[Capdist-announce] Still without power? Come eat and drink with us as Spotlight Players performs Web, December 15th in East Greenbush.

[Michael McDermott]

Spotlight Players Community Theaterannounces a play reading of Web, an original work by Brendan McDermott.  The reading will take place December 15th at 7 pm at Quigley's, in  East Greenbush .  The reading will take place in a dinner theater style of setting, with food and drink available from the restaurant.  Webis a dark adaptation of Charlotte's Web that has been described by reviewers as the same kind of spin on an old classic as Wicked is to the Wizard of Oz. It takes the events of E.B. White's classic book Charlotte's Web and puts them in a real life setting, while honoring the foundations and lessons that the book teaches to children-- friendship, sacrifice and, understanding and coping with death.  It re-introduces these themes to an adult audience.  The story is based loosely on the Susan Smith trial in 1995.  Susan Smith was convicted of murdering her two young children, and the play draws on this story, as well as other real world
 cases of mothers accused of infanticide. It ponders how in so many of these cases people are drawn to believe the worst in people and how there is little empathy for a mother is the accused of killing her child. It focuses on how in many of these cases people are disinclined to be compassionate or understanding, when all logic points to a verdict of guilt.
 
This play was written by Brendan McDermott in April of 2005.  He had proposed directing Charlotte’s Web to a student run production company at
Syracuse University . Instead, the President of the company amended the selection and encouraged McDermott to do an original and dark adaptation of Charlotte's Web. The show took an interesting path as it was first cast, then contracted a with a tech crew-- and then written.  Deceased local Playwright Peter Tyger joined the creative process, as a reviewer, and this reading represents thefirst local production of his last creative work.  The play was written in the summer of 2005, and had a student run production November 2005 at Syracuse University .  It will be produced at the  Crystal Theater in  Missoula Montana as part of their 2009 season, and presented in a new plays festival in  London , England.  
 
Brendan McDermott is a graduate of  Columbia High School in East Greenbush and a recent graduate of  Syracuse University .  He is currently touring with The Missoula Children’s Theater. Peter Tyger was an award winning local playwright, composer and actor, who created American Dream, Nellie Bly and
Clinton's Ditch, all produced locally.  This reading serves as memorial to his considerable talents.    The play will feature Heather D’Arcy, Carol Charniga, Adam Coons, Eric Shovah, Glenn Read, Scott Payne, Marlee Blasheim, Michael C. Mensching, June Casey and Rocky Bonsal.
 
Quigley's will be serving food and libation prior to the performance and at intermission.  Patrons are invited to bring food and drinks into the performance.  Quigley's is located at 593 Columbia Tpke., East Greenbush,  NY . Tel: 518-477-2495.  Come join us for a FREE evening of entertainment that gives you a break from the hectic pace of the holidays and provides you with a thought provoking and entertaining evening of ttheater by one of our own local talents and featuring some of the finest actors in the Capital District.   
Did I mention it is FREE?
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