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The Chauncey Judd Adventure

A Dramatic Performance
Scheduled for September 15, 2007

The Story

Sixteen-year-old Chauncey Judd was the son of a staunchly patriotic family who favored independence from the British during the American Revolution.  One night in 1776, while Chauncey was on his way home from a neighborhood quilting bee, he was kidnapped by a band of Tories, people who favored remaining under British rule.  Chauncey won his release five days later, and one of the most influential men in the area, Jobamah Gunn, was charged with housing and feeding the kidnapping party.  Jobamah was fined $1800, an enormous sum of money in those days, and his family name was tarnished.

The Story of Chauncey Judd is remembered because his kidnapping helped arouse the citizens of the area as they joined the revolutionary forces to oppose British rule.  Much of the confrontation occurred in what is known as “Dayton’s Den” in the Gunntown section of Middlebury.

The Production

The performance is aimed at people of all ages. The audience will join in the adventures of the legendary hero of Middlebury, and help Chauncey Judd out of a difficult situation.  This production will include dancers, and musicians of all ages.  Period folk songs as well as country dances such as the jig will be incorporated into the telling of the story.

Auditions

The cast for this production is open to anyone in the nearby communities and will be chosen based on talent, experience and availability.  No one will be denied a part and will be cast in either speaking, non-speaking, musical, or dancing roles.  All ages are welcome.  Auditions will be held on the 23^rd, 24^th, and 25^th of July, from 6:00 to 9:00PM.  The auditions will be held at LBD Performing Arts Center, Westover School.

Parking and the entrance to the LBD Performing Arts Center are on South Street in Middlebury.

For more info E-Mail Robin Frome Frome9@optonline.net

Rehearsals

The rehearsals will be July 30^th, 31^st, August 1^st, and throughout August on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, plus September 4^th and 5^th, 6:00-9:00PM, all at Westover School.  The week of August 12^th  will be “tech week”, integrating the technical team into the performance.

Performances

“The Chauncey Judd Adventure” will be performed at Westover School, Saturday September 15, 2007 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM.  Tickets will be sold for $10.00.

Production Team

The production will be written and directed by Robin Frome and produced by Marla Truini.

Robin Frome is a drama teacher at Memorial Middle School and artistic director of the Nonnewaug High School Dramatic Society.  At Memorial Middle School he produced “Red Riding in the Hood” for his 8^th grade Drama Class in 2005 and is producing "The Living Library" there this year.  At Nonnewaug he is directing "The Scarlet Pimpernel", a musical for March this year.  Mr. Frome directed the plays “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Uncle Vanya” for the Woodbury Town Players.  He has taught actors workshops in the “Kids on Campus” program at Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Marla Truini is head of the drama department at the Westover School.  She has directed student performances at Westover, including "Steel Magnolias", “Oliver!”, "Cyrano de Bergerac “, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.  Mrs. Truini has performed locally at the Seven Angels Theater and at the Brookfield Playhouse. She also played Jeanette on the CBS soap opera "As The World Turns," and has worked in several feature films, including "Stella," "New York Stories" and "Working Girl."

For Further Information

Please contact Arlene McAuliffe, 203-758-1492,   E-Mail amcaul@aol.com.

This information may be updated from time to time.  Those updates will be available at this web site

http://www.middlebury-ct.org/bicentennial  click on “Drama Production"