CAPTION: Steven Bucko, Jeff Redman, Madison Olimb, and Corey de Danann (l-r) in rehearsal for Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children.
"I knew we wanted to do it this season," Workhouse Theatre Artistic Director Jeff Redman says of adapting the graphic novel series Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children for the stage. "So we thought - ‘who else is it that does what we're about to do?"
From there, it was not hard to identify South Minneapolis' acclaimed Hardcover Theatre, founded by Artistic Director Steve Schroer who has an extensive background in English literature and "...a lot of ideas about how to adapt literature for the stage." After seven years and 30 productions, they are still the only Twin Cities theatre company exclusively serving this very specific theatrical niche. Schroer proudly claims that nearly all Hardcover productions are original, having never been previously performed in a theater. So, although the company has never before attempted to work from a graphic novel, he is not daunted by the challenge. "The process is a little different every time, depending on the source material - basically, whatever we have to do to make a good show."
For Paul Von Stoetzel, one of three directors taking on individual volumes from an original series that spanned 32 issues, the show, "...was almost too easy to adapt, because it was already so intelligent and interesting - yet done with amazing humanity." The process is made easier, no doubt, by the fact that Von Stoetzel grew up reading the series. "Now that I have this incredible chance to adapt one of my favorite pieces it's really an opportunity of a lifetime that I appreciate greatly."
For Workhouse Theatre, the co-production is an even larger artistic departure from past productions, albeit one that will be brought to life in the friendly neighborhood confines of The Warren. And, of course, there's the benefit of working with a partner possessing experience in the literature-to-theatre business. Redman says, "What I like about Hardcover is that that have a very unique brand of humor and style of staging - one that will work particularly well with Beautiful Stories..."
Bringing three ‘stories' together under one unifying concept presents an additional challenge, but Redman speaks in glowing terms about resident scenic designer, Sara J. Leigh and lighting designer Mark Webb, both Camden residents. "They're having a fantastic time coming up with some creative ways to use projections and scenic devices to move through the different locations of the different stories very easily without having to build complicated sets."
I Am Paul's Dog, Beneath the Useless Universe, and By the Light of the Screaming Moon are stories in question and, in describing the overarching theme of the show, Von Stoetzel recalls a quote by author Henry Miller, "The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware," which is (co-incidentally, or not) quite close to the Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children promotional material tagline, "The never-ending search for happiness and the sometimes desperate measures used to achieve it."
Asked for an alternate synopsis of what audiences might be able to expect, Redman, who is also featured in the play, simply adds, "Death, dogs, and lemmings."
Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children opens on Friday, March 6, and will run for 10 performances over three weekends in March: March 6-9; March 12-14; and March 19-21. Monday, March 9 is Pay-What-You-Will night, and Thursday, March 12 is the ever-popular ‘Camden Night' (two tickets for $15 at the door). Tickets for all other performances are $10 paid in advance or $12 at the door ($8/$10 for students and seniors); purchase at www.workhousetheatre.org, or reserve by calling the box office at 612-386-5763. All performances are at The Warren (4400 Osseo Road), and curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for all shows except for a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 8.
Workhouse Theatre's 2008-2009 season is made possible, in part, by season sponsorships from Papa's Restaurant and Deli, Steamworks Coffee and Tea Company, and Camden Pet Hospital.