黑料正能量 Theatre brings Shakespeare鈥檚 heartwarming tale of mystery and magic to life in an original musical, featuring hit songs from the 鈥�80s and 鈥�90s and dynamic choreographed dance numbers. 鈥淭he Winter鈥檚 Tale: A Musical Adaptation鈥� comes to the Lee Eshleman Studio Theater, with nightly shows at 7:30 p.m. from April 9-12.

Tickets for the show are on sale at and will be available at the door, though seating inside the theater is limited and tickets have been known to sell out quickly. Tickets range from $6 for 黑料正能量 and JMU students, $10 for children and other students, $18 for seniors (65+), and $20 for adults.

鈥淭he Winter鈥檚 Tale鈥� follows two kingdoms torn apart by jealousy, a lost queen, and the love that may bring them back together. When Leontes, the tyrannical king of Sicilia (Elie Hoover), suspects his wife Hermione (Jubilee Soper) of unfaithfulness with Polixenes, king of Bohemia (Samuel Castaneda), he becomes so enraged that he orders her jailed and their infant daughter abandoned.

Sixteen years later, as the seasons shift from winter to spring, the story moves to Bohemia, where Leontes鈥� daughter, Perdita (Emilee White), is now grown and has captured the heart of Florizel (Kayden Beidler), the brash and dramatic son of Polixenes. Will their love be enough to reunite the two kingdoms?

Perhaps best known for the stage direction, 鈥淓xit, pursued by a bear,鈥� this sweet and complex romance is written in Shakespeare鈥檚 signature iambic pentameter. But this adaptation adds a 鈥渘ice little twist,鈥� said guest director Haley Davis: a mix of 1980s and 鈥�90s chart-toppers, personally selected by 黑料正能量鈥檚 talented student cast, woven throughout the play. It鈥檚 sure to have the whole audience singing along.

Frequent 黑料正能量 Theatre collaborator Jim Clemens returns as music director, performing iconic rock ballads and pop rock songs on piano, while student Bryan Joya-Estrada, who also portrays the Shepherd, plays various instruments.

The costumes, designed by Rebecca Bailey, blend early modern and Renaissance elements with an 鈥�80s and 鈥�90s punk rock aesthetic, Davis said.

Rounding out the crew are Shannon Dove as technical director, Sierra Priest as choreographer, and Sarah Peak as stage manager.

The play will be performed in the round, with audience members seated on all sides of the raised stage and in the upper balcony.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more fun when you have the audience right there at your toes,鈥� said Davis, an administrative-professional faculty member of James Madison University鈥檚 School of Theatre and Dance. 鈥淵ou can look up at the heavens or down at the earth, and you have people there to share the moment with.鈥�

It was only after the audition process that it became clear to the production team which play to perform. 鈥淚n a special way, this play was chosen based on the people rather than the other way around,鈥� she said. “I found that this approach, coupled with the students musically adapting the play, gave the team unique agency in the story they wanted to tell.”

Beidler, who plays the roles of Florizel and Antigonus, said they love how collaborative the show has felt. 鈥淚t was so fun helping pick the music, and it really feels like we鈥檝e made this show ours,鈥� they said.

Hoover, who portrays Leontes and Autolycus, said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun getting to play characters who are both so different from each other and from me.鈥�

One of the play鈥檚 most striking moments is when it travels over 16 years, transporting the characters from Sicilia to Bohemia, from a harsh winter to a forgiving spring. The shift has also felt meaningful for the students, who began rehearsals in winter and are gradually emerging into spring themselves.

鈥淚 want audiences to walk away with a sense of hope,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淭hings can look bleak and cold and scary, but there鈥檚 something better around the corner if we hold on and let time do what it needs to do.鈥�

Cast
Leontes/Autolycus 鈥� Elie Hoover
Hermione 鈥� Jubilee Soper
Mamillius/Perdita 鈥� Emilee White
Camillo 鈥� Erin Batten
Polixenes 鈥� Samuel Casteneda
Paulina 鈥� Elena Middlebrook
Florizel/Antigonus 鈥� Kayden Beidler
Shepherd/Officer 鈥� Bryan Joya-Estrada
Lord/Messenger 鈥� Kyah Young

