THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507130208
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: BEACH BEAT
SOURCE: JOHN HARPER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Ever wonder what the members of ``The Lost Colony'' cast do in their off hours?
About half of the troupe belongs to the company's Professional Theatre Workshop, an internal organization that gives the actors, singers, dancers and technicians a chance to hone their skills.
``It's really an opportunity to learn,'' says workshop member Randy Hicks, who co-wrote an original work for the group called ``King Wart.''
The play is one of three children's shows offered this summer by the Professional Theatre Workshop.
``Beauty and the Beast'' and ``How the Camel Got Its Hump'' are the others.
Hicks, an actor/technician in ``The Lost Colony,'' has written a number of plays, but ``King Wart'' is the first to be produced.
The five-character play is based on the legend of King Arthur. Merlin plays a prominent role.
``This play, more than the others, is interactive,'' Hicks says. ``We have children come on stage and participate.''
Hicks' co-writer, Brian Kidd, is also an actor/technician. Kidd, a four-year ``Lost Colony'' player, directs the workshop's adaptation of ``Beauty and the Beast.''
A pair of ``Lost Colony'' dancers head the cast. Jennifer Block is the Beauty, and Matt Moore plays the Beast. Michael Allen is the narrator.
The show's two sisters are played by Cynthia Evans and Jeanmarie Esposito. Actor/technician Ben Parker plays the father.
``How the Camel Got Its Hump'' is an adaptation of a Rudyard Kipling story. It's a short piece - only 20 minutes - and Professional Theatre Workshop coordinator Timothy Herman directs the three-character play.
``This is the second season I've been involved with the shows,'' Herman says. ``Our children's shows are high on audience participation and are wonderful entertainment for the kids.''
``The Lost Colony'' is America's longest-running outdoor drama. It tells the story of 117 men, women and children who settled on Roanoke Island in 1587, then mysteriously disappeared.
The play, performed nightly except Saturday, runs through Aug. 25.
More than 120 cast and crew members from 15 states produce the scheduled 68 shows.
In addition to the children's shows, the Professional Theatre Workshop will offer a dance recital and a Broadway revue this summer.
The workshop will also offer Shakespeare's ``The Taming of the Shrew'' on July 29 at Waterside Theatre, home of ``The Lost Colony.'' MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks entertainment for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
``The Lost Colony'' actors Ben Parker, left, and Matt Moore rehears
a scene from ``Beauty and the Beast'' at the Manteo Waterfront
Theatre.
Graphic
THEATER PRODUCTIONS
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB