Booker High School VPA Presents Musical “Children of Eden” April 11-14
Maicy Powell, who plays Eve, performs “Spark of Creation” for the VPA benefit Kaleidoscope of Creativity at the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe rooftop. Photo credit: Chuck Manahan.
SARASOTA – The Booker High School VPA Theatre Department will present the musical “Children of Eden” April 11-14 in the VPA Theatre. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Caird, “Children of Eden” is based on the Book of Genesis. It recounts familiar tales of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah and the flood. Director Scott Keys said that the musical aligned nicely with the theme of children and familial relationships that has defined the Theatre Department’s season this year. It is the finale of a season that included “The Children’s Hour,” “Cinderella,” and “She Kills Monsters.” One attraction for Keys is the size of the cast, which allowed the department to include many students in the production and direct them in artful and interesting ways. He and musical director Johnnie Mnich also were drawn to “Children of Eden” because they see it as one of Stephen Schwartz’s most beautiful scores, with great choral numbers as well as sometimes electrifying, other times haunting solos. But more interesting for him is its themes of community. “It speaks to family relationships, community relationships, and in diversity in a positive way,” Keys said.
“Yes, they’re Bible stories, but it’s also just really interesting storytelling about families interpersonally as well as families globally and culturally.”
Keys directs “Children of Eden.” It also features musical direction by Johnnie Mnich, choreography by Cynthia Ashford, costumes by Heather Clarke, set design by Seth Berry, and lighting design by Zachary C. Fonder. The show stars Timarus Foulks as The Father, Jonah Duchesne-Shaw as Adam, Maicy Powell as Eve, Jatavian Peterson as Cain, and Ben Hoermann as Abel, along with a large ensemble. “Children of Eden” will be performed in the Booker High School VPA Theatre at 7 p.m. April 11-13, and at 2 p.m. April 13-14. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for students. Reservations can be made by contacting the VPA Box Office at (941)355-2967, option 3, or online at www.bookervpa.com/tickets.
