by Megan Chase, dramaturg
Brigham Young University’s production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is based on a short story of the same name written by the early-19th-century American author, Washington Irving.
I remember my first introduction to this famous tale as a kid. It was an episode of Wishbone on PBS. I remember being sucked in by the larger-than-life characters and all the spooky adventure.
Irving’s original story’s enduring appeal is demonstrated by its many other adaptations over the years. These included films, television shows, stage musicals, plays, and even an opera. Perhaps the most well-known versions are the 1949 Disney animated cartoon narrated by Bing Cosby, and Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Ichabod Crane in the 1999 film, Sleepy Hollow. Irving’s tale of superstition and the supernatural continues to pique the interest of all ages.
Our adaptation was crafted by Teresa Love—who also happens to be the show’s director. Love earned a B.A. in Theater and Cinema with an emphasis in Child Drama from Brigham Young University in 1991. She currently teaches at her Alma Mater and has decades of experience bringing the magic of theatre to young audiences in the capacities of director, producer, playwright, and teacher. Her adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was first produced at Imagination Company, a Los Angeles-based theatre company she also co-founded.
We are all very excited to bring Professor Love’s fun and family-friendly adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy of Hollow to the BYU stage!
