Imagination Stage's Acting Conservatory to Present LORD OF THE FLIES

Imagination Stage's Acting Conservatory will perform LORD OF THE FLIES, an adaptation of the book by William Golding, April 29-May 1, 2016 in the Christopher and Dana Reeve Theatre. LORD OF THE FLIES follows the plot of Golding's classic with the added twist of having a cast comprised mostly of teenage girls.

LORD OF THE FLIES runs in Imagination Stage's Reeve Theatre April 29-30, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. and May 1, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, and may be purchased online at www.imaginationstage.org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or via phone at 301-280-1660.

"Our production will prove that teenage girls are no less savage than William Golding's island of boys. It's always important to me that classics such as LORD OF THE FLIES are not relegated to dusty bookshelves, but can be as vital and relevant as the day they were written. This island is a story that belongs to all of us - even teenage girls in 2016," says Director Randy Baker. "The original novel was a cautionary tale about society's darker instincts and those ideas remain present, but our production also seeks to explore the loneliness, the joy, and the terrible savagery of what it means to be thirteen. Our ensemble-based approach of discovery in rehearsal has allowed the conservatory students to bring their own stories to this timeless classic."

Comprised of 13 students from across the DC metro area ranging from grades 8-11, the Acting Conservatory is an audition-based, two-year program dedicated to intensive, pre-professional acting training. The first three semesters are spent studying technique (character building, script analysis, movement work, and scene work). The fourth and final semester is spent applying their acquired skills towards rehearsing and performing a fully supported production with a guest team of directors and designers from the professional theatre community of Washington, DC. The directorial staff has a vested interest in getting to know each student personally, and in turn holds high expectations for every performer. This opportunity allows them to apply their technical skills to a performance environment.

Directed by Randy Baker, LORD OF THE FLIES is designed by an entire team of professional designers and artists, including Kristin Thompson (Lighting Designer), Robert Croghan (Costume Designer), Thomas Sowers (Sound Designer), Leanne Frenkel (Stage Manager), Samina Vieth (Scenic Designer), Gina Grundman (Props Designer), and Kristen Pilgrim (Fight Choreographer).

Founded in 1979, Imagination Stage is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire creativity through theatre and arts education programs that nurture, challenge, and empower young people of all abilities. It offers year-round professional theatre for young audiences and classes in creative drama/acting, musical theatre, dance, and filmmaking for ages 1-18.