“Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art”
North Theatre One Act Advances to State!
FREE STATE SENDOFF PERFORMANCE OF ‘KING LEAR’ TUES., NOV. 19
The Appleton North High School One-Act cast and crew will present a state send-off performance of the play KING LEAR on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the North auditorium. Admission is FREE, and the event will conclude by 8:30 p.m.
The 40 members of North’s cast and crew recently qualified for the 2024 Wisconsin Interscholastic State Theatre Festival Final competition with their sectionals performance on Nov. 7. More than 1800 high school students will participate in this year’s festival, which requires each school to present for evaluation a fully-staged play of no longer than 40 minutes. Less than half of the competing high schools typically qualify for state after having competed in both district and sectional meets held in October and early November. Each qualifying school then performs for a panel of four judges during the two-day festival, which adjudicates the performance and decides on the quality of the production and what honors, if any, should be awarded.
This is the twenty-sixth year in a row that North has qualified for state.
ABOUT ‘KING LEAR’
Considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written, Shakespeare’s KING LEAR dramatizes the story of an aged king of ancient Britain, whose plan to divide his kingdom among his three daughters ends tragically. When he tests each by asking how much she loves him, the older daughters, Goneril and Regan, falsely flatter him. The youngest, Cordelia, does not, choosing instead to speak honestly and without false praise. Lear, in anger, disowns and banishes her.
Director Ron Parker states, “KING LEAR is Shakespeare’s darkest, most complex creation. It is a timeless and surprisingly contemporary drama that asks us to examine the nature of our own humanity and inhumanity through the lens of family, frailty, ambition, loyalty, madness, love and loss.”
Though rejected by her father, Cordelia’s true and honest nature wins her the affection of the King of France, whom she marries. Lear divides his kingdom between his other two daughters, Goneril and Regan, who quickly turn on their father, casting him out into a furious storm where he quickly descends into madness.
Meanwhile, the Earl of Gloucester’s illegitimate son Edmund turns Gloucester against his legitimate son, Edgar. Gloucester, appalled at the daughters’ treatment of Lear, gets news that a French army, led by Cordelia, is coming to help Lear. Edmund betrays Gloucester to Regan and her husband, Cornwall, who puts out Gloucester’s eyes and makes Edmund the Earl of Gloucester.
Cordelia and the French army save Lear, but their army is defeated. Edmund imprisons Cordelia and Lear, who regains his sanity and begs her forgiveness. Edgar then mortally wounds Edmund in a trial by combat. Dying, Edmund confesses that he has ordered the deaths of Cordelia and Lear. Word is sent to the prison to release them, but Cordelia is hanged before help arrives. An anguished Lear enters carrying Cordelia’s lifeless body. Overcome by grief and guilt, he quickly follows her in death.
North Theatre has been awarded the top honor of Critic’s Choice at the Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival every year since 1999, the only school to accomplish such a feat in the history of the festival!
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Coming May 2025!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure–this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry Potter’s head-strong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (High School Edition) is a special adaptation of the beloved worldwide hit. Prepare for spectacular spells, a mind-blowing race through time, and an epic battle to stop mysterious forces, all while the future hangs in the balance.
Contact Information
Ron Parker, director
parkerronaldc@aasd.k12.wi.us
ANHS Theatre Department, 5000 Ballard Rd, Appleton, WI 54913
920-852-5405 (school main office)
Ticket Box Office 920-852-5405 ext. 53115
Website, photo, or media questions? anhs.bolt@gmail.com