| Harlequin Productions in Olympia presents This Flat Earth by Lindsey Ferrentino, August 26 – September 17 at the State Theater. Artistic Director Aaron Lamb will direct. The play depicts the aftermath of a school shooting, as experienced by two students who witnessed it. Harlequin Productions is a participating theater with #Enough: Plays to End Gun Violence, and two student matinees are open for this production, where educational material provided by #Enough will be available. At a middle school in a seaside town, the unthinkable has happened, placing a bewildered community in the national spotlight. Stuck at home in a state of shocked limbo, Julie and Zander, two thirteen-year-olds, try to make sense of the chaos they witnessed, their awkward crushes, and an infinitely more complicated future – but the grown-ups are no help at all. An urgent response to our times, This Flat Earth is a startling and deeply felt story of growing up in this confounding world. Originally programmed for the 2020 season, a play that highlights the emotional fallout of a school shooting is sadly more relevant than ever. What sets this piece apart is its main character: 13-year-old Julie, a smart, funny, startlingly authentic tween full of hard questions without satisfying answers. The audience sees the weeks and months following the shooting from her and her best friend Zander’s perspective rather than from the adults’. The result is a fresh, gripping take on this issue, giving audiences a different angle from which to see the toll of escalating gun violence in this country. The roles of Julie and Zander will be played by three local child actors. As with the casting of The Highest Tide (2020), Director Aaron Lamb determined that due to the size of the role of Julie it should be shared between two actors. Julie will be played by Annabeth Collett and Cosette Yanasak, who will alternate performances, each bringing their unique stamp to the role. Zander will be played by Jones Dillard-Disston. All three young actors live in Olympia and attend Olympia middle schools. |