App Young People’s Theatre presents
The Lake at the End of the World

Theater troupe goes green

Appalachian State University’s Appalachian Young People’s Theatre (AYPT) will perform “The Lake at the End of the World” in Greer Arena Theatre April 17 at 7 p.m. and April 18-19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 general admission. For ticket reservations, call (828) 262-3063 or visit www.theatre.appstate.edu/performances/box.html.

Music, dance and puppetry tell this story of a hero’s journey, which is loosely based on an Incan folk tale. The local production also adds a message of environmental awareness for children: everything used in the production, from costume pieces to puppets, is made from recycled materials or renewable resources to show the importance of sustainability.

The Lake at the End of the World is currently on tour to schools around North Carolina and is appropriate for children of all ages. It lasts about 50 minutes.

The play, written by David F. Eliet with music composed by Nancy Rosenberg, centers around the search for water from the Magic Lake that will cure the dying son of the Inca king. The king offers a great reward for anyone who brings back a flask full of the water, so Sumac, a farmer’s daughter, and her brother both attempt to find the lake. When the brother gives into temptation and tries to give the king ordinary water instead of continuing his search, Sumac takes on the journey herself in order to save the lives of the dying prince and her condemned brother. With the help of a sparrow and her own courageous spirit, Sumac proves her purity of heart and is transformed into a symbol of hope for the world.

Appalachian Young People’s Theatre has chosen to focus on the issue of sustainability with the production and challenged themselves to create a ‘green’ show. All aspects of the production feature recycled materials or renewable resources. “We would like to inspire child audiences who come to see the show that they can create art out of materials that might otherwise go into the dumpster,” said Teresa Lee, the play’s director and an associate professor in Appalachian’s Department of Theater and Dance.Lee is the director of the AYPT program. Anna Ward, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance, designed the set and puppets for this production. The cast consists of Appalachian students Ariel Nicastro, Jarrod Sacco, William Gwyn, Shanda Jacobs, Hampton Boggs, Annie McGee, Josh Warthen, Alex Foote and Katy Hart.