Starlight Stage Youth Theatre to Present THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

Starlight Stage Youth Theatre will celebrate its 41st season with a stage adaptation of Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" directed by Brandon Burns, with performances at 7 pm August 3-5 and 2 pmon August 6 at the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown, MA.

Moments before the earth is destroyed by a Vogon Construction Fleet, Ford Prefect manages to rescue his earthling friend Arthur Dent by hitching a ride on a series of alien spacecraft. Along the way they meet a variety of colorful characters - fjord specialist Slartibartfast, Zaphod Beeblebrox (voted "Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe" seven consecutive times), Marvin the Paranoid Android, computers named Eddie and Deep Thought, Max Quordlepleen, Master of Ceremonies at Milliways, a pair of mice named Benjy and Frankie, and a pair of philosophers named Vroomfondel and Majikthise. They endure Vogon poetry, dine at the restaurant at the end of the universe, and discover the answer to life, the universe, and everything (if only they knew what the question was!)

While it is now an international multi-media phenomenon, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" had its genesis as a half-hour BBC Radio 4 comedy show, broadcasting six episodes in 1978. Douglas Adams later adapted the story to other formats, including stage shows, novels, comic book adaptations, a 1981 TV series, a 1984 computer game, and 2005 feature film. This new stage adaptation was created for Starlight by Gail M. Burns, from Adams' 1978 radio scripts.

Tickets will be $10 adults, $7 children, available at the door. For more information, visit starlightstageyouththeatre.com.

Starlight has been directed by Robert Y. Burns and the Burns family of Williamstown since its inception in 1976. Starlight is the third oldest continuously operating summer theatre in Berkshire County, after the Berkshire Theatre Group and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. The company offers a hands-on theatre experience to local youngsters ages 8-18.

Over the past 40 years hundreds of young people have received their introduction to theatre with Starlight. Some have gone on to careers in the performing arts and the technical aspects of theatre and film, but all, whatever path they have chosen in life, have come away with a deep love and respect for the theatre, and happy memories of their Starlight experience.

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