The University of Wisconsin-Madison Theatre Presents

The Revolt of the Beavers

by John-Stuart Fauquet and Pete Rydberg

Musically adapted from the play by Oscar Saul and Louis Lantz

Public Performances: October 2 - 11, 2009 at the Hemsley Theatre

Directors - John-Stuart Fauquet & Pete Rydberg

Choreographer - Cindy Severt
Set Designer - Joe Varga
Costume Designer - Ari Lebowitz
Lighting Designer - Kurt Jung
Technical Director - Christina Keryczynskyj
Stage Manager - Alyssa Pon-Franklin
Education Team - Mary McAvoy, Megan McGlone

Watch the play's trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24YMgbnSFd4

Or visit the University Theatre's website at:

http://www.utmadison.com

Still want more information? Visit this website:

http://host.madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/theatre/article_1edaa842-b0e5-11de-857e-001cc4c03286.html

What the critics said

"I was in children's theatre. We did the famous "Revolt of the Beavers" which seemingly almost destroyed the United States government it was so subversive."
-Jules Dassin FTP Actor/Director

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:iCgBxI3nHksJ:www.thirteen.org/pressroom/pdf/fedtheatre/LivingNewspaper.pdf+Jules+Dassin+FTP+Actor/Director&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a


"The play's theme had provoked condemnation from theater critics. "Mother Goose is no longer a rhymed escapist. She has been studying Marx; Jack and Jill lead the class revolution."

-Observed by Brooks Atkinson in the New York Times

http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2003-07/federaltheatre.html


Katie Reiser, a writer for Madison's The Daily Page, wrote an article about the performance after her daughter and her went to see the production. She said after the performance she asked her daughter, a third grader, for her feedback:

Kathy: "What did you think of the play"

Lily: "I liked it."

Kathy: "Would you recommend it to your friends?"

Lily: "Yes."

Kathy: "What do think the message was?"

Lily: "Don't let anyone boss you around. I think I got it all, but why was 'Let's Get it Started' in it?"

http://www.thedailypage.com/arts/article.php?article=27076

Get to know the Playwrights

Revolt of the Beavers was originally produced in 1937 in New York City by the Children's Unit of the Federal Theatre Project by Oscar Saul and Louis Lantz. However, this play was quickly shut down shortly after due to a "socialist" feel. For example, one critic described the play as "Marxism a la Mother Goose". Although this play was a fantasy fable intended for children, it was attacked by the House Un-American Activities Committee for promoting Communist ideals.

Oscar Saul is a screenwriting who wrote and collaborated on the screenplays to numerous movies from the 1940s through the early 1970s. His best-known work was on the screen adaptation of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), which he wrote in conjunction with the playwright. In addition to writing film scripts, he wrote two plays, The Revolt of the Beavers and Medicine Show. Oscar Saul was born on December 26, 1912 in New York. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us because he passed away from prostate cancer in May of 1994 in Los Angeles, California.

Louis Lantz was a successful American playwright and screenwriter. He was born on April 8, 1913 and passed away on November 24, 1987 in Los Angeles, California. He was a Princeton University alumnus and a World War I veteran who served in the United States Army. Before he achieved success as a playwright, he started as a journalist on the East Coast. He soon gained fame in 1934 as the author of the Broadway hit Personal Appearance. This play opened at New York's Henry Miller Theatre and was a huge Broadway success, lasting for 501 performances.

To view the original 1936 play script of Revolt of the Beavers, you can view it at this website:

http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---off-0ftpp--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-home---01-3-1-00-0-0-11-0-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=ftpp&cl=CL8.2&d=HASH2684bd2b1d8cebe4be6930

Meet the Cast

Joshua David Atkins (Michael) is a sophomore here at UW Madison. He is majoring in pre-secondary education and theater. This is his second show through the University, but he has been performing in shows since he was very young.

Kelsey Davison (Hannah) is currently a junior at UW Madison who is majoring in Biology and Life Science Communication. It may come as a shock, but this is actually her first show with University Theater, however she has been on stage with the Undergraduate Theatre Association and UW Theatre Arts.

Liz Foster-Shaner (Chief Beaver) is also a student at the University of Wisconsin who is studying to be a doctor. Although the Chief Beaver may come off as evil, Liz wants to set the record straight and characterize her character as simply misguided and misunderstood. Liz also said that all the Chief Beaver wanted was to strip and clilp bark efficiently and that means that every beaver must pull their own weight.

Blake Henderson (Blubber Beaver) is another UW student who has been acting ever since he was a little kid, and hopes that all the youths who come to watch this production will be inspired to love theater.

Lauren Hoeft (Backwoods Beaver) is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is majoring in Theater. She has been involved in productions like Wonderful Town, The Boyfriend, Once Upon a Mattress, and Fiddler On The Roof.

Marsha Maly (Birch Beaver) is very excited to be playing Birch Beaver. Marsha was in her first play when she was only two years old and has been in many more ever since.

Ashley McHose (Beanpole Beaver) is currently a sophomore at UW Madison and this is her first performance with the University Theatre. Ashley is majoring in French and Theater.

Chris Morrison (Windy) was born during a small gale in Northern Ireland and for his first degree studied Music in England. He is also very enthusiastic about joining this talented young cast.

Cast & Setting

CAST

Michael .............................................. Joshua David Atkins
Hannah ............................................... Kelsey Davison
Chief Beaver ..................................... Liz Foster-shaner
Blubber Beaver ................................. Blake Henderson
Backwoods Beaver .......................... Lauren Hoeft
Birch Beaver ..................................... Marsha Maly
Beanpole Beaver ............................. Ashley McHose
Windy ................................................ Chris Morrison

SETTING

The setting of the place takes place in the woods by Hannah and Michael's house. It then shifts to Beaverland and finally back to the woods again.

What to expect during the play

It may be hard to picture a group of beavers singing and dancing around a stage, but at the University of Wisconsin Madison all things are possible. Revolt of the Beavers is a child-focused play which begins with Hannah and Michael, two humans who "just want to have a good time," wandering through the woods. During their venture, they are discovered by the wind, who requests that the children call him Windy. After chatting with Hannah and Michael, he decides to transport them to Beaverland on his way to the North Pole. When the children arrive in Beaverland, they meet the friendly beavers who turn out to be prisoners in their own land. The group of beavers explain to Hannah and Michael that they are controlled and being bossed around by the chief beaver, who forces them to work all day collecting bark while she sits back and enjoys the collections. In Beaverland, work is "busy busy" all day under the command of the towering chief beaver in a robot suit and fabulous silver platform boots. The children see how unhappy the worker beavers are and they decide to take action. They set out to find the chief beaver in hopes of discussing with her about how the other beavers are unhappy. Unfortunately, when they find the chief beaver she does not appreciate the interrogation so she throws the children in jail. The children are then rescued by one of the worker beavers and together they come up with a plan to overthrow the chief beaver and restore singing, dancing and equality back to Beaverland. Lastly, Revolt of the Beavers shows us the themes of environmentalism, the effects of bullying and the benefits of teamwork and friendship.

Revolt of the Beavers runs about an hour long and although it is a children's play, older audience members will definitely enjoy listening to the character's funny lines and interesting songs and dances!