“Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art”

— Konstantin Stanislavsky

North’s popular comedy improvisation troupe, IMPROVEDY, will present its third performance of the school year this Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the commons. Hilarious games and sketches based on audience suggestions will be performed in the style of the hit television show WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? The troupe is comprised of nine students ranging from sophomores to seniors. They are the only high school improvisational comedy troupe in Appleton. Admission is $5. Tickets are available at the door 30 minutes before performance time. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Pillars of the Fox Valley.

SPRING show—CYRANO

North Presents CYRANO DE BERGERAC Adaptation May 2-5

Showtimes: May 2, 3, and 4 at 7 p.m.; May 4 and 5 at 1 p.m.
Tickets: General Admission $10 • Tickets at the door one hour before each performance
Additional Info: Seating is limited to 120. Audience will be seated directly upon the stage in a “studio-theatre environment”

Romance rules the day in award-winning playwright Barry Kornhauser's poignant and playful verse adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s CYRANO DE BERGERAC, the classic tale of that enduring hero of imperfection and his classic love triangle with the exquisite Roxane and the handsome and earnest, but verbally challenged, Christian. Written in rhyming couplets, the words are clever and irresistible with a zany modern punch.

CYRANO tells the story of the romantic poet and soldier Cyrano de Bergerac, whose wit is as sharp as his sword; the enormity of his talent, intellect, and passion matched only by the enormity of his, well, nose. This more than ample protuberance prevents him from expressing his feelings for the beautiful Roxane with whom he is desperately (and secretly) in love. When Roxane falls for the handsome but unpoetic Christian de Neuvillette, Cyrano offers to help him by providing the unexpressive soldier with the words to woo and win her heart.

CYRANO is a play about courage, about cowardice, about beauty, about ugliness, about intelligence, about ignorance, about words, about worthiness and our often-misguided perceptions of each. It is packed with hilarious comedy and harrowing drama. Most of all, it is a story about the true nature of love–which at its purest and deepest–manifests itself through sacrifice.

The play becomes a treat for the ears as well as for the eyes. It’s as much fun for the students to perform the lines in verse as it is for the audience to hear it. We are so excited to share this amazing new adaptation of one of the most famous stories ever written for the stage!” —Ron Parker, Director

Barry Kornhauser has captured the essence of Edmond Rostand’s French classic not only in character and plot, but in language as well. North’s production follows highly acclaimed stagings from the Fulton Opera House and The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., where it won four prestigious Helen Hayes Awards including Best Play.

North theatre director Ron Parker states, “Kornhauser makes this classic immediately accessible to modern audiences while at the same time staying true to the style, sound, and wit of the original. The 1897 play in French was written all in rhyme. It was brimming with witty wordplay and humorous references. Unlike many other versions translated into English, Kornhauser has managed to keep all of these elements of language including the rhyme while also incorporating a delightful contemporary tone. The play becomes a treat for the ears as well as for the eyes. It’s as much fun for the students to perform the lines in verse as it is for the audience to hear it. We are so excited to share this amazing new adaptation of one of the most famous stories ever written for the stage!”

North’s production will feature thrilling swordplay, innovative theatrical staging, elaborate 17th century costumes, and an original musical score written for the premiere professional production. In addition, audience members will be seated directly upon the stage in a “studio-theatre environment” to make them part of the action and provide an intimate and heightened theatrical experience.

Metro Weekly described Kornhauser’s CYRANO as, “Daft English poetry coupled with luxuriously lyrical rhyming schemes,” and “masterful writing and witty wordplay.” The reward, it said, “is one riveting adaptation that is not to be missed.” It called this CYRANO “a romantic, gorgeous evening that is almost too beautiful to articulate,” and “above all, it has panache!"

Performances are May 2, 3, and 4 at 7 p.m., and May 4 and 5 at 1 p.m. Seating is limited to 120. General admission is $10. Tickets are available at the door one hour before each performance.

Anastasia the Musical

North Closes 12-Show Run of ANASTASIA

North’s production of ANASTASIA ran March 7-17, and featured a cast, crew, and orchestra of over 100 students, as well an opulent set featuring stunning state-of-the-art projections, dazzling costumes, jaw-dropping dance sequences, and a soaring score including the song favorites from the hit animated film, “Journey to the Past” and “Once Upon a December.” For more photos from the production and the creative process: CLICK HERE for the Facebook album of Anastasia photos

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One-act play—metamorphoses

North Theatre Awarded Critic’s Choice for 25th Year!

PLUS ENSEMBLE, TECHNICAL, DIRECTING, AND ACTING AWARDS!

North’s “Metamorphoses” cast & crew competed at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Theatre Festival state finals Nov. 17 at UW-Green Bay and swept all award categories. In addition to the prestigious Critic’s Choice award for overall excellence, North was awarded an Outstanding Ensemble Acting Award, an Outstanding Technical Theatre Award, and a Director’s Award. Two students, Eryn Lemmert and Kai Handwerker, were recognized with Outstanding Individual Acting Awards.

This is the twenty-fifth year in a row that North has received the top award of Critic’s Choice, the only high school in the 100+ year history of the Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival to achieve such a distinction.

More than 1800 high school students participated in this year’s festival, which required each school to present for evaluation a fully-staged play of no longer than 40 minutes. Less than half of the competing high schools typically qualify for state after having competed in both district and sectional meets held in October and early November. Each qualifying school then performs for a panel of four judges during the two-day festival, which adjudicates the performance and decides on the quality of the production and what honors, if any, should be awarded.

Click here for more information on the one-act play competition, and North’s history of one-act productions.