Know Theatre Of Cincinnati Presents SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL 11/28-12/26

Know Theatre of Cincinnati is pleased to announce its second production of the season, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, adapted by John Olive from the novels by Louis Sachar. Sideways Stories from Wayside School will open on Know Theatre's mainstage November 28 and play through December 26, 2009.

There was a bit of an error made in the construction of Wayside School. Instead of making thirty classrooms side by side, it was built one classroom on top of another, thirty stories high...except for the 19th floor which seems to have been forgotten. Join students Myron, Bebe, Leslie, Rondi and Dameon for a series of strange encounters and skewed adventures. You'll enjoy such oddities as Mrs. Gorf - the meanest teacher in the history of Wayside School, Ms. Jewls' possessed blackboard, talking pigtails, a lunch money stealing principal, figures appearing in mashed potatoes, dead rats, and the ethereal Miss Zarves who may or may not reside on the mysterious missing 19th floor.
This show about surprise, wonder, and discovery demands the audience come along for the ride and flex their imagination muscles to keep up with the bizarre goings on at Wayside School. John Olive's adaptation of the series of children's books by Louis Sachar, cleverly finds ways to bring the magical alternate universe of the books to life on stage.

This production will be directed by Jason Ballweber, a native of Minneapolis and Cincinnati Fringe Festival regular as a member of Four Humors Theatre Company. Four Humors first appeared in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival in 2008 with the Audience Pick of the Fringe with their original work, Mortem Capiendum and returned for the 2009 festival to perform April Fools. You can learn more about Four Humors Theatre at www.fourhumorstheatre.com.

Ballweber recently performed in a production of Sideways Stories... with Minneapolis based Four Humors Theatre. "This show did amazingly well in Minneapolis. I am pleased to have the opportunity to work on this production at Know Theatre. Nick Ryan directed it for Four Humors at the Minnesota Fringe, so I'm excited to have the opportunity to bring the show to life anew with a new group of artists and the knowledge the past production brings," says Ballweber.

This is Ballweber's directorial debut with Know Theatre, "The Know Theatre is a place that feels like home to me. The first year we came to Cincinnati, we knew no one, yet felt welcomed," says Ballweber. "Every time I come back to Cincinnati I feel more connected with the artists here and I am getting a feel for what this city can do. There is something beautiful going on in Cincinnati artistically and I am very excited to be a part of it."
"Sideways Stories is a hilarious script that lends itself to some very creative staging - something I feel Four Humors does incredibly well," says Managing Director, Eric Vosmeier. "I saw Jason's direction of Comedy of Errors at the Minnesota Fringe and was impressed by his style and use of space. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to further the relationship between Know Theatre and Four Humors. We're also adding into the mix the incredibly talented ladies from another Fringe regular, Pones, Inc. Lindsey Jones and Kim Popa will assist with some of the more movement based staging. It should be a great collaboration."

Jason Ballweber (Director) received his BA in Theater from the University of Minnesota. While there he started working with Four Humors Theater and is now one of the co-Artistic Directors. Jason has also performed with companies such as Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Three Sticks, Jon Ferguson Theatre, Live Action Set, The Bedlam Theatre and The Minnesota Orchestra. As a director and performer Jason strives to bring honesty and vulnerability onto the stage. His goal as an artist is to get the audience to laugh and cry at the same time.

The playwright, John Olive, is a widely produced and award-winning playwright, the author of Minnesota Moon, Standing On My Knees, The Voice of the Prairie, Careless Love, Killers, The Summer Moon, Evelyn and the Polka King, God Fire, Into the Moonlight Valley, and many others. Producing theaters include: the Guthrie Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Steppenwolf, Actors Theatre of Louisville, South Coast Rep, The Old Globe, ACT/Seattle, and the Royal Theatre Copenhagen. Mr. Olive is a resident playwright with Seattle Children's Theatre, for whom he has done six mainstage adaptations. He is also a screenwriter, a novelist, and a popular teacher of creative writing. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife Mary and their son Michael.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School will be directed by Jason Ballweber and will feature Know Theatre resident company members Joshua Murphy, DarNell Benjamin, and Liz Vosmeier. Lindsey Jones and Kim Popa of Northern Kentucky based Pones, Inc will take part in creating the staging. Acclaim Award Rising Star winner Alison Vodnoy will also join the cast.
All tickets to all Know Theatre productions are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the performance. You can purchase online at www.knowtheatre.com or call the Know Theatre box office at (513) 300-KNOW (5669).

Sideways Stories from Wayside School adapted by John Olive from the novels by Louis Sachar.
Mainstage performances

November 28 - December 26, 2009
8 PM performances: Nov 28, Dec 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, & 26
3 PM performances: December 13, 19, & 26
Cash bar before and after show
Creative Team
Director - Jason Ballweber
Scenic Design - Andrew J. Hungerford
Lighting Design - Josh Mansker
Costume Design - Susan Toy
Sound Design - Doug Borntrager