NOTTINGHAM: The Legend of Robin Hood to Premiere at Stage 284

Be the first to see this brand new musical now in development here at Stage 284.

NOTTINGHAM: The Legend of Robin Hood is an exciting tale based on the iconic Robin Hood legends. Journey with Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Little John and more as they seek to overthrow the tyrannous rule of Prince John and the Sheriff and their unfair taxes. A true delight for families and people of all ages!

About a year ago, Jay Pension was directing a program north of here that had already announced they would be doing "Robin Hood". He reviewed the script that was chosen and decided it was insufficient for his needs. After spending a long time reviewing alternatives searching for a new "Robin Hood" script, he became discouraged about the options available. This past summer, while working as Summer Director for Island Theatre Workshop, Jay collaborated with Nathaniel Punches to develop a new work, a musical, based on the story of Robin Hood. Though geared, primarily, to a family audience, it is an very apropos inaugural presentation in this election season with the topic of government interference in the economy and in people's lives.

The story is full of old-fashioned, swash-buckling adventure, plot twists, a touching love story, a villain, broad comedy, and some adventurous kids. The music score is glorious, harmonic, rousing, singable, and memorable. The only question to be answered is which song you will be singing when you leave the theater.

Performances:
Friday, April 1, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 2, 3pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, April 3, 3pm and 7:30pm
Thursday, April 7, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 9, 3pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, April 10, 3pm and 7:30pm

Performances play Stage284 at the Community House, 284 Bay Road, Hamilton MA. Stage284 presentations are open to the public. Reserve tickets online Nottingham Tickets or through the Office. [$18 in advance, $25 at the door] Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jay Pension (Author & Director) Over the past 10 years Jay has worked as a director or producer on over 60 productions in the Greater Boston area. Favorite directing credits include: The Engagement, The Velveteen Rabbit (2010-2015,) James and the Giant Peach, Boston Children's Theatre (at the BCA), Left & Right (creator/co-director) NYC run and NE tour (Winner; Best Show New England Fringe Festival), Arsenic and Old Lace, Little Women, and Mary Poppins at Stage 284. He holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Salem State University. Jay currently serves as the Program Coordinator for Boston Children's Theatre, Summer Director for Island Theatre Workshop, Martha's Vineyard, and as Artistic Director for Stage 284 in Hamilton, MA.

Nathaniel Punches has been an actor/teacher/director/technician in the greater Boston area for the last six years. He has been technical director for several major companies including Actor's Shakespeare Project, Boston Children's Theatre and Stage 284 as well as St. John's Prep and Brimmer and May. He toured with New Repertory's Classical Rep Company as Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet and Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird. He also toured as "Left" in the two man comedy Left and Right. He has been teaching theatre for four years and directed over 20 children's shows. Nate studied acting at the British American Drama Academy and is currently working on his masters in Theatre Education at Emerson College. In the of summer 2015 he co-created NOTTINGHAM at Island Theatre Workshop on Martha's Vineyard.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER & LYRICIST: George Luton grew up in Tokyo, Japan, where he participated in theatrical productions with both an international community theater and the American high school he attended, gaining experience in performance as well as musical arrangement, orchestration and composition. In the past few years he has gotten involved in various summertime theater projects on Martha's Vineyard, including Island Theater Workshop's Children's Theater program, where he works as composer and music director through July and August. George currently attends Vassar College in New York.

Katie Clarke is excited to be working with Stage 284. A graduate of Endicott College in English and Creative Writing, with a Theater Minor, she joined the North Shore Community in 2013 and has been teaching, acting and working in the Greater Boston Area. By day she is a kids yoga, drama, creative movement and music teacher for KidPowerment Yoga. Katie is currently a Candidate for a Masters in Theatre Education at Emerson College. Her favorite roles on stage include, "Annie" in Annie Get Your Gun, "Catherine" in Pippin!, "Susan" in [title of show] and "Nana" in The Velveteen Rabbit. She was most recently seen as "Janet" in our production of Drowsy Chaperone. Katie was also our extraordinary Stage Manager for Mary Poppins.

Based in Hamilton, MA STAGE284 is a chamber theater company in a historic building in the beautiful town of Hamilton, MA (accessible by car and train from Boston). Where they are limited by their small space, it also becomes their greatest asset, in that they reimagine traditional theater and musical theater to fit their space and their resources. Productions are a mixture of professionals, community theater, and those with professional theater experience. STAGE284 is a multi-generational company for actors of all ages, offering professional experience that take actors on a teaching/learning journey. They rekindle the passion for the craft from people who do it, not for the money, but for the thirst to learn. It is dedicated to staging theater productions and educational programs of the highest quality for amateur and professional talent while entertaining theater enthusiasts of all ages.

Stage284 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations under the aegis of the Community House of Hamilton.