Nebraska Repertory Theatre concludes season with William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'

Travis Banks (Sam), Colton Storm (Piggy), Bradley Tejeda (Ralph), Tyler Meredith (Simon), Harrison Bryan (Jack) and Japrice Green (Eric). Photo by John Ficenec.
Travis Banks (Sam), Colton Storm (Piggy), Bradley Tejeda (Ralph), Tyler Meredith (Simon), Harrison Bryan (Jack) and Japrice Green (Eric). Photo by John Ficenec.

Nebraska Repertory Theatre concludes season with William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'

calendar icon12 Apr 2018    

Lincoln, Neb.--The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, the state’s only regional professional theatre, associated with the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, concludes its first year-round season April 13, 2018 with William Golding’s LORD OF THE FLIES adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams.

The Nebraska Rep production is directed by Kevin Rich, music direction/percussion by Aimee Bass, fight choreography by Ian Borden, and choreography by Susan Ourada.

Performances are in the Temple Building, first floor (Howell Theatre) at 12th & R street. Performance dates and times are:
April 13-14 and 18-21 | 7:30 p.m.
April 15 & 22 | 2 p.m.

Tickets are available through the Lied Center Ticket Office at 301 North 12th Street, (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or online at nebraskarep.org. Individual tickets are $30, $15 for students and members of OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute).

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre is the resident theatre company of the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

William Golding’s 20th century classic LORD OF THE FLIES explodes onto the stage in a fascinating production that integrates percussion, ritual and fire. When a school group survives a catastrophic plane crash, what starts as an island adventure quickly descends into a violent struggle for survival.

ABOUT THE SHOW

  • The first production of this adaptation of LORD OF THE FLIES, directed by Alan Dennis, was performed by King’s College Junior School, Wimbledon, UK, on Dec. 3, 1991. The first professional production of this adaptation was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, on July 31, 1995.
  • Nigel Williams, who adapted the novel for the stage, stated in a 1995 interview that “What Golding’s book is, is a real knowledge of its subject – schoolboys – and a real conviction that they can represent more than the things they seem. They are animated by an important debate about power, democracy and the good and evil that is within men’s hearts, but they are also, all too vividly, real boys of the kind you might find in any prep school today…”
  • THE STORY: A group of boys from an English prep school are the only survivors of a plane crash. They find themselves with no adult supervision on a deserted island circa 1960s. They elect Ralph as their leader even though Jack believes himself to be the leader. The boys decide to create a signal fire on the top of a mountain in the hope of attracting passing ships. After several weeks, it is clear that Ralph and Jack have different priorities and two different ‘camps’ are created. Meanwhile, some boys are scared of a ‘beast’ they believe is on the island. While Jack and the hunters are off hunting for pigs, a ship is seen on the horizon, but the signal fires have gone out. Piggy, whose glasses are used to create the fire, becomes integral to the struggle for survival.
  • Timeliness of the Themes: The issues of bullying, violence and attacks on young people prevalent in today’s society make this 1954 novel as important today as ever.

THE LORD OF THE FLIES COMPANY

Cast who are members of Actors’ Equity Association:

Harrison Bryan (Jack), Tyler Meredith (Simon), and Bradley Tejeda (Ralph)

The student cast:

Alejandro Alarcon (Henry), Travis Banks (Sam), Emily Blythe (Percussionist/Understudy), Kami Cooper (Perceval), Cameron Currie (Percussionist/Understudy), Beck Damron (Percussionist/Understudy), Connor Garrison (Roger), Japrice Green (Eric), Ethan Greenlee (Bill), Aguel Lual (Maurice), Nick Prior (Percussionist/Understudy), Kate Schini (Percussionist/Understudy), Clayton Shellgren (Naval Officer), Colton Storm (Piggy), and Michael Zavodny (Percussionist/Understudy)

The creative team includes:

Maya Peirce (Assistant Director), Lisa Haldeman (scenic design), Jamie Mancuso (lighting design), Rebecca Armstrong (costume design), Araceli Ramirez (sound design), Shannon Humiston (stage manager), and Michael Strickland (technical director).

ABOUT THE DIRECTORKEVIN RICH

Recent directing credits: I Heart Juliet, Antony & Cleopatra, Rodeo (Illinois Shakespeare Festival); The Importance of Being Earnest (American Shakespeare Center); The Comedy of Errors (CU Boulder); Romeo & Juliet (Illinois State University); As You Like It (Bradley University); Icarus & Aria, Spirits to Enforce, Almost, Maine (Kenyon College). 

Upcoming projects: The Winter's Tale (American Shakespeare Center), Edward III (Colorado Shakespeare Festival), Macbeth and Twelfth Night (CSF Education). Associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, BA Grinnell College, MFA Yale School of Drama.

THE 50th Anniversary Season

AN ACT OF GOD by God, adapted by David Javerbaum | Sept. 26 – Oct. 14, 2018

MOTHER COURAGE by Bertolt Brecht, adapted by David Hare, music by Scott Lamps | Nov. 7-18, 2018

THE HOLIDAY CABARET conceived and directed by Andy Park | Dec. 13-16, 2018

DUTCHMAN by Amiri Baraka/LeRoi Jones | Feb. 13-24, 2019

HAIR book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt Macdermot | March 27-April 7, 2019

Spirit of ’68, Rep’s Anniversary Party | April 20, 2019