Several students in the new production of Barnum learned the trapeze and aerial 15 to 20 feet up from the floor. For this production, the Stratford High auditorium will be transformed into circus tent, with the ceiling and walls draped in fabric. The actual performance will take place in the orchestra pit and among the audience.
Stratford Playhouse Director Cece Prudhomme combines the Big Top experience and traditional musical theatre in the new production. The characters required 250 period costumes, including outfits for elephants, lions and ponies.
"It’s a fantastic emotional experience to work with these young people, a beautiful challenge to perform a cirque, sing and act all together. These students are doing it with a lot of courage," Kerwich said. "Circus is alive here in Texas."
She attended circus schools in Moscow and Paris and was an acrobat, contortionist, clown, trapeze artist, aerialist and renowned hula hoop artist. Her career highlights include performances in the world-famous Lido and Moulin Rouge in Paris, Circus Roncalli, Barnum’s Kaleidoscope and San Francisco’s Teatro ZinZanni.
Peformances of Barnum will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, through Sunday, Jan. 31, and also Feb. 5-7. Matinees will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31, and Feb. 7. Tickets are $15. For more information, call 281-560-7550, ext. 8.
Other SBISD winter theatre productions include:
Memorial High School will present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, through Sunday, Jan. 31, and also Feb. 5-7. A Matinee will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, preceded by Mrs. Potts’ Tea Party.
Tickets are available online at www.mhstheatre.com. For details, call 713-365-5110, ext. 3058.
Spring Woods High School will present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, and Jan. 31, and also Feb. 6-7. A Matinee will be held at 2:30 p.m. o n Feb. 1.
All shows will be presented in the Spring Woods High Auditorium, 2045 Gessner Road. Tickets are $5 students; $8 SBISD employees; $10 adults. SBISD Star Cards will be accepted. For reservations, please visit www.seatyourself.biz/springwoods.