THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW Set for Gamut Theatre Group's Stage Door Series, Begin. 9/13

Gamut Theatre Group is proud to announce the first production of its Stage Door Series initiative for the 2013-2014 season: an original adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which will be presented on September 13-14 and 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. at Gamut Classic Theatre in Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. The production is sponsored by Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop.

The Stage Door Series began in 2010, and offers diverse, exciting, classically-themed programming with simpler technical elements than a Mainstage season production, focusing simply on the words and emotional journeys in a piece. All productions in the Stage Door Series are Bring Your Own Price, where any size donation buys admission to the show. The Series' motto is "Come as you are, pay what you will."

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is an original adaptation of the Washington Irving short story by former Gamut Core Company members Jeff Luttermoser and David Ramòn Zayas. They are co-directing the production, with Luttermoser handling the main staging and Zayas focusing on voice and movement.

Luttermoser, now an English teacher at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High, was inspired to write and produce Sleepy Hollowafter teaching it to seventh graders while student teaching last school year.

"As [my students and I] explored the content together, we all began to question just what it was that made this story popular," he explained. "Aside from the literary credit of being a classic original American Short Story, the idea that fear and superstition ruled over this town and infected its visitors became an interesting angle to view the story from, and I wondered how that might translate to the stage."

Luttermoser and Zayas worked on the adaptation for several months before starting rehearsals - the story's richness lent itself well to theatrical interpretation."

"The story itself is so verbose and rich with description, the challenge of making it into an exciting live action story while remaining true to Irving's style and the original text was appealing," Luttermoser said. "[Sleepy Hollow] is all about superstition, and how absolute belief in something you cannot prove is dangerous, but at the same time remaining faithless and closed to the supernatural can be just as foolish."

All elements of the production are completely original, combining to create a unique and memorable night of theatre.

"This adaptation utilizes actors to create every type of atmosphere, sound, and pieces of music, all originally staged and written just for this cast and this production. Although I am confident that this story will be studied and told for many years to come and in many different ways, you will never be able to see it quite like this again."

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow will be presented on September 13-14 and 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. at Gamut Classic Theatre in Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. Tickets will be available at the door only, and admission is "Bring Your Own Price" - any size donation buys your admission to the show. Information at www.gamutplays.org.

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