Hope College Theatre will present “The Sparrow,” directed by Nathan Allen, on Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 18-21, and Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 23-24, at 7:30 p.m. in the DeWitt Center main theatre.
Nathan Allen, artistic director of The House Theatre of Chicago, returns to Hope College Theatre after directing and devising with Hope students the production of “Rose and The Rime” in 2007. “Rose” was selected to travel to the Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Milwaukee and the National Festival in 2008.
“The Sparrow” is the story of Emily Book, a small-town girl returning home 10 years after a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her entire class. As the town struggles to accept the girl who reminds them of what they lost, Book attempts to hide the special powers that make her different.
“The Sparrow” was written by Allen and his colleagues Chris Matthews and Jake Minton, and devised with his company, The House Theatre of Chicago. Allen relates, “I first built ‘The Sparrow’ with all my best friends in the world and it marked a big moment for us in our learning about storytelling and stagecraft. I remember discovering questions I still pursue in my work, questions about playmaking and ensemble work, but also questions about forgiveness and community and heroes. Questions about how groups and communities depend on each other. How we fail each other. And how we heal each other.”
The production team for “The Sparrow” includes Allen as director, Collette Pollard as guest scenic designer, and faculty members Michelle Bombe as costume designer and Perry Landes as lighting designer. Senior Dylan Connor of Tallahassee, Florida, is the assistant director. Senior Mollie Murk of Huntley is the choreographer. The stage manager is senior Mandy Scott of McMillan, and the assistant stage managers are junior Sydney C. Luse of Elburn, Illinois; sophomore Rachel Kennedy of Naperville, Illinois; and sophomore Elizabeth Schonfeld of Oxford. Junior Aaron McEachran of Golden, Colorado, is the head of properties and assistant to the scenic designer. Senior Sarah Merrill of Zeeland is the assistant charge painter.
The cast includes senior Kira Alsum of Grand Rapids; senior Kenny Cole of Jenison; senior Emma Fondell of Wilmette, Illinois; sophomore Sam Hill of Grandville; freshman Olivia Lehnertz of Bloomfield Hills; junior Jake Mate of Jenison; senior Mollie Murk of Huntley, Illinois; senior Cameron Pratt of Zeeland; senior Nicholas Richardson of Ann Arbor; senior Ezra Sprik of Grand Rapids; sophomore Victoria Ward of Vicksburg; junior Sean Zorn of Clinton Township; and senior Theo Zucker of Lake Orion.
Tickets are $10 for regular admission, $7 for senior citizens, Hope faculty and staff, and free for Hope College students and children 18 and under, and are available at the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890. Patrons may purchase tickets in person, online at hope.edu/tickets, or by calling the ticket office.
The DeWitt Center is located at 141 E. 12th St., facing Columbia Avenue between 10th and 13th streets.