Bruce Dow adapted "The Happy Prince" and "The Selfish Giant." Performances play the Charity Randall Theatre at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland, PA.
According to PICT, the stories by the Irish playwright "are brought to life through spoken word, song and dance."
In The Happy Prince, "the prince's statue sits high on a pedestal from whence he sees the misery of the people he once ruled. Desperate and forlorn, he enlists the help of a friendly swallow to distribute his jewels and gold leaf among the poor…but to what end?"
The Selfish Giant "tells the touching story of a giant who prohibits children from playing in his garden. It is always winter inside his walls… until his heart is softened by a very special boy."
Dow is best known as a stage actor and singer, appearing on Broadway in Jane Eyre, The Music Man and Anything Goes. He has also been a leading actor for nine seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where he is currently playing the role of the Emcee in Cabaret. Wilde Tales is directed by Sheila McKenna with musical direction by Melissa Yanchak, choreography by André Koslowski, scenery by Gianni Downs, costumes by Meredith Murphy, lighting by Niki Ellis and sound by Zachary Brown.
The production features David Cabot, Kelley Krepin DeFade, Joshua Desjardins, Jamie Fair and Kelsey Robinson.
Wilde Tales is the second event in a 2008 PICT series "to showcase Oscar Wilde's diverse artistry as a writer." An Ideal Husband, Wilde's comedy of morals and manners, is playing through May 31 in the Henry Heymann Theatre. Wilde's verse drama Salome will play June 12-28 in the Charity Randall Theatre. In addition, Irish actor Alan Stanford will perform his one-man show, An Evening with Oscar Wilde, June 1 at 2 PM in the Charity Randall Theatre as a benefit for PICT.
The first act of Wilde Tales, "The Happy Prince," premiered at the International Children's Festival, May 14-18, 2008. The PICT run marks the world premiere of the pairing of the two pieces.
Tickets for Wilde Tales are $30 for adults and $17 for youth under 25, and are available by calling ProArts Tickets at (412) 394-3353 or by visiting www.picttheatre.org.
