By Pauline Vinson
The Piedmont High School drama department will present a benefit performance of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire on Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at the Alan Harvey Theater at PHS. Proceeds from the show will help offset travel and production expenses for taking the play to Scotland this summer.
General admission tickets are $50 per person. VIP tickets are $75 per person and include an after-theater party at the .
To purchase tickets or make a tax-deductible donation, please go to http://acting.phswebs.com or send checks payable to Associated Parents Club of Piedmont (APCP) to P.O. Box 11192, Piedmont 94611.
Due to its mature themes and emotional intensity, A Streetcar Named Desire is seldom performed by high school students. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1948, and known to many through its Academy Award-winning screen adaptation starring Marlon Brando, the play revolves around the tempestuous and discomforting relationships between the aristocratic but penniless Blanche DuBois, her sister Stella and Stella’s working-class, brutish husband, Stanley Kowalski.
Advanced acting students from PHS presented a bold performance of this challenging play in December. Their production won them recognition from the highly selective American High School Festival and earned them a coveted spot to perform at the celebrated Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2012.
The December cast of the play featured Tlalli Moya-Smith as Blanche, August Grahn as Stanley, Ashley Shuster as Stella, and Jack Sadler as Mitch. The lead actors were supported by Max Becker, Josh Berl, Fenua Ibabao, Dan Meade, Maddie Pomaro, Julian Ring and Yasmeen Vinson. Stage managers were Maddie Pomaro and Sheli Schacker.
Due to scheduling conflicts, Max Becker, Dan Meade, Julian Ring and Sheli Schacker will not participate in the Festival. Their roles will be performed by Connor Christiansen and Billy Ireland. Aliza Theis will be making the trip as stage manager/assistant director. Maddie Pomaro will continue as stage manager.
PHS student Eric Lee, who is not enrolled in acting classes, volunteered his time and talent to create a website for the event.
Acting student Alexandra Petrus designed an eyecatching poster for the show (shown above).
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