Theatre Presents Fabulous Fable Factory

The Fabulous Fable Factory will play this weekend at Carson-Newman College as a part of the theatre department’s annual Theatre for Youth program.

Written by noted playwright and 1960 C-N alumnus Joseph Robinette, the work features Maggie (junior Melanie Meade) who discovers a factory run by Ms. Aesop (junior Glory Ledbetter). Aesop’s operations consists of seven fable-makers because, fables, like cars or microwave ovens have to come from somewhere, right?

Robinette uses the idea of manufacturing stories to retell some of humanity’s best-known fables: The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Lion and the Mouse, and The Tortoise and the Hare. Maggie’s adventures with factory workers teaches her and young audience members that both morals and storytelling are important.

“These classic stories – ones that we all know and love – are told in an energetic and hilarious way that really allows old and young alike to understand the moral of the story,” noted Jessica Whitmill, a C-N Junior directing the work. “Plus, the show is just 45 minutes long, so it’s ideal for kids.”

Whitmill said she particularly likes the fact that cast members represent several academic disciplines beyond communication studies, including early childhood education, film, and sociology.

The limited Gentry Auditorium run offers three shows, Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets ($5 general, $3 for kids 3-12, and free for those two and under) will be sold 30 minutes prior to the show. For more information, contact Kyle Biery at 865-471-3293 or kbiery@cn.edu.