Crew
Director 鈥� Haley Davis
Music Director 鈥� Jim Clemens
Technical Director 鈥� Shannon Dove
Costumer 鈥� Rebecca Bailey
Choreographer 鈥� Sierra Priest
Stage Manager 鈥� Sarah Peak

The musical, adapted from Riordan’s 2005 bestseller, debuted on Broadway in 2019 and follows the journey of Percy Jackson, an underachieving teen who discovers he’s a demigod. Played by 黑料正能量 senior Adam Hoover, Percy is accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt, leading him on a quest with his friends Grover, portrayed by Mac Rhodes-Lehman, and Annabeth, played by Ella Walters, to clear his name and prevent a war between the Greek gods. Along the way, Percy must face mythological monsters and unravel the mysteries of his heritage.

Directed by 黑料正能量 Theatre Program Director Justin Poole, with music direction by Jim Clemens and costume design by Rachel Herrick, the production delivers an action-packed adventure filled with humor, heart, and high-energy performances. Rounding out the artistic staff are Robert Weaver (lighting designer), Shannon Dove (set designer/technical director) and Ellie de Waal (choreographer).

The electrifying score, performed by Clemens on keyboard alongside a live rock band, will energize the intimate theater space, while larger-than-life puppetry and choreographed sword fights enhance the mythical spectacle.

Senior Cassidy Williams portrays Luke and Ares, delivering dynamic performances that combine vocal range and physical prowess. “Singing while sword fighting is no easy feat,” said Williams. “It’s been a rewarding challenge to portray such complex characters.”

Senior Alexis Lewis serves as assistant director and production assistant. “This show offers a fresh, punk rock twist on classic Greek myths,” Lewis said. “It’s packed with fun, upbeat moments that will appeal to longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

The cast, composed of 黑料正能量 students and community members, will interact with the audience throughout the production, using the entire Studio Theater space for an immersive experience. “It’s a highly dynamic production,” said Poole. “There are no barriers between the cast and the audience鈥攖hey’ll be performing from the stage, the mezzanine, and even within the crowd.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $10 for children 18 and under, and $6 for university students. For tickets, visit:

Cast
Percy Jackson 鈥� Adam Hoover
Annabeth Chase 鈥� Ella Walters
Annabeth Understudy/Silena Beauregard 鈥� Emilee White
Grover/Mr.D 鈥� Mac Rhodes-Lehman
Luke/Ares 鈥� Cassidy Williams
Sally Jackson/The Oracle 鈥� Emma Saville
Clarisse/Mrs.Dodds/Medusa/Charon 鈥� Elie Hoover
Chiron/Kronos 鈥� Ezra Smith
Gabe Ugliani/Hades/Poseidon 鈥� Jacob Nissley
Katie Gardner/Various ensemble roles 鈥� Saycia Szakonyi
Various ensemble roles 鈥� Katie Beth Warner

Crew
Director 鈥� Justin Poole
Music Director 鈥� Jim Clemens
Assistant Director/Promotions Assistant/Production Assistant 鈥� Alexis Lewis
Vocal Coach 鈥� Afton Rhodes-Lehman
Technical Director and Set Designer 鈥� Shannon Dove
Costume Designer 鈥� Rachel Herrick
Light Designer 鈥� Robert Weaver
Choreographer 鈥� Ellie de Waal
Stage Manager 鈥� Sarah Peak
Assistant Stage Manager 鈥� Erin Batten
Assistant Stage Manager 鈥� River Lynch

The work is “a kinetic and reverent retelling of the Gospels that takes as its inspiration the Baroque art of Rembrandt and Caravaggio,” according to Poole.

It was commissioned by Asbury鈥檚 and will be performed in the church’s recently renovated Slaven Hall, utilizing for the first time its new state-of-the-art theatrical lighting system.

In addition to Poole and Clemens, the creative team includes adjunct faculty members , costume designer and movement coach, and , lighting designer, and student Ezrionna Prioleau, stage manager.

