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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!!!
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:
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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 |