New Play for Middle Schoolers at the Alliance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alliance Theatre Premieres NEW PRODUCTION DEVELOPED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS – COURAGE
Inspired by the American civil war drama the red badge of courage
ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY – MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 7:00 PM
ATLANTA, October 8, 2014 — Playwright Scott Warren (The Grimm Lives of the Inbetweens) and Alliance Theatre Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth and Families Rosemary Newcott, in collaboration with middle school students in the Alliance’s acting camps, have developed a new play for middle school students.
COURAGE, inspired by the American Civil War drama The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, delves into middle school life through media, metaphor, and storytelling. COURAGE re-examines the classic story through the lens of the courageous tales of grown-up challenges facing young people in contemporary Atlanta. Fall into the imagination of characters who explore themes of isolation, respect, duty, and courage through homework, video games, and long waits at the bus stop.
COURAGE features a talented local cast – Lauren Boyd (Alliance: The Tall Girls) as Wilson Conklin, Matthew Felton (Alliance: The Grimm Lives of the Inbetweens) as Hank Flemming, Stephanie Lloyd (Atlanta Lyric Theatre: Anything Goes) as Rebel Davis, and J.L. Reed as Jefferson Pratt.
“If someone asked me what inspired me most about the middle school students I know, I would have to say, it would be their courage,” said Director Rosemary Newcott. “Like Henry in Red Badge of Courage, these young people's worlds are drastically changing, physically and emotionally, and yet they handle it all with profound ideas and wild, wonderful humor. Playwright Scott Warren and I wish to thank the 100+ middle school students who shared their stories with us. We hope the play reflects the joys, challenges and complexities of their middle school skirmishes.”


The Alliance is also thrilled to be a part of the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs “Cultural Experience Project.” Now celebrating its 10th year, the Cultural Experience Project was launched to afford every Atlanta Public School (APS) student from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade the opportunity to experience the city’s premier art and cultural venues. The City of Atlanta’s vision is for every student in APS to have minimally one onsite cultural experience at a cultural venue each year that directly ties to Common Core Georgia Performance Standards and curriculum goals. Teacher and student educational materials further the students understanding of arts and culture and compliment the age and grade level-appropriate experiences.
Through the CEP, all sixth graders in APS, nearly 3,000, will have the opportunity to see COURAGE – making it one of the only cultural experiences offered by the program that is developed specifically for students in their age category.
Performances are available for school groups and home-school groups Monday-Friday, October 30-November 5, and November 7, 2014 at 9:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Touring performances are also available to visit area schools, October 15-24 and November 10-14. Most appropriate for grades 5-8, and connecting to Curriculum Standards: CCRL.3; SS5H1.e; TAE/MS.1; TAE/MS.8; TAE/MS.11. Tickets for school groups are discounted. To book your field trip or in-school performance, call 404.733.4661 or email allianceschoolday@woodruffcenter.org. Learn more about all field trip opportunities at http://alliancetheatre.org/content/field-trips.
The only public performance is Monday, November 3, 7:00pm.
Tickets are available online at www.alliancetheatre.org/grimmlives or by calling 404.733.5000. Discount rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 404.733.4690. Discount rates are also available for members of the military, seniors and students. The Alliance Theatre is located at The Woodruff Arts Center, at the corner of Peachtree and 15th Street, in Midtown Atlanta.
Sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines – Official Airline of the Alliance Theatre; The Home Depot Foundation; and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
Calendar Listing Synopsis:
COURAGE (world premiere)
Alliance Stage
Written by Scott Warren in collaboration with metro Atlanta middle school students
Directed by Rosemary Newcott
November 3, 7:00 pm
An experience tailor-made for middle school students, Courage collides the contemporary experience of today with Stephen Crane’s classic tale, The Red Badge of Courage. Courage re-examines the classic story through the lens of the courageous tales of grown-up challenges facing young people in contemporary Atlanta. Fall into the imagination of characters who explore themes of isolation, respect, duty, and courage through homework, video games, and long waits at the bus stop. For more information and tickets, visit www.alliancetheatre.org/courage or call 404.733.5000.
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