2019-2020 Season

Peter Pan might have refused to grow up, but Wendy Darling has certainly grown and changed since she made her appearance in J.M. Barrie’s novel. Set in the Victorian era, Wendy Darling was created to perfectly fit the values of that society. The “cult of the little child” became a true literary trend of the time, which mirrored the Victorian attitude toward life. Many writers of the time, including Barrie, were fascinated with the childish status and even envied the innocence and purity that belongs to the little ones. Books written through the eyes of children for an adult audience became a way to escape everyday life.

As director of BYU’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, George Nelson wanted to provide a sense of foreboding, encouraging the audience to recognize the “flaxen cord” that Audrey II is in Seymore’s life without him knowing. The ominous ticking clock towering above the set creates this atmosphere and comes from science fiction tropes almost as old as the genre itself. The idea of the clock ticking away to destruction originated in 1947 by the Chicago Atomic Scientists (a group of researchers who worked on the creation of the first nuclear bomb used in World War II). “The Doomsday Clock” represented the time until the actions of mankind would end the world. The clock views a hypothetical man-made global catastrophe as midnight, and the minutes till midnight are measured by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which still exists to this day.

An awkward florist, a budding relationship, a sociopathic dentist, a carnivorous plant with a craving for human flesh; these iconic characters bring one story to mind. Little Shop of Horrors has become one of the most popular musicals for high school and local community theatres. A lesser-known fact about this popular stage show was its source material, a 1961 dark comedy by the same name, directed by the “King of B Movies” Roger Corman. Beginning with this film and spanning 26 years, three notable adaptations were made, each with its own unique alterations to the material, offering insight to the cultural landscapes of the decade in which each was made. The story of Little Shop of Horrors has taken the form of a dark comedy horror film, an incredibly successful and lucrative Broadway musical at the beginning of the long careers of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and the popular cult classic film directed by Frank Oz starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene.

Hey skaters! Horatio here—I am glad you are interested in learning more about my best friend Hamlet. Here is the link to my YouTube Channel where you can watch all of our skating videos and learn more about the show! On the channel, you will find a playlist of videos that talk about Hamlet’s story, including 10 Fun Facts about the play Hamlet, themes and symbols in the play and lots of great information about this Shakespearean tragedy. (And of course, I’ve got some fun behind the scenes skating videos!) Hope you watch all of the videos and enjoy the show!

by Samantha Baird, Dramaturg Fairy tales, as we know them today, are much like the children’s game of “telephone.” Over the years of being told orally, stories naturally will change and adapt to match the environment in which they are being told. However, something that is even more intriguing is when stories are intentionally changed to emphasize different elements. Below is a comparison of three retellings/adaptations of the classic tale Rumpelstiltskin.

by Samantha Baird, Dramaturg

by Samantha Baird, Dramaturg

by Samantha Baird, Dramaturg For centuries before the written record, people told stories, and retold them, and retold them again. While the moral of the story or general themes often stayed the same, there were bits and pieces lost or changed through history to fit the time period or the culture in which the story was being told. However, after the invention of the printing press, it became easier to write these stories down and publish them for a wider audience to enjoy and experience the same version of the story. But even with publication, there were different translations. Since that time, storytelling has neither ceased nor slowed down.

“What secret hath held you here”

Shakespeare’s Songs, Music, & Dancing “Strike up Pipers!” -Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing, Act V Scene iv

We’re delighted to announce the winners of the music contest! We had so many people submit their information that we couldn’t choose only one…or three…or even five!

The funny thing about adaptations is that the author, playwright, screenwriter, poet, etc has a lot of freedom with how they choose to change the story for their adaptation. While it can also act as a retelling, an adaptation is a little different. Retellings are done in the same format with changes to the story, for example, Rumpelstiltskin by The Brothers Grimm and Rump by Liesl Shurtliff. Adaptations are created through a different medium and can be the same story or can also be a retelling at the same time, for example, Rump by Liesl Shurtliff and Rump: The Musical by Timothy Threlfall. Here are a few retellings, adaptations, and appearances of Rumpelstiltskin over the years:

Shakespeare’s Words, Insults, & Sonnets by Pollyanna Eyler “I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to you,” -Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing, Act III Scene ii

by Samantha Baird, dramaturg, Every so often, members of the production team on BYU main stage shows have the opportunity to work closely with personnel who were involved in either the creation of the story or part of a previous production. This year’s MDT workshop production of Rump: The Musical is no different. As dramaturg and associate director on the project I had the opportunity to sit down with Liesl Shurtliff, the author of the young adult novel, Rump and ask her a few questions. The interview transcript below has been edited for clarity and length.

Shakespearean Dramaturgy, Sets, Assassination, & Theatre

2019-2020 SEASON, WILDER NIGHT by Hannah Gunson-McComb, dramaturg

Ninety years of history, summed up, proved too much to fit into just one post. This is part two of our historical journey, picking up at the 1890’s. Enjoy!