ARCHIVE SEASON 20 | August 2008 |
VORTEX Summer Youth Theatre presents
School for Scandal
by Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Directed by Betsy McCann and Gabriel Maldonado
VORTEX Repertory Company proudly presents the 17th Annual Summer Youth Theatre (SYT) with School for Scandal, a Comedy of Manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
First performed in London at the Drury Lane Theatre in 1777, this stylized comedy is a classic of 18th-century English literature. With character names such as Surface, Teazle, Snake, Crabtree, Backbite, Candour, and Sneerwell, School for Scandal delves headlong into the gossip and slander that rules the worlds of scandal mongers. Summer Youth Theatre’s production sets the play in the 1920’s—a stylish setting swirling with pretense, panache, and playfulness. School for Scandal illuminates themes of the deceptive nature of appearances and the fickleness of reputation.
Pictured: Brenna Pritchard as Lady Sneerwell and Hayley Armstrong
as Snake.
Photo by Bonnie Cullum.
Since 1991, VORTEX Repertory Company has been presenting SYT, an
annual, tuition-free program teaming adult professionals with teenagers
to create an engaging theatrical production. The SYT program teaches
TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) curriculum and has won
numerous awards for artistic excellence, including B. Iden Payne
Awards for Outstanding Youth Actors, Outstanding Adult Actors, Outstanding
Directors, and Outstanding Design. Austin Chronicle named SYT “Best
Theatre Program that Treats Kids like Grownups.” Now in its
17th year, Summer Youth Theatre has mentored a generation of young
artists and is the jewel of VORTEX's community programming. Read
what KEYE says about SYT '08.
School for Scandal is directed by VORTEX Company members Betsy McCann
and Gabriel Maldonado and features adult guest artists Steven Fay
and Jonathan Blackwell. The Youth Company features
Hayley Armstrong, Zeni Bechtol, Kristen Crane, Anjelica Hymel, Amanda
Jackson, Romeo Joy, Anissa L. McVea, Chance Parmley, Brenna Pritchard,
Wyndham Shortt, Alexander Slay-Tamkin, and Cassidy Timms.
VORTEX Company members professionally design School for Scandal:
Ann Marie Gordon, scenery; Talena Martinez, costumes; Jennifer Rogers,
lighting; David DeMaris, sound. Adam Gunderson provides Stage Management
and dozens of other adult artists contribute their support and expertise
to make School for Scandal a delight. Publicity Photo by Bonnie
Cullum.
