Antarctica
Coming to City Theater, February 3, 4, 10 & 11. 8 PM.
Cruise ship passengers trapped in the Antarctic battle frostbite, pack ice and penguins in this rock musical tribute to explorer Ernest Shackleton. Featuring a live band, dancers and a full chorus, Antarctica will be performed February 3 – 11 at The City Theatre.
More info www.antarcticashow.com or contact Crank Collective at 512-569-6155. Read about Crank Collective in Backstage.
Cast
Vocal Ensemble
AUSTIN, Texas—As a follow-up to last year’s Austin Critics Table nominated production Drone, Crank Collective presents Antarctica—where unsuspecting cruise ship passengers trapped in the Antarctic battle frostbite, pack ice, and penguins in an exuberant, rock musical tribute to explorer Ernest Shackleton.
Antarctica is a story of challenges met and overcome: from the crossing of a frozen continent; to the development of a cold-resistant new species; to the production of an over-the-top musical tribute to Ernest Shackleton.
Director John Cecil has again assembled a talented team to carry out his grand vision with unique flair: six professional dancers, two choreographers, five vocalists, a 4-person band, and a cast of six.
Audiences will be treated to a wildly entertaining evening, including catchy musical numbers, a choreographed 6-flake blizzard scene, and a finale including the complete cast and 6 professional dancing Menguin. For the set design, Crank Collective is creating a dark, WWI-era look, evoking the pictures and films of the Shackleton expedition.
Cecil and Crank Collective have a history of producing edgy, satirical musicals. In 2011, their production Drone was nominated for an Austin Critics Table Award for Best Musical Production. Their first large production in 2009, the H1N1-themed Epidemic of Fear: The Influenzical, was performed to packed houses of national and international audiences. Insomnia followed with the idea of an Insomnia Patch, which would eliminate the need for sleep. Cecil mocks society’s shortcomings with a light touch, fitting his many jibes into delightful musicals.
Cast and Ensembles
The cast includes Carl Guthrie, Alexandra Russo, Rob Faubion, Cassidy Schiltz, Lucy Miller-Downing and Christian Huey. The band is Jonathan Hoyle, Chris La Cava, Michael Walters and John Cecil. The vocal ensemble includes Shannon McDermott, Matt Melton, Laura Burgess, Kerri Atwood, and Doug Rensi. The dancers include Kirsche Dickson, Yelena Konetchy, Laura Bond Williams, Sydnee Houlette , Payton Jones, and Alma Zavala.
About Ernest Shackleton (1874 – 1922)
In 1914, Irish-born Ernest Shackleton made his third trip to the Antarctic with the ship ‘Endurance’, planning to cross Antarctica via the South Pole. Early in 1915, ‘Endurance’ became trapped in the ice, and ten months later sank. Shackleton’s crew had already abandoned the ship to live on the floating ice. In April 1916, they set off in three small boats, eventually reaching Elephant Island. Taking five crew members, Shackleton went to find help. In a small boat, the six men spent 16 days crossing 1,300 km of ocean to reach South Georgia and then trekked across the island to a whaling station. The remaining men from the ‘Endurance’ were rescued in August 1916. Not one member of the expedition died.
ABOUT CRANK COLLECTIVE
Crank Collective is a sponsored project of the Austin Creative Alliance, a non-profit arts service organization, working to advance, connect, and celebrate Austin’s creative life. Antarctica is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division.
DRONE NOMINATED FOR BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION
http://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2011-05-27/top-of-the-line/
