For Immediate Release
September 13, 2011

WAKEFIELD - South Kingstown High School students will receive a taste of professional theater thanks to a unique pairing with the Contemporary Theater Company.

Students will spend September collaborating with company artists to produce "Testing, Testing 1234," a play festival slated for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

"Through work on these four one-act plays, students will gain a deeper appreciation of the arts, learn technical skills and become better collaborators," said Sarah Pease-Kerr, a company artist working with students.

One group will stage a selection from Anna Deavere Smith's "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992," which features dialogues from witnesses to the aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King trial. Another group tackles postmodernist drama in Heiner Müller's "Hamletmachine," an adaptation of Shakespeare's drama about the ill-fated Danish prince.

"The Honey Bear and the Reaper" by New Zealand playwright Jo Randerson brings absurdist comedy to the mix while Federico García Lorca's "Quimera" introduces students to surrealism

Students participating include those with no theatrical background as well as those involved with the high school drama club.

"The festival will help bring the drama club together right from the start and expose us to the idea that theater doesn't go away after high school or college," high school junior Rebecca Magnotta said. "I'm excited to see what kind of things the directors come up with, and how they will work with the drama club to create a show everyone is sure to remember."

The play festival is open to the public. An $8 donation is suggested with proceeds split between the drama club and the Contemporary Theater Company. More information is available at www.TheContemporaryTheater.com or by calling (401) 218-0282.

This project is made possible by a grant from the South Kingstown Educational Foundation.

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About the Company

The Contemporary Theater Company is a traveling ensemble based in South Kingstown and dedicated to serving the South County community. Founded in 2005, the CTC provides opportunities for professionals and first-timers alike to participate in and enjoy a comprehensive arts experience through affordable, high-quality theater. For more information, call (401) 218-0282 or visit www.TheContemporaryTheater.com.