Paul Sill's Story Theatre

Paul Sills' Story Theatre is a play with music, adapted from the fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm.

It opened on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre on October 26, 1970 and closed on July 3, 1971, after 243 performances and 14 previews. Directed by Paul Sills, it featured Paul Sand, Valerie Harper, Richard Schaal, Peter Bonerz, Melinda Dillon, Richard Libertini and Hamilton Camp.

Sills adapted techniques from his mother’s (Viola Spolin) books and teachings, which evolved into Second City and eventually into Story Theatre. [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/54109.html playbill article, "Sills & Sand's Story-Style RUMI in a Holding Pattern", Jul, 13, 2000 ] ] Transformation, mime, and dance are the basis of the "Story Theatre" method. Story Theatre improvises plays from stories, myths, folk tales, and legends. ["New York Times", Mel Gussow, "Story Theater is Here With Version of Grimm", p. 46, October 26, 1970]

The Story Theatre on Broadway was comprised of 8 actors with a rock-folk band, "The True Brethren", enacting fairy tale stories. ["New York Times", Clive Barnes, "The Stage: 'Story Theater' Opens at Ambassador", p. 54, October 27, 1970] The stories included "The Bremen Town Musicians," "The Little Peasant," "The Robber Bridegroom," "The Master Thief," "The Fisherman and His Wife," "Two Crows," "The Golden Goose," "Henny Penny," and "Venus and the Cat". Each cast member portrayed the various characters in each story; for example, Paul Sand was the Robber Bridegroom, Turkey Lurkey, Cowherd and Rich Peasant, and the Simpleton.

Musical numbers featured "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" and "Dear Landlord" by Bob Dylan, "Here Comes The Sun" by George Harrison. Additional music was by "The True Brethren" (Camp, Falicoff, Grinage, Pickford).

Awards and nominations

*Tony Award
*Best Play (Produced by Zev Bufman) (nominee)
*Best Featured Actor in a Play--Paul Sand (winner)
*Best Lighting Design--H. R. Poindexter (winner)

*Drama Desk Award
*Outstanding Performance--Paul Sand (winner)
*Outstanding Director--Adapted and Directed by Paul Sills (winner)

References

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=3091 Paul Sills' Story Theatre] at the [http://www.ibdb.com/default.asp ibdb]
* [http://www.paulsills.com/doc_gruhn.htm Paul Sills Reflects on Story Theatre] , Interview by Laurie Ann Gruhn