鈥淭he Gospels still have the potential to challenge and surprise,” says Poole. “Showcasing these stories through a blend of sculptural poses, atmospheric lighting, and mood-setting music allows audiences to experience the life of Jesus with fresh eyes.鈥�

Poole says the performance will appeal to “believers and doubters, church goers and non-churchgoers, theater enthusiasts and non-theater enthusiasts … I think what really comes through in this production is the humanity of Christ.鈥�

In the process of translating the Gospels into a two-person theater piece, Clemens has composed music spontaneously. He’ll perform on a variety of instruments during the production.聽 The process “has allowed me to experiment,” Clemens says. “When I respond to something he’s doing or saying, it often triggers a response from him, so that the piece grows organically. We’re free to tell each other 鈥楳ore of that鈥� or 鈥楾hat doesn’t work, try this.鈥欌��

Snow dates and times: Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The Tony-nominated Broadway musical 鈥淎 Year with Frog and Toad鈥� is based on author/illustrator Arnold Lobel鈥檚 鈥淔rog and Toad鈥� children鈥檚 book series. The musical, directed by professor opens Nov. 20. Additional performances are Nov. 21 and Dec. 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees Nov. 22 and Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the 黑料正能量 box office at 540-432-4582 or聽.

鈥淥ur production聽is set here in the Shenandoah Valley and the animals are the kind you would find in the woods and ditches right here in western Virginia,鈥� says Vogel. Her vision was to have the actors portray human characters with animal qualities instead of being in animal costumes. 鈥淭he actors have studied the way the animals move and are using that in their portrayals. Also, the characters reflect folks you might meet here too.鈥�

For history major Derrick Turner, assistant director and dramaturg, the show brings back memories. 鈥淚 loved those books. My mom read them to me when I was a child.鈥�

To spark the actors鈥� imaginations, Turner conducted extensive research with 黑料正能量 professor and conservation photographer . He then compiled movement videos and information on each portrayed animal for the actors, including habitat, food and skeletal structures.

黑料正能量 hasn鈥檛 done a children鈥檚 play in at least a decade, Vogel says, but the play meets the ‘s educational goals. 鈥淭heater for Young Audiences (TYA) is a hugely important genre of theater that our students should have experience performing and producing. Children are a different audience than adults.鈥�

The cast will perform three additional matinees for students from six local schools and three home school groups, says Turner, who made study packets accessible for K-5 grades.

鈥淎dults are much more well-behaved, but I find performing for children is a much more interactive experience,鈥� says actor Josh Helmuth, a music composition major who performed for elementary students while in high school.

Helmuth portrays four animals, including a showy bird and a straight and narrow lizard. 鈥淵eah, I don鈥檛 get a break,鈥� he says, smiling.

Playing animals has never been a favorite role for English and theater double-major Makayla Baker. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like when people portray animals. It鈥檚 so weird. But here I am鈥擨鈥檓 a turtle,鈥� she deadpans. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 been great.鈥�

Baker鈥檚 turtle is a laundry woman carrying a basket on her back and a scrub board around her neck.

Myriam Aziz, a graduate student in the master鈥檚 conflict transformation program, was cast as Frog. 鈥淎 female playing a part for a male, I think that鈥檚 really funny,鈥� says Aziz, who is active in theater in Lebanon. But having a male as a pal, she says, 鈥渞eminds me of my friend back home. We鈥檝e been friends for 13 years.鈥�

The cast and crew agree that even though 鈥淎 Year With Frog and Toad鈥� is based on a children鈥檚 book series, adults will also appreciate the cheerful upbeat musical.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of comedic effect in it,鈥� Helmuth says.

鈥淚t is funny,鈥� says Baker, noting that the 黑料正能量 community is inviting younger family members and people from their church to the show. 鈥淎 lot of 黑料正能量 students were raised on these books.鈥�

Cast

Myriam Aziz, Christian Parks, Ezrionna Prioleau, Bianica Baker, Esther Ajayi, Josh Helmuth, Makayla Baker, Zoe Parakuo, Hailey Holcomb

Crew

Director 鈥� Heidi Winters Vogel
Choreographer and Costume Designer –
Accompanist 鈥� Jim Clemens
Stage Manager – Caitlin Randazzo
Assistant Stage Managers – Lydia Hales and Belen Fernandez
Props Designers – Alex Rosenberg and Kevin Clark
Assistant Lighting Designer – Sierra Comer
Assistant Director and Dramaturg – Derrick Turner
Music Director –
Set Designer –
Lighting Designer –