Polk County Education
14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 5, 2017
STEPHANIE BLAIR/Itemizer-Observer
Applebox Children’s Theater will perform “Arabian Nights” Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Western Oregon University.
‘Arabian Nights’ hits Western Oregon stage
Applebox Children’s Theater opens seventh annual production tonight with cast of 40
By Stephanie Blair
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Apple-
box Children’s Theater is in
its final week of rehearsal be-
fore taking the Western Ore-
gon University Amphitheater
for the seventh year, this
time to perform an adapta-
tion of “Arabian Nights.”
The script was penned by
Maren Bradley Anderson, a
professor of literature at
WOU and mother of two Ap-
plebox actresses. The pro-
duction is directed by Rob
Harriman.
The play is based upon
the book known as “Arabian
Nights,” or “One-Thousand
and One Nights.”
The children’s theater de-
scribes their version thusly:
“Sheherazade marries
Shahryar and has to enter-
tain him with stories so that
he will not kill her in the
morning.”
Sheherazade tells three
stories over the course of the
show: “The Adventures of Al-
adin and the Treasure Cave,”
“The Son of Adam” and “The
Hunchback.”
Each story includes cun-
ning characters, dynamic di-
alogue and comedic genius
that only children can
achieve, with floating castles,
flaming fences and dead
hunchbacks.
The cast is the compa-
ny’s biggest yet, with near-
ly 40 players whose ages
range from third to eighth
grade. The program not
only provides a safe, super-
vised activity for kids each
summer, but it’s also free
for both the performer and
the audience, in part
thanks to funding from the
Polk Country Cultural
Coalition, city of Mon-
mouth and the Ash Creek
Art Center, but also due to
the heavy community and
parent involvement in the
production, Harriman said.
STEPHANIE BLAIR/Itemizer-Observer
Actors listen to some guidance while rehearsing “Ara-
bian Nights” on Thursday.
One example of this is the
sets, which were designed
and painted by Becca Mc-
Cannell, head of Western’s
art department.
This support makes it
possible for the actors and
actresses to keep coming
back each summer, but it’s
not the only motivation the
children have.
“I really like the play be-
cause we get time to play,
and it’s not really strict and
Rob (Harriman) is really
fun,” said Colleen Anderson,
9. “I just really like acting —
and I think I’m really good.
It’s just really fun here. I
hope to do it for many more
years.”
For Colleen and her sister,
Vivenne Anderson, 6, this
will be their third summer
with Applebox.
“Once I was a fairy, then I
was a pirate, now I’m a
horse,” Vivienne added.
The plays also help kids
build acting skills and confi-
dence on stage, as Applebox
veteran Joseph Harriman
explained.
“This is my first year not
on stage, because I aged
out and I’m in high school
now,” said Joseph, refer-
ring to the age limit, which
requires Applebox actors
be between 8-12 years old.
“And some people (like
myself) age out, and they
go on to become thespians
for Central (High School).”
For many of the actors,
this is their first play. The
support of an excited audi-
ence could be what begins
a lifelong career in the the-
ater.
An open dress rehearsal
will take place on Wednes-
day (today) from 7 to 8:30
p.m. Official performances
will occur Thursday, Friday
and Saturday, also from 7 to
8:30 p.m.
All performances will be
held at the Western Oregon
amphitheater in front of
Rice Auditorium at the cor-
ner of Knox and Powell
streets. Admission is free,
Audience members should
bring their own chairs or
blankets.