Coming to M.N.D.T.
April, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 27th and 28th, 2012

Myth: The Musical!

Book and Lyrics by Thomas Geier
Music by Wayne Peppercorn

After a rousing number in which the gods are introduced in an “Oscar night” setting, Aphrodite and Medea visit Elyse, an aspiring young actress. Elyse is involved in a bad relationship with the unfaithful Cal, and these two mythical women convince Elyse to take steps.  Meanwhile, Kyle Schrodinger, a nerdy classmate with whom Elyse is partnered for a school project on Greek myth, struggles for her attention.  After Medea and Aphrodite guide her through a frustrating visit to the incompetent oracle Tyrice, a sudden revelation at a rock concert, and a visit to Hades for advice from Persephone’s Council of Women, Elyse is convinced that she must forget Cal.

The Three Fates appear in a comic prologue to foreshadow the action of Act II.  Elyse auditions for a role in community theater, but fails miserably.  Meanwhile Kyle has been visited by Hercules and Sisyphus, who urge him to pursue Elyse with more confidence.  With this encouragement and the hilariously inept help of Cupid, the relationship of Kyle and Elyse deepens.  Their school project on a visit to Hades receives high marks, and as Elyse sings in celebration of her new successes she is noticed by a local director.  The play ends with Kyle and Elyse happy together and Elyse headed for her first starring role.


Canterbury Road!

Book and Lyrics by Thomas Geier
Music by Wayne Peppercorn

 

October 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 10th, 2009
The Salerno Center for the Performing Arts
 
Original artwork by Shelly Brauer, MND Art Department Chair

 

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were left unfinished at the time of his death.  Several pilgrims introduced in his General Prologue never got the chance to tell their tales – until now.

In this zany musical comedy, four additional pilgrims at long last entertain the traveling group with their stories.  In Act I the carpet maker, the weaver, and the dyer – all young women – spin their yarns accompanied by songs and dance.  In Act II,  a rustic girl named Griselda (borrowed from Chaucer’s own Clerk’s Tale) is finally permitted to tell her personal love story and it “brings down the house.”

Most narration between the songs is done in traditional iambic pentameter couplets.  The Miller provides bawdy, adult humor and the Parson adds righteous commentary.   Plot and song lyrics incorporate Botticelli, the Plague, alchemy, traveling theater troupes, Robin Hood, and a female demon named Lucyfer to enhance the production’s medieval flavor.

 

All photos courtesy of Mr. Shepard


 
Shakespeare's Women

 

 

 

Book and Lyrics by Tom Geier
Music by Wayne Peppercorn
 
November 30th, December 1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th, 2007
The Salerno Center for the Performing Arts

 

Judith Shakespeare, William Shakespeare’s sister, is a charwoman at The Globe Theater.  She struggles with her position as a woman in Elizabethan society, especially since her famous brother often comes to her for advice in the writing of his plays and she gets no recognition.  In the process of coming to terms with her lot in life, she meets the Dark Lady of the sonnets, Queen Elizabeth, and even the Earl of Oxford – with whom she has a romantic encounter.  Virginia Woolf and Sigmund Freud also make cameo appearances.  Brief scenes and speeches from Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, and The Taming of the Shrew are included in this dramatic collage.  Seven songs and one dance number are part of the script.

Visit the Shakespeare's Women WEBSITE

Original artwork by Shelly Brauer, MND Art Department Chair

 

Copyright © Mr. Peppercorn 2011-2012