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SJRCC Press Release
November 2008
Florida School of the Arts presents “Holy Ghosts”
 Florida School of the Arts invites you to search deep into the Appalachian woods and prepare to laugh, cry and pray among a congregation of snake handlers when it presents the drama “Holy Ghosts” by Romulus Linney. The show runs November 13 - 15 at 7:30 p.m. and November 16 at 2:30 p.m. on the FloArts Main Stage Theatre at the St. Johns River Community College Palatka Campus. Admission is $5. The play is not suitable for children and contains adult language and controversial, adult subject matter.
The drama begins when newlywed Nancy Shedman leaves her abusive husband to begin a new relationship with God - and with the preacher. FloArts instructor and play director Ed Kelly said the play is a very strong character play, with each character having a very poignant and vivid story to tell. “It’s an intense drama that is balanced with good ‘ole country charm and humor,” Kelly said.
Kelly said the audience should expect an emotional serge to radiate from within the walls of the makeshift church as the characters tell their story within this early American sub-cultural denomination. Kelly said he chose the script because of the relationships between the sanctity of the church music and the hopeless conditions of the characters. “The music underscores the dramatic action of the play,” Kelly said. “It’s great theater.”
Scenic and lighting design instructor Robert O’Leary said the show is truly a story of basic humanity. “The play exposes the human need for faith - sometimes extreme faith - to get a person through the very difficult things life throws at a soul,” O’Leary said.
O’Leary added that the production will be judged by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in all elements from performance to design. “The College’s participation in this festival is especially important to our young designers because their recognition connects them immediately to the national design scene in both the educational and professional theatre world,” O’Leary said. “Our connection to the festival often results in scholarships for our design students.”
Kelly said the faculty and students have done their homework in preparing for the play. “The research has been exciting. I think we have all learned something about the mountain people who took their desperate lives and the religion that helped them cope very seriously,” Kelly said.
The featured cast list includes Laura Rondinelli, Garrett Page, Michael Philips, Cameron Henderson, Brian Lugo, Bruce Popielarski, Kyle Riggs, Rebecca Hamilton, Alix Daugherty, Sarah McKenzie-Duckworth, James Smith, Torey Scarbrough, Logan Wolfe, Megan Georgeo and Patrick Taylor.
The production is entirely student designed by Theresa Steele, musical director; Emily VanDam, costume design; Steven Mignone, costume design assistant; Christopher Parrish, scene design; Charles Rye, lighting design; Romen Phelps, sound design; Jordan Vera, paint charge and light board operator; and Richard Lawane, properties master and sound board operator.
Kelly added that the playwright supports the use of the audience’s imagination in place of using live snakes.
Florida School of the Arts is Florida's first state-supported professional arts school that serves the entire state of Florida and awards the two-year associate degree. FloArts is located on the SJRCC Palatka Campus. For more information, call 386-312-4300 or visit the Web site at www.floarts.org.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
PHOTO TOP: The congregation shows a non-member “the way” after the abusive husband follows his wife to the church and the preacher she left him for in the FloArts production of “Holy Ghosts.” From left: Kyle Riggs, Garrett Page, Bruce Popielarski, Torey Scarbrough, and Laura Rondinelli.
PHOTO MIDDLE: Coleman Shedman (left), played by Garrett Page, refuses to be converted as a congregation of snake handlers tries to show him the err of his ways.
PHOTO BOTTOM: Nancy Shedman (front), played by Laura Rondinelli, confesses the sins of her abusive husband to members of the congregation. The FloArts production of “Holy Ghosts” portrays the extreme faith of the makeshift church set deep in Appalachians. From left: Cameron Henderson, Brian Lugo, Torey Scarbrough, Patrick Taylor, Laura Rondinelli and Megan Georgeo.
Return to SJRCC home page.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Kessler
SJRCC Director of Public Relations and Publications
5001 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 312-4020
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