Valley Performing Arts Kicks Off 49th Season!
Contributed by Jenna Worley
Valley Performing Arts Season 49 kicks off with The Island of Dr. Libris, based on the book by Chris Grabenstein. This fantastical family-friendly comedy celebrates the power of imagination with an action-packed adventure that shows sometimes the real story starts after you close the book!
Billy Gilfoyle is spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the mysterious Dr. Libris, but something strange is going on. Besides the security cameras everywhere, there’s also Dr. Libris’ peculiar private bookcase. Whenever Billy opens one of the classic books inside, he can hear sounds coming from the island in the middle of the lake…the clash of swords, the twang of arrows, dialogue of characters…. sometimes he can even feel the ground shaking! It’s almost as if the stories he’s reading are coming to life! But that’s impossible, isn’t it? Before long, Dr. Libris’ island is populated by some of the most famous characters in all of literature: Hercules, Robin Hood, Maid Marian, The Three Musketeers, Tom Sawyer and Pollyanna. When these characters mingle, their plot lines get mixed up (and complicated by the arrival of a few comic book heroes and villains). It’s up to Billy and his magical imagination to come up with a happy ending for everybody, including himself! This exciting show harnesses the imaginative powers of live theatre, calling on the audience to use their imaginations along with Billy’s.
The Island of Dr. Libris opens September 13 and runs through September 29, with performances every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This production comes to life under the leadership of director Shaun Groshong, who participated in VPA's Season 48 by playing Santa in Christmas Story the Musical, performing as a dancer in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and co-directing The Play that goes Wrong. He is joined by a talented cast of 22 performers (including 10 newcomers to the VPA stage). Tickets are available at vpaalaska.org for all of Season 49's productions. Get your tickets today!