VORTEX Season 20: School for Scandal

ARCHIVE SEASON 20 | August 2008

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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.