'1001' comedic play to be held this weekend
By From staff reports
Published in News on March 28, 2012 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/ALLISON CARTER
Geoff Hulse portrays the one-eyed beggar in Wayne Community College's production of "1001." It will be performed in Moffatt Auditorium Friday through Sunday.
From ancient Baghdad to modern New York City, "1001" explores the good, the evil, the beauty and the violence of human nature.
The adult comedy by Jason Grote will be presented Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College. It is sponsored by the Foundation of Wayne Community College.
Tickets are available at the door for $5 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens. It's free to Wayne Community College students, faculty and staff.
The production stars attorney Geoff Hulse as the one-eyed beggar, Wayne Community College instructor Kirk Keller as the horrible monster, WGBR-WFMC radio personality Carol Lane as leading lady Scheherazade, who tames the wicked king, played by Wayne Community College alumnus Gary Moore.
"This is a crazy play with people changing costumes on stage and sets turning before your eyes," said director Margaret Boothe Baddour. "It's very funny, but is also strikes a chord of cultural diversity. Scheherazade, the storyteller, teaches us that very little has changed through the ages and that the old stories go on."
"1001" is based on "1001 Arabian Nights," and involves King Shariyar's bitterness over the betrayal of his wife, according to Ms. Baddour. The king wreaks his revenge on all women by taking a new wife from his harem every night and executing her the next morning.
The Wazir's daughter, Scheherazade, determines to put a stop to this by presenting herself as a choice. She tells the king a story every night so he will postpone her death and the death of many girls in the kingdom.
Also in the play are Dahna, a Palestinian American, and Alan, a Jew from New Jersey. They must work through the problems of their relationship in modern-day New York City.
Also appearing in "1001" are veteran actors Demetrius Sykes, a minority male mentoring coordinator at the college, and Keith Davis, the star of "Introducing Gogie Moose" and this past year's "A Christmas Carol."
Students from Ms. Baddour's Drama Class, playing several parts each include Jenny Kelly, Bobbie Maniscalo, Morgan Rooper, Alexia Torres and Rachel Von Almen.
The cast also includes Jay-Shon C. White and Josh Williams.
Morgan Rooper is assistant director. Art instructor Torey Romero is set designer and dental assisting instructor Susan Bowen is props mistress.
Jude Benedetto is stage manager. Joe Collins is in charge of lights, and Chance Moore, Wayne Early Middle College High School, is in charge of sound.
For more information about the production, call Ms. Baddour at 739-6839 or email to mbb@waynecc.edu.