Carroll Middle School Theatre
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Picture
Gathering Grimm
Thursday, December 11th & Friday, December 12th
Doors open at 6:30pm
Performance begins at 7:00pm
Tickets are $5
Notes from the Playwright ~

Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm gathered their original collection of tales between 1807 and 1815. Recent scholarship has established that most of the early tales were told to them, not by ancient peasants but, by middle and upper class young women, ranging in age from seven to their early twenties. However, these female tellers were never acknowledged until recently.

One wonders why the young women who told the stories remained anonymous for almost 200 years. While Romantic writers like the Grimms idealized the native wisdom of peasants, they did not grant the same respect to young women of their same social standing. In this play, we imagine what might have happened had the female contributors asserted their claim for due recognition. Lest I be accused of the same oversight as the Brothers Grimm, I must acknowledge my indebtedness to Valerie Paradiz for her compelling book Clever Maids. While their names were forgotten until recent decades, the “clever maids” Paradiz depicts infused female characters of the Grimm tales with strength, cunning, and silent protest.

I have compressed the events of eight years into 24 hours and have taken some liberty with the ages of the characters. Most of the Grimm brothers were in their early twenties in 1810, in which the play is set, but like adolescents, they were all single and were still trying to “find themselves.” The Wilds, the Hassenpflugs, the Von Drostes, and the Von Haxhausens were mostly teenagers and all characters are based on historical individuals, most of whom have specific tales attributed to them.   
These stories were told and collected by young people and continue to resonate with today’s youth.
While the adults have facilitated this production, it reflects the stories told by young people in the 19th century and presented by young people in the 21st century.

Letter from the Directors ~

For our third year of theatre here at Carroll Magnet Middle School, we wanted to produce a Fall play that would challenge our actors and tech crew by not allowing them to enter the development process with preconceived ideas based on other actors’ performances.  Yet, we wanted the play to ‘feel’ familiar by being grounded in ideas that our young students would have been exposed to.  Virginia searched through play after play, then a random post within one of her online professional theatre groups caught her eye…  Enter “Gathering Grimm,” a wonderful play written by Dr. John Newman, based on the true origins of the Grimms Fairy Tales.

It has been a privilege to  to see this group of students dive into this play and bring their unique perspective and voice to each and every role.  Each of them has spent countless hours working towards the performance you see tonight: understanding their lines, learning their cues, exploring their characters, constructing their costumes, and working with other young actors to bring you a performance that offers truth, wisdom, and humor in equal measure. We are unspeakably proud of each of these students and delighted to share with you the result of their hard work.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about the Sanderson students and other volunteers who have stepped forward to help our students grow as performers and technicians, and to help us grow our overall program.  We could not have completed this journey without you!  For motivating, helping and inspiring us - thank you!!!


CAST & CREW LIST:



Family Members 

The Grimm Family    
Jakob Grimm:    Caide Smith
WIlhelm Grimm:  David Warren
Karl Grimm:    Charlotte McAllister-Farmer
Ferdinand Grimm:   Sebastian Altman
Ludwig Grimm:  Grace Tomasino
Lottie Grimm:  Maddie Harkins

The Wild Family        
Lisette WIld:   Meg Spickard
Gretchen Wild:   Risa Bolash
Hanna Wild:    Madi Beane
Rose Wild:   Alayna Suitte 
Mimi Wild:   Taylor Debnam 
Dortchen Wild:   Lane Swecker
Rudolf Wild:  Bridget Stees

The Hassenpflug Family       
Marie Hassenpflug:  Mercer Webb 
Susette Hassenpflug:  Avery Edwards
Jeanette Hassenpflug:  Barbara Trujillo-Romo
Malchen Hassenpflug:  Saije Gordon 

The Von Droste-Hulfshoff Family    
Jenny Von Droste:   Evelyn Lassiter 
Nettie Von Droste:   Claire Spickard 

