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2012 TARGET STUDENT PREVIEW NIGHT STUDY GUIDE

July 15 October 7

RALEIGH MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM PROGRESS ENERGY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

7 PM POST-SHOW TALKBACK WITH CAST

www.nctheatre.com

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Welcome to Target Student Preview Night

Entertaining, Educating and Inspiring the Triangle with a passion and dedication to artistic excellence since 1984.

The Mission of North Carolina Theatre-

Culture: Feed the spirit of local citizens by providing outstanding theatre productions, using the best regional and national talent available, while preserving the unique American art form of musical theatre. Community: Fortify the cultural vitality of the region by offering broad access to live theatre, while strengthening economic growth in the region. Citizenship: Foster the next generation of artists and leaders who will become future patrons of the arts through training, performance, and outreach programs.

Target Student Preview Night-

Since 1997, Target has donated over $324 million towards educational initiatives for schools. Target has been endlessly active in promoting education and the power of community service through their outreach programs such as Read Across America.

In partnership with North Carolina Theatre, Target has sponsored Student Preview Night, which gives NC students and educators the opportunity to see live theatre at an affordable rate. As well, Student Preview Night offers the chance for the students to participate in a Q&A session with the show’s actors following the show.

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2012 TARGET STUDENT PREVIEW NIGHT STUDY GUIDE

Sunday, July 15, 2012 | 7 PM Raleigh Memorial Auditorium Post-show talkback with cast Starring Kevin Grey

Consider yourself a part of the family as Lionel Bart’s timeless musical Oliver!, based

on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, graces the Raleigh stage!

“Please sir, I want some more.” Oliver’s innocent request lands him in trouble with

the workhouse Matron and the Beadle and sets him on his famous adventure. He is sold to a

local undertaker, but runs away and is picked up by the Artful Dodger who invites Oliver to

Consider Yourself one of us!

But when Oliver is caught and arrested, he must rely on his friends and those who

love him to make him a free boy and find his way home. “Consider Yourself,” “Food, Glorious

Food”, “Where Is Love,” and “Boy For Sale” are among the classic songs in this Tony-award

winning film. Raleigh’s own Kevin Grey, of Miss Saigon fame, returns to the Raleigh

memorial stage to star in this winning adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel. Important Facts

Nominated for 9 Tony Awards, Oliver took the awards by storm, taking home 4 Tony’s

including ones for Best Featured Actor (David Jones), Best Score, Best Conductor, and Best

Scenic Design. The original show opened on January 6, 1963 and ran 774 performances. Future Monkee band member Davy Jones originated the role of The Artful Dodger in

the original Broadway cast.

Fun Fact Oliver! was made into a movie in 1968 starring Ron Moody as Fagin and Oliver Reed as

Bill Sikes. Critic Pauline Kael praised the film saying it was one of the few musical movie

adaptations that were superior to the original show. Kael actually admitted that she walked out

of the Broadway production but stayed in her chair during the movie, eventually falling in love

with it.

Study Questions 1. Oliver Twist is famous for being one of the first novels to address the idea of children being

orphaned by parents. How does the novel (and the musical) address the issue of

abandonment? 2. Think about the time period in which the novel Oliver Twist was written in. Did Dickens do a

good job showing how children were treated in those times? How does Dickens display the

different classes of society?

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2012 TARGET STUDENT PREVIEW NIGHT STUDY GUIDE

Sunday, October 7, 2012 | 7 PM Raleigh Memorial Auditorium Post-show talkback with cast

Omigod, you guys! Based on the hit movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde the Musical is the award-winning Broadway sensation electrifying the Raleigh stage this October!

College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods doesn't take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and heads for Harvard Law School! This all singing, all dancing, feel good musical comedy will be the highlight of your year. Legally Blonde the Musical will take you from the social whirl of California Campus life to Harvard's Halls of Justice with the West End's brightest new heroine (and of course, her Chihuahua, Bruiser).The verdict? This much fun shouldn't be legal!

Important Facts Before being cast in the role as “Elle”, Laura Bell Bundy starred in many films

and Broadway shows including a role in the Robin Williams movie Jumanji and

being an understudy for Kristen Chenoweth in Wicked. In 2008, MTV aired the reality show “Legally Blonde-The Musical: The Search for

Elle Woods” to find a replacement for star Laura Bell Bundy. In July 2008, MTV

crowned Bailey Hanks as Bundy’s replacement; Hanks played Elle on Broadway from

July to October 2008, when the show closed.

Content Advisory Please note that this musical includes contains irreverent humor, mature subject matter and inappropriate language. Parental discretion is advised. If you have specific

questions about content please call 919-831-6941 x 6944.

Fun Fact Among the judges on “The Search For Elle Woods” was singer Hailey Duff and

Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky.

Study Questions 1. What makes Elle successful in her attempts to win Warner back? 2. What characters do you connect with and why? 3. What does Elle’s drive to succeed say about hard work and rewards?