University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 33, May 29
Another opening
Campus team's new show really out of this world
After original musicals about dolls named Darbie and
Ben (rhymes with Barbie and Ken)-Under the Bed, women's
suffrage-First Vote and romance in the electronic age-1-900-
The Show, the latest collaboration by Joyce Hill Stoner, art
conservation, and Scott F. Mason, Trabant University Center,
is really out of this world.
Roswell Follies: An Alien Revue has been selected for
six to eight performances as part of the first New York
International Fringe Festival in August.
Originating in London, fringe festivals in different
cities have formed a league with the goal of presenting the
best of emerging theatre from around the world while
increasing awareness of the vitality and diversity of live
theatre.
"This was a highly competitive, juried contest with 420
entries, and we are excited and honored that our show was
selected for the festival," Stoner said.
Inspired by the reported crash of an alien spaceship in
Roswell, N.M., 50 years ago, the musical revolves around a
compound in Roswell where aliens are imprisoned. As an
activity to show the good morale of the prison camp to the
House Committee on Illegal Immigration, the aliens, dressed
up as humans, are required to stage a revue. The out-of-
spacers' comments on American modern society are the theme
of the show.
The songs range from the aliens' hopes of acceptance
and the disillusionment of imprisonment ("They're gonna love
us-and be part of one big melting pot-NOT!") to the lament
of a three-eyed male alien, who sings "Why Must She Always
Pass Me By Just when I'm Giving Her the Eye, Eye, Eye."
"Masks" warns the audience that there's a lot you don't
know about the person next to you and describes how people
hide behind masks to disguise themselves, to escape or fit
in.
"It's a spoof, but with a commentary about today's
world from prejudice to gender wars that gives the audience
a chance to look at themselves and laugh," Mason said.
"The revue is timely," Stoner pointed out. "Although we
did not realize this at the time, there is expected to be
'Roswell mania' going on in July, with people waiting for a
return visit of the spaceship."
Stoner and Mason will head to New York City for a few
weeks this summer to cast the play and be involved in the
production as assistant directors.
In addition to rotating plays, there will be seminars
and master classes at the festival, which will provide a
forum for producers and artists to interact.
"The experience of producing the revue and the feedback
from qualified professionals involved in the festival will
be invaluable," Mason said.
Stoner, who wrote the music and lyrics, has written 18
musicals, including I'll Die If I Can't Live for Ever in
1974, called the "best mini-musical in town" by The New York
Times.
Mason, who wrote the Roswell Follies with co-author,
William J. Brooke, is the author of several scripts and has
won many awards in Delaware for his writing, performances
and directing.
Other theatrical colleagues working with Stoner and
Mason on The Roswell Follies are Sara Louise Lazarus, who is
directing the revue; and James J. Weber, who is the musical
director and arranger.
Ken East, a graduate of the Professional Theatre
Training Program, is creating the masks for the production,
assisted by UD sophomore Gina Scarnati.
The New York City Fringe Festival will run from noon-2
a.m., daily, Aug. 13-24, in the CSV Cultural Center at 107
Suffolk St. and other small theatres on New York's Lower
East Side. Tickets are $10 for the public and $8 for
students, seniors and participants. For advance tickets,
call (212)-307-0229.
The duo's creative sparks are already flying for their
next collaboration. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the
Delaware Humanities Forum, the team has been commissioned to
write a show about the Delaware Underground Railroad and its
important role in linking fugitive slaves with freedom.
-Sue Swyers Moncure