The Von Haxhausen Family 
Sophie Von Haxhausen:   Grayson Gillespie
Ludowine ("Winnie") Von Haxhausen:   Norri Dupree
Anna von Haxhausen:   Ellathorne Kucera


Fairy Tale Story Characters 

Ashputtle (Cinderella)         
Narrator (Gretchen  -then-  Lisette):  Risa Bolash -then- Meg Spickard
Ashputtle:  Allison Moreau
Ashputtle's Mother:   Rachel Webster
Ashputtle's Father:    Brandon Kuehn
Older Stepsister:    Parker Ogburn
Younger Stepsister:   Tomari Wright
Fairy Godmother:   Miranda Cominole
The Prince:   Sebastian Altman
Pigeon (1 & 2):    Rachel Chapman

The Frog Prince         
Narrator (Dortchen):   Lane Swecker
Princess:    Piper Knorr
Frog:   Parker Ogburn
Servant:    Eden Duffy
King 1:   Tomari Wright

Briar Rose (aka "Sleeping Beauty")            
Narrator (Marie):    Mercer Webb
Queen 1:    Jackie Barrio
Wise Woman 1:     Rachel Webster
Wise Woman 2:     Alayna Suitte
Wise Woman 3:     Bridgett Stees
Wise Woman 4:     Aniver Smith
Wise Woman 5:     Rebecca Lowrie
Wise Woman 6:     Olivia Mather
Wise Woman 7:     Aryanna Clark-Drew
Wise Woman 8:     Deja Clark-Drew
Wise Woman 9:     Sydney Turner
Wise Woman 10:   Emma Jacobs
Wise Woman 11:    Jackie Barrio
Wise Woman 12:    Tomari Wright
Wise Woman 13 ('angry wise woman"):   Parker Ogburn
Briar Rose (teen):    Bailey Jenkins
Prince:     Grace Tomasino





The Three Spinners  

Narrator (Jeanette):   Barbara Trujillo-Romo
Mother:          Tomari Wright
Queen:     Parker Ogburn
Spinner 1:       Risa Bolash
Spinner 2:       Allison Moreau
Spinner 3:       David Warren
Groom:          Brandon Kuehn

The Twelve Dancing Princesses      
Narrator (Jenny):      Evelyn Lassiter
Princess 1:      Rachel Webster
Princess 2:      Alayna Suitte
Princess 3:      Charlotte McAllister-Farmer
Princess 4:      Aniver Smith
Princess 5:      Rebecca Lowrie
Princess 6:      Olivia Mather
Princess 7:      Aryanna Clark-Drew
Princess 8:      Deja Clark-Drew
Princess 9:      Sydney Turner
Princess 10:    Emma Jacobs
Princess 11:    Jackie Barrio
Princess 12:    Grace Tomasino
King ("King 2"):       David Warren
Prince/Suitor 1:         Brandon Kuehn
Prince/Suitor 2:         Sebastian Altman
Prince/Suitor 3:         Parker Ogburn
Old Woman/Crone:   Tomari Wright
Prince/Suitor 5:   Caide Smith

Bremmen Town Musicians  
Narrator (Sophie):     Grayson Gillespie
Donkey:        Tomari Wright
Donkey's Owner:     Barbara Trujillo-Romo
Dog:     Risa Bolash
Cat:      Parker Ogburn
Rooster:           Claire Spickard
Robber 1:        Miranda Cominole
Robber 2:        Eden Duffy
Robber 3:        Rachel Chapman

Six Swans       
Young Maiden / Sister / Swan 6:     Maddie Harkins
Brother/Swan 1:        Caide Smith
Brother/Swan 2:        David Warren
Brother/Swan 3:        Charlotte McAllister-Farmer 
Brother/Swan 4:        Sebastian Altman
Brother/Swan 5:        Grace Tomasino
Evil Witch:       Tomari Wright
Prince ("Prince 3"):   Parker Ogburn
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  • Home
  • 2024-25 Season
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