April 20, 2009

A cast of ten Drexel students work along side the professional actors of the brilliant EgoPo Company, bringing a magical fantasy to life in a world premiere production adapted from Maurice Maeterlink's classic Bluebird, currently playing at the Mandell Theater. Bluebird follows the adventures of a little boy, Tytyl, who must find the bluebird of happiness in order to save his ailing sister, Mytyl. They journey into a world of magical trees and dark caverns and meet enchanting and powerful characters along the way. Bluebird is performed to the accompaniment of live music performed by Orchestra 2001, composed by Pulitzer Prize winner George Crumb. Bluebird is on the main stage of the Mandell Theaterthrough May 10th.

The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP), now in its 4th year, brings professional regional theater, music or dance companies to campus to work with our students in a multi-term long process to create new theatrical work. Lane Savadove, founder and Artistic Director of EgoPo Productions, a repertory company committed to revitalizing theater's classics, is the director for Bluebird. Orchestra 2001, a contemporary music group dedicated to premiering, performing, and promoting the music of 20th and 21st-century composers and providing a voice for contemporary music in the classical continuum, frequently performs the music of Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Crumb, known for compositions that often juxtapose contrasting musical styles.

Since 1991, EgoPo has presented over two dozen productions in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and overseas. They have received numerous honors including an Ambie Award, Backstage's "Best Production of 2000,' two Big Easy nominations, five Storer Boone nominations and nine Marquee nominations. Orchestra 2001 has had over 80 world premieres and 105 greater Philadelphia premieres and has received, along with Artistic Director James Freeman, "Awards for Adventurous Programming' by the American Symphony Orchestra League and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Drexel students also are handling many behind-the-scene roles for Bluebird. All in all, students from six different Drexel colleges and six Westphal programs are working on the production.

Tickets for Bluebird are $5 with a valid Drexel ID or $28 for the public. Children under 16 are free with purchase of a $28 ticket. To purchase tickets, please call 1-800-595-4TIX. MPiRP is an ongoing collaboration between Drexel University and the professional arts community of the Greater Philadelphia area. For more information about Bluebird, call 215-895-1275.