Travel northeast to Prince Edward Island and fall in love with one of literature’s most unforgettable young heroines, the spirited Anne Shirley. Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) presents the perfect way to spend a spring day with ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, playing March 23 through April 1, 2012 at DCT’s Rosewood Center for Family Arts.
Bestselling novel ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery was published in 1908 and has sold millions of copies worldwide, capturing the hearts of young and old for generations.Adapted for the stage by Seattle Children’s Theater, the play is a faithful dramatization of the beloved book. DCT presented the show in 1993 and is proud to reinvent literature’s most loveable dreamer and her search for a home.
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is a classic example of an experience that can be enjoyed by children as well as adults. Montgomery intended the book for readers of all ages, and its themes of family and kindred spirits are universal. It is a perfect fit for DCT’s mission to inspire young people to lead productive, imaginative lives. “I love this story because it appeals to a multigenerational audience, and that has always been my guide for choosing material for DCT,” says Robyn Flatt, DCT’s Executive Artistic Director, founder and director of the play.
She continues, “Montgomery had a very isolated, lonely childhood which resulted in a vivid inner life and an intense need for family and close friends. She wrote Anne based on her own childhood experiences, and every age can relate to the need for love and true acceptance.”
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is a heartwarming and unforgettable shared family experience.
Another theme in the story is the conflict between imagination and social expectations. Anne acts according to her instincts, and lives in daydreams and fantasy. Much of the humor of the play occurs when Anne unknowingly defies social graces, manners and ladylike behavior.
The Victorian age is waning and with it many traditions, particularly for girls and women. Marilla represents the past, while Anne’s ambition and originality symbolize the dawn of a fresh, new era.
In the quiet Canadian town of Avonlea in Prince Edward Island is Green Gables, the ancestral farm of unmarried siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. When they request an orphan boy to help on the farm, they receive the vivacious, redheaded Anne Shirley by mistake. Anne’s talkativeness and flare for the melodramatic immediately enchants Matthew, but Marilla only reluctantly decides to give Anne a try.
The tribulations Marilla fears come to pass as Anne insults Marilla’s best friend, “loses” Marilla’s most cherished brooch, smacks the school’s prize pupil with a slate, and inadvertently gets her best friend Diana drunk on cherry cordial. She also turns out to be extremely bright, charming, resourceful and bursting with irrepressible creativity and passion. Marilla and Matthew realize she is the best thing that has ever happened to them, and Anne comes to understand that she is a truly loved and cherished person.
Randel Wright’s set design captures the nature motifs in the book, accentuating the lush beauty of “the Island” and creating the pastoral heaven Anne describes in her flowery, dramatic fashion. Costume design by Barbara Cox draws inspiration from countryside living in the late Victorian era with a few Gibson Girl elements that Anne so admires.
Experience all the trials and triumphs of Canada’s enduring family classic! Enjoyed by ages 10 and up.
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN PREVIEW NIGHT
Attend the final dress rehearsal on Thursday, March 22 at 7:30 pm and pay-what-you-can! A suggested donation is $10 per person.
OPENING NIGHT COSTUME CONTEST, POETRY READINGS & TEA PARTY
Attend the show on Friday, March 23 for extra fun prior to the show and at intermission. From 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, stroll the lobby dressed up as Anne and her friends! Enjoy poetry readings by the Teen Scene Players from DCT’s Classical Acting Workshop! Costume contest participants will be invited to the stage for voting and a photo op. Enjoy FREE tea and crumpets at intermission! One FREE show poster per family.
DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER, ROSEWOOD CENTER FOR FAMILY ARTS 5938 Skillman Street, Dallas, Texas 75231 DCT Box Office: 214-740-0051 Tickets also available on-line! www.dct.org
