Photo Flash: 'Norman's Ark' in LA

NORMAN'S ARK is an unprecedented production that includes over 100 children from all over greater Los Angeles costumed as adorable animals with many young dancers playing the storm, ballet dancers on pointe as the Doves and a huge Gospel Choir combining kids from 5 to 18 with seniors. The West Coast premiere is directed by Peter Schneider (the Tony Award-winning producer of The Lion King) and features a gospel/rockabilly score by 4-time Emmy award winning composer Glen Roven. The book is by Jerome Kass and is produced by Maria S. Schlatter.

The world premiere of NORMAN'S ARK will be held at the JOHN ANSON FORD AMPHITHEATRE (2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Los Angeles, CA 90068 - 323-461-3673 or www.fordamphitheater.org) as part of the FESTIVAL OF NEW AMERICAN MUSICALS, a two-month musical theatre festival, will be held in May and June, 2008, throughout Southern California. Marcia Seligson and Bob Klein are the Executive Producers of the Festival (at www.lafestival.org).

Previews scheduled for May 27th and performances from May 28th through June 8th (Tues, Weds, Thurs  $34 and $65 Fri, Sat, Sun: $34 and $75. Special ticket price of only $5 available on May 27th  through 30th for students and children. All performances begin at 8:30pm.

Norman's Ark is a musical celebration about hope, family, and the human spirit; it's a universal story about surviving disaster—any disaster.  The project was conceived as a response to the increase in disastrous floods affecting our planet, but will have a greater impact and a deeper significance in light of the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina. It incorporates professional actors with non-professional community performers of all ages.

On the NORMAN'S ARK website at myspace.com/normansark, you can hear interviews with Glen Roven, Jerome Kass, Adam Davis (from the FORD THEATRE) and Peter Schneider. Also, you will hear selections from the score and find lists of community groups involved.

NORMAN'S ARK, features a cast of 200 including a 100-voice gospel choir, and retells the Noah's Ark story of hope in a post-Katrina world that takes place on a roof in the middle of a devastating flood. A family of five is on their roof with their house virtually submerged in water while waiting for a helicopter to come and rescue them. The father, Norman (Philip Casnoff), tries to calm his terrified family with a story about another flood the happened a million years ago … but not the one of traditional biblical accounts. The kids say, "Dad, if you start telling us about Noah's Ark, we're going to push you off the roof." Norman says, "It's not Noah's Ark, it's Norman's Ark," and the kids are hooked.

God, herself (Dawn Lewis), is surrounded by a 100-piece community choir (culled from the Los Angeles population and include The Holman United Methodist Church, Grace United Methodist Church and the United Children's Choir), AMDA Alumni Choir and the animals are 105 children from the community and include kids from St. Finbars Academy in Burbank, 360 Theatre in Pasadena and E.S.C.A.P.E. Theater School in Santa Clarita and the 'storm' itself consists of a group of trained young dancers.  

At the end of the story, as Norman survives, the audience sees over 200 people on the stage and we get the feeling that there is hope in the world and we CAN survive and move on with our lives.  

Johns Family gather on roof during flood - Lft to Rght - Karole Foreman (Alice), Tiffany Espen (Jenny), Philip Casnoff (Norman), BJ Wallace (Sam), Noah Galvin (Harry)

Johnson Family with God (Dawnn Lewis) begin to sing FROM WHERE WE STAND

God and cast sing NORMAN and his FLOATING ZOO

Storm brews as God (Dawnn Lewis) sings DARK DARK DARK: Is the night upon the sea

Cast Finale FROM WHERE WE STAND

Doves (Sonja Dale & Kelly Tapro) perform FLY LITTLE BIRD

Photos by Ed Krieger.