School of Fine Arts and FSU Youth Acting Company Present "Big and Little Tales"
The Fairmont State University School of Fine Arts and The FSU Academy for the Arts present “Big and Little Tales: An Evening of Story and Theatre,” featuring West Virginia storyteller Adam Booth followed by the FSU Youth Acting Company’s adaptions of Bil Lepp’s story, “The King of Little Things.”
The performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17, in the Wallman Hall Theatre on the Fairmont State campus. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and younger. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (304) 367-4240.
Born and raised in the hills of West Virginia, Adam Booth tells stories that blend and share generations of Appalachian and Jewish heritage with life lessons and a little bit of mischief. He is a four-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest and winner of storytelling contests in three other states.
The FSU Youth Acting Company is made up of 18 cast members ages 6 to 15. The company meets on Monday nights under the direction of Dr. Francene Kirk, FSU Professor of Communication and Theatre. Over the course of the semester, the cast has improvised scenes based on “The King of Little Things” by Bil Lepp. This performance is a combination of those improvised scenes and Lepp’s words. The adaption, which features lyrics put to familiar tunes, was overseen by Kenneth McDougal, a recent FSU graduate in English.
“The King of Little Things,” published by Peachtree Publishers in the fall of 2013, is the first children’s book written by West Virginia storyteller and humorist, Bil Lepp. It is illustrated by David T. Wenzel. “The King of Little Things” received a PEN/Steven Kroll Award for Picture Book Writing, Kirkus Starred review and favorable reviews from The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, The School Library Journal and other publications. It also won a Gold Parent’s Choice Award.
The members of the Youth Acting Company are Franchesca Rose Aloi, Jasper Brown, Sara Campbell, Mariah Duckworth, Lydia Falkenstein, Sophia Flower, Erin Frosch, Lydia Hatten, Marianna Jones, Paige Krcek, Caroline Maxwell, Jocelyn Maxwell, Maggie Maxwell, Morgan Rogers, Bella Smith, Ella Tingler, Jenni Vanosdol, McKenzy Whinnie and Sadie Wyer.
School of Fine ArtsFrancene KirkCommunication & Theatre ArtsBil LeppAdam BoothAcademy for the ArtsYouth Acting CompanyBig and Little Tales: An Evening of Story and Theatre
