Press Contact
Gerald Reeves
858-578-7728
pr@scrippsranchtheatre.org

Scripps Ranch Theatre, long a theatre with a special interest in youth and education, and the Golden Triangle Rotary Club, will host The Preuss School UCSD to a special morning performance of “Over the River and Through the Woods,” a warm, family comedy that opened to the general public March 27.

“This is in keeping with the Preuss School mission of providing students with the opportunity to experience a broad variety of culture outside the regular school curriculum,” Jill Drexler, SRT artistic director, said. “We hope this introduction to theater in a more intimate and personal setting will foster a life-long interest and appreciation of the arts and its role in our society.”

Students will visit the theater April 15 and take in the special performance, followed by a question-and-answer “talkback” session with Drexler, the show’s director, Eric Poppick, and the cast.

Drexler explained that Scripps Ranch Theatre and Golden Triangle Rotary have been co-sponsoring this event for the past five years. “The Rotary Club pays for the buses and tickets to bring the students to the theater. We offer the tickets at a very low price, and provide the cast and discussion leaders. Our goal is to introduce the students to live theater. Many of them have never seen a play before, and we thoroughly enjoy sharing the experience with them.”

Two days before the performance,  Drexler and Poppick visit the school and talk with the students about the total theater experience, including topics such as auditions, casting, rehearsals and the many steps and details that are necessary to bring a play to the stage.

“They ask some amazing questions,” Drexler explained. “In previous talkbacks, cast members have been impressed with the depth of questioning and how quickly they grasp details of the production.”

When they return to school, Preuss School drama teacher Natasha Ippolito conducts a class discussion of the show and events of the day. Afterward, the students write a paper on their experience and a review of the play. “Many of my students have never seen live theater before, so it can be a truly transformative experience,” Ippolito said.  “They are always excited and motivated to perform after we see the performances.  Also, since Jill and her directors are so great about coming out for a talk before the performance, the students are well informed about what they are about to see.”

“The students get to experience all the professionalism of a high-end theater performance, but in a completely up-close and personal way. It is definitely the best of both worlds.” she added.

These are smart kids,” Drexler explained. “They are motivated, they work hard, and they take their education very seriously. It is an absolute joy to work with them and provide them with this intimate experience with the arts.”

Scripps Ranch Theatre performances are held in the Legler Benbough Theatre on the
campus of Alliant International University (formerly United States International University)

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