell Levin, and vocal director Aldren Briones.
In addition to the creative team, alumni from the 2011 production of "Legend of Hercules" came back to mentor the current cast and speak about their experiences specific to how Children's Theatre of Elgin has shaped their lives overall.
"We're so excited to bring 'Legend of Hercules' to life once again, and audiences can expect an immersive performance which has been very much influenced by our past CTE cast members," said director Sarah Robertson. "Our experiences and insight have been paramount to the success and growth of this year's rendition of 'Legend of Hercules' and to CTE overall."
The Children's Theatre of Elgin's "The Legend of Hercules" performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
Tickets are $12, $10 for students and seniors, and available at CTEelgin.com or by calling (847) 214-7550.
Children's Theatre of Elgin/Fox Valley Theatre Company is an Illinois 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in-residence at the Elgin Community College Arts Center.
The organization is supported by grants from the EFS Foundation, Palmer Foundation, Grand Victoria Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.