The curtain at San Lorenzo Valley High School’s Performing Arts Center is raring to rise as a student-directed show, “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” opens to audiences tonight, May 3.
The comedy show, written by Don Zolidis, features a 24-student cast and is directed by Louis Kruse and John Wasielewski, both high school seniors.
“We just looked at the script, and it was so funny,” Kruse said. “It was perfect for a high school production.”
Narrators Sophie Widman and Miles Viele will lead the audience through many of the well-known fairy tales recorded by the Brothers Grimm — Cinderella, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel — along with some more obscure ones, as they are combined and modernized into one overarching story.
“We all grew up with these fairy tales,” he said. “(The show) takes those stories and twists them to a contemporary setting — so much so that it’s scary.”
Kruse said he and Wasielewski had originally planned to submit an original script for SLV’s spring performance, but “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” was the next best thing.
“I was like, ‘We have to put this on stage,’” Wasielewski said. “It’s geared toward an older audience, but anyone would get a kick out of it.”
Wasielewski said he was looking forward to seeing the actors take the stage.
“They’re an amazing cast,” he said. “They have such a natural talent to them.”
According to Wasielewski, the audience should be ready to be put on the spot, too.
“It’s very audience-involved,” he said. “There’s a lot of breaking the fourth wall.”
Eight performances are planned over the next two weekends, with evening performances Thursdays through Saturdays and a matinee each Sunday. During a community night Thursday, May 10, ticket prices will be slashed to $7 for all audience members.
At a glance
What: “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon”
Where: SLV High School Performing Arts Center, 7105 Highway 9, in Felton
When: 7 p.m. May 3 through 5 and May 10 through 12; 2 p.m. matinees May 6 and 13
Cost: $10 general admission, $8 senior or student admission, $7 SLV students with ASB card
