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News Release

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Cerro Coso Theatre Department Performing "The King Stag"

Ridgecrest, CA – April 18, 2006

The Cerro Coso Theatre Department will present Carlo Gozzi’s fairytale The King Stag on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6th at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, May 7th at 2:00 p.m. Gozzi’s The King Stag takes place in the kingdom of Serendip, where the lonely King Deramo searches for a bride. Luckily, the great magician Durandarte has given Deramo two magic secrets to aid him in his search. Deramo is unaware, however, that his First Minister will stop at nothing to take over the kingdom. The First Minister’s desire for power leads the King and his court on a wild adventure from the Kingdom of Serendip to the neighboring forest of Roncislappe.

The performances will be held in the Cerro Coso Lecture Center. Tickets are available at the Cerro Coso Business Office and at Lou’s Hallmark. General admission tickets are $5; student, senior, and military tickets are $4. The doors will open 30 minutes before each show.

Gozzi’s The King Stag is written in the style of Commedia Dell ‘Arte, a professional art form that flourished from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Commedia was a grass-roots form of entertainment performed by small, family-based troupes of six to twelve actors. Unlike today’s theatre companies, Commedia troupes did not use printed scripts to guide their performances. Instead they improvised their comedic performances using stereotypical stock characters to generate their plots. Performers tended to play the same character over and over until they “outgrew” the role and it was taken over by a younger member of the troupe. Commedia performances were held outside and were known for their use of masks. The male characters, with the exception of the “young lover” character, wore commedia masks. These masks created a signature look for each of the characters, making them more identifiable to audience members.

The Cerro Coso production of The King Stag will carry on the Commedia tradition with the use of commedia masks. Cast members had the opportunity to work with Mask and Puppet Artist Matthew Graham Smith this semester to help prepare for the production. The Cerro Coso Theatre Department is proud to offer the community the opportunity to experience Gozzi’s play performed in Commedia style.
 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Facilities Development and Public Information (760) 384-6230

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Last updated April 18, 2006