JM returns for a second-straight year to the North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival with two performances over two days in this regional competition at Asheboro High School.
“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” is JM’s first play and is produced by students taking JM’s film studies class this fall semester. The performance is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Here’s how the licensing agency describes the play:
Edward Tulane is an expensive toy rabbit made of china. He is loved by a little girl named Abilene, but Edward doesn’t care. He is vain and self-centered. He has no interest in anyone other than himself. On an ocean voyage, Edward is accidentally thrown overboard and sinks to the bottom of the sea. So begins his journey—a journey over which he has no control, for he is a toy rabbit. He can neither move nor speak.
As years pass by, Edward meets many different people in many different situations: an older grieving couple who find comfort in Edward’s presence, a hobo and his dog who introduce Edward to a whole community of homeless wanderers, a farmer in need of a scarecrow, a sad little boy and his very ill sister, and finally a doll mender and an old doll who teach Edward an invaluable lesson. Through this miraculous journey, Edward learns what it is to love, what it is to lose that love, and how to find the courage to love again.
Based on Kate DiCamillo’s beautiful novel of the same name, the play is a theatrical tour de force for a small ensemble of actors and musicians.
The NCTC High School Play Festival showcases the talent of more than 3,500 students from more than 100 schools in over 130 productions, giving schools from all across the state an opportunity to share their talents and celebrate their collective achievements. The festival was named one of the “Top High School Theatre Festivals” by Stage Directions magazine.
Schools begin performing at one of eight two-day regional festivals. Select plays from each of the regional festivals advance to the NCTC State High School Play Festival on November 21-22 at Greensboro College, and the top two shows at the state festival advance to a national event.
Eight shows are currently scheduled for Friday — four in the morning session (8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and four in the afternoon session (2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) Other schools performing on Friday are Morehead High School, Asheboro High School, Middle Creek High School, Jack Britt High School, Knightdale High School, Fred T. Ford High School and Carolina Day School. All performances are open to the public.