Two Plays To Be Presented At Chesapeake Arts Center

Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park is abuzz with two organizations presenting productions this fall.

Stand up for...Theatre will entertain audiences with its adaptation of “Carrie the Musical” for three weekends beginning Friday, October 25. There will also be a special evening showing on Halloween.

Vaught Contemporary Ballet will present “Dune, the Ballet” on November 2 at 8:00pm.

“Carrie the Musical” is adapted from Stephen King's popular novel “Carrie.” It focuses on an awkward teenage girl, Carrie, with telekinetic powers whose lonely life is dominated by an oppressive, religious fanatic of a mother. When she is humiliated by her classmates at the high school prom, she unleashes chaos on everyone and everything in her path.

Ed Higgins, vice president of Stand Up For...Theatre and director for “Carrie,” said the musical was chosen because of the bullying aspect of the play. Higgins shared one of the missions of Stand Up For...Theater is to open up dialogue against bullying, especially toward the LGBTQ community.

Higgins would like for the play to elicit discussions about themes of the play.

“Keeping in mind the bullying theme, we hope people will talk about it after the show,” he said. “Carrie was lowest on the totem pole. There are people who are in that position. They know what it's like, and we hope the play starts a conversation.”

Higgins shared the play is dramatic and uses theatrical blood, and, as such, the play is not aimed for those younger than high-school age.

“We have some edge,” he added. “With ‘Carrie,’ we want to keep everybody on their toes.”

“Carrie The Musical” will be performed on October 25, 26, 31 and November 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 8:00pm. It will also be performed on October 27 and November 3 at 2:00pm. The show on Halloween night is $10 off per ticket if in costume. Tickets can be bought online at Eventbrite by searching for “Carrie” or at www.hdylmn.org.

“Dune” is a one-of-a-kind ballet based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, “Dune,” which is widely recognized as the best-selling science fiction novel of all time. It’s exploration of politics, religion, sexism and ecology set against an interstellar backdrop invites a deep reflection on the human condition in the modern era. While the show can certainly stand alone, those who have read the book will enjoy many plot references.

“Our dancers depict Herbert’s illustrative words through the art of ballet,” said Katie Vaught, show choreographer and artistic director of the Vaught Ballet Company. “Movement will be on full display as we follow Paul Atreides - the main character - in his rise of power.”

In 2017, the company performed this ballet in four sold-out shows as part of the Baltimore Theatre Project.

“We are really excited to see ‘Dune’ unfold on stage at our Hammonds Lane Theatre,” said Nicole Caracia, artistic director of the Chesapeake Art Center. “Katie and her dancers are brilliant, unconventional storytellers through movement and we are honored to host them.”

Tickets for the November 2 show can be purchased at www.vaughtcontemporaryballet.com. Adult tickets are $20 (kids 12 and under are $10). A 20% off group discount is available for groups of 10 or more with promo code GROUPS20.