'Sleepy Hollow' Legend Lives on at Regional Competition

The Weber State University Department of Performing Arts is proud to announce the selection of its fall semester production of "Sleepy Hollow" for American College Theatre Festival, Region VIII competition.

The production has been selected as one of five plays to be presented at the regional festival, this year at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah, Feb. 9-13.

Three fund-raising performances are scheduled to help to cover the costs of travel for the cast, crew, set and costumes.

"Sleepy Hollow," book and lyrics by Jim Christian, music by Tom Edward Clark, directed by Jim Christian, will be presented in the Allred Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 23; and at 2 p.m. on Jan. 22. All tickets are $15. No comp tickets may be used for this fund-raising event.

"Sleepy Hollow" follows the well-known tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, both iconic characters of early American folklore.

The production ran with sold-out audiences for all the performances this fall.

Local audiences raved, as did the ACTF respondents that critiqued the play through the competition process.

Region VIII Director John Binkley, from the Department of Theatre, California State University Northridge, saw the production and said it was selected because it met all of the KCACTF criteria in so many wonderful ways. KCACTF rewards innovation in production of classical theatre as well as support for new works of merit.

Binkley states, "Although this is not a classical play it is a well-known American story. As a new work it rises to great heights. Add this to the excellent design, acting, directing and original music and it is a classic in the making. The theatricality of the Act I finale is a moment that can really only exist on stage and it moved me is such a beautiful way. It deserves to be seen again!"

Varlo Davenport, the 2010 Region VIII Festival Director also lends his endorsement. "Jim Christian has a marvelous reputation for producing exciting theatre. His excellent new musical and creative team handles the ‘what happened next question’ of the traditional story in an excellent manner. The second act is truly ingenious. The entire production shows a consistently high level of quality."

In October and November, many of the performances were sold out before the production even opened. It is recommended that people purchase their tickets in advance as sold-out audiences are anticipated for the three fund-raising performances.

For more information about this production, contact Jim Christian, 801-626-6992 or jchristian@weber.edu

Photos available on request to crjennings@weber.edu.

Who: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts

What: Sleepy Hollow, book and lyrics by Jim Christian, music by Tom Edward Clark, directed by Jim Christian

When: Fund-raising performances: 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 & 23 • 2 p.m. on Jan. 23

Where: Allred Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets: $15 available at the Dee Events Center ticket office, 1-800-WSU-TIKS