FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2004

SFA’s ‘Sideways Stories’ based on popular children’s books

Children old and young can see the zany characters from Louis Sacher’s Wayside School novels come to life on the W. M. Turner Auditorium stage as Stephen F. Austin State University’s Summer Repertory Theatre presents John Olive’s dramatic adaptation, “Sideways Stories from Wayside School.”

The play draws on Sacher’s novel of the same title and the other novels in the series: “Wayside School is Falling Down,” “Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger,” “Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School” and “More Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School.”

During the repertory company’s second week of production, “Sideways” will be performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, and Thursday, July 8.

Cast members said they remember reading Sacher’s books when they were in elementary school and were excited about playing the characters they had come to know and love.

Robert Bills, Freeport junior who plays Dameon, explained that the characters in the play are actually combinations of Sacher’s characters, but anyone who has read the novels will immediately recognize specific personality traits.

Heather Light, Southlake senior who plays Rondi in the play, said one of the reasons the Sacher’s books are so popular is that readers can relate the characters to students and teachers in their own lives, and the same is true of the characters on stage.

The cast members offered memories of nice teachers they had had who reminded them of Mrs. Jewls and of mean teachers after whom they were sure Mrs. Gorf had been patterned.

The five theatre students who portray the elementary children said their characters will remind audience members of themselves or classmates they once had.

“That’s what makes the play so fun,” said Sara Boland-Taylor, Arlington freshman who plays Leslie. “Kids currently know someone like my snooty character or the artistic BeBe, or the energetic Myron, and adults remember classmates similar to those depicted on stage,” she explained.

At 7 p.m. Friday, July 9, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 10, the repertory company will present “The Two Maples,” Miriam Morton’s translation of Eugene Schwartz’s classic Russian fairy tale.

During the following week, “The Two Maples” will be presented at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, and Thursday, July 15. The summer season will close with “Sideways Stories” being presented at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 16, and at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 17.

Tickets for any of the performances are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and children. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult with a full-price ticket. The offer is limited to two children per adult.

To order tickets or for more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or 1-888-240-ARTS or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.