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Last fall, “The Last Illusion” enchanted judges and audiences alike, winning first place both the District and State levels of the Walter Trumbaur Theatre Festival amongst other honors.
This powerful one-act play about the life of Harry Houdini will represent the state of Alabama at the prestigious Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) this March in Mobile. This is a huge honor, especially considering the fact that this is the third year in a row Bob Jones has sent a one-act play to SETC.
Besides being such an honored competition, SETC is in fact one of the largest theatre conferences in the nation, offering countless workshops for actors and techs. Sounds fantastic, right?
However, such magic comes at a price.
In the months leading up to SETC, when they are not rehearsing, the Patriot Players will host several fundraisers to afford the esteemed, but pricey trip that may cost up to $390 per student. Some students have to rely on the support of the community to afford the trip at all.
B. Dwayne Craft, resident theatre teacher, writer and director hopes that the fundraisers will drastically decrease the amount of money students and their parents have to supply for SETC.
So far, students have been selling BRAX Spirit Cups, an idea instigated by one of The Last Illusion’s student directors, Kaitlyn Esteppe. “[They offer] holographic cups, travel cups, and popcorn bowls in NFL, MLB, Collegiate, and Military teams,” Esteppe said. A portion of each sale aids the student selling, which, according to Esteppe, “adds up very quickly!”
The Spirit Cup orders and payments for this fundraiser must be submitted by February 3rd, so grab a Patriot Player and fill out an order before time runs out.
Another new addition to the usual fundraising ventures occurs on February 18th. Cast members (in character and costume, of course) will promote The Last Illusion at Shaggy’s Burgers and Tacos, located at 1267-E Enterprise Way Huntsville, AL 35806. Shaggy’s has agreed to donate 20 percent of the profit earned in that time to participating cast mates.
“The Last Illusion” itself will return to the stage February 21st and 22nd at 7:00p.m. Tickets are ten dollars and will be sold directly by the cast and crew. The students selling tickets will receive all of the proceeds from their individual sales to go towards their SETC expenses.
“I think that [these fundraisers] will really get the community excited about the lead up to The Last Illusion at the end of the month,” Kaitlyn said.
The Patriot Players hope that those who saw “The Last Illusion” in the fall will remember the magic and heart onstage that captivated them. Remember to come back, and bring friends and family members (and neighbors, friends of friends, and long lost step-cousins) to experience this impressive play as well.
Those who haven’t seen this award-winning show should come see what the buzz is about. With a breathtaking set, gorgeous costumes, and talented actors, audiences will be transported into Harry Houdini’s on and offstage world in the 1920s and enraptured by love, loss, magic, heartache, and hope.
To read more about the success of “The Last Illusion” at Walter Trumbaur State Theatre Festival, click here.
