Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Rodriguez Takes 'Steel Magnolias' on the Road

SUISUN CITY'S HARBOR THEATER HOSTS PRODUCTION

By Talia Sampson | Daily Republic | October 27, 2009 18:14
Cast members of Rodriguez High School's production of "Steel Magnolias" run through a dress rehearsal of the play Tuesday evening at the Suisun Harbor Theatre. The theater will allow the students to have a more realistic experience producing the play according to the school's drama teacher, Nathan Day. Photo by Brad Zweerink
SUISUN CITY - For the first time in about 15 years, a Fairfield-Suisun School District high school will offer a play off campus at a local theater.

Rodriguez High School's fall production of 'Steel Magnolias' will take place at the Suisun Harbor Theater, 720 Main St. in Suisun City.

'Our (campus) theater is a black box that was originally built to be an auto shop and they converted it into a theater,' said Nathan Day, the theater teacher and director for Rodriguez. 'It's nice to be able to offer the kids a more realistic theater experience where they don't have to set up chairs and take them down after the show to set up the room for class the next week.'

As a graduate of the Solano Community College theater program, Day stayed in touch with contacts from the program who let him know about the opportunity to perform at the Suisun Harbor Theater. The college program advertised 'Steel Magnolias' in its programs for 'The Producers,' which ended its run Oct. 18.

The drama club at Rodriguez High typically funds its shows through ticket sales, Day said, so though the cost of performing at the Suisun Harbor Theater is double the cost of performing at the school, he hopes to draw a larger crowd and sell more tickets.

'I know it's a gamble, and I said to my administrators that it's a gamble,' Day said. 'I am well aware this could blow up in my face, but I thought the pros outweighed the cons.'

>> Click here for showtimes and ticket information >>

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