Thursday, February 14, 2008

Actors needed in Trumbull County

By Katie Libecco

WARREN – The Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County is looking for actors for their new Trumbull's Troupe project.

The project is a result of the popularity of appearances by Ohio Chautauqua, a program that printsbrings? history to life through live performances.

The Fine Arts Council describes it like this: "Trumbull’s Troupe will be a group of actors who are trained to create historical, first-person recreations of individuals from Trumbull County’s past. Using Ohio Chautauqua as the model, we are seeking individuals with acting skills and a keen interest in history to serve as first-person historical interpreters. Troupe members will then be available for hire to perform at public and private functions throughout Trumbull County."

Those interested in serving as first-person historical interpreters are invited to attend a workshop this Sunday , Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. The workshop will be at Market on the Square, 125 W. Market Street, across from the courthouse.

According to FACT, the workshop will be led by storyteller and actress Karen Vuranch, who toured with the 2007 Ohio Chautauqua troupe. She teaches theater and speech courses at Concord University Campus in Beckley and has portrayed labor activist Mother Jones, humanitarian Clara Barton and Wild West outlaw, Belle Starr.

Trumbull’s Troupe will focus on local figures, such as newspaper publisher Helen Hart Hurlbert, suffragette Harriet Taylor Upton, educator Phebe Marvin Sutliff, hot-dog inventor Harry M. Stevens, artist Kenneth Patchen, author and Charlie Chan creator Earl Derr Biggers, Scopes “Monkey trial” attorney Clarence Darrow, President William McKinley, songwriter Stephen Foster, and journalist and suffragette Elizabeth Hauser.

But Trumbull’s Troupe will involve more than acting. "Anyone interested in performing as a member of the Troupe will need to research the character they intend to portray and write their own script,” according to a statement from FACT. ”Additional workshop sessions will be offered in March and April to assist with character and script development."

For more information about Trumbull’s Troupe please contact the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County at 330-399-1212.