FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/11/07

FOUNTAIN HILLS COMMUNITY THEATER TURNS THEIR THEATER INTO A SHIPYARD IN PREPARATION FOR WORLD PREMIER PRODUCTION OF ‘MOBY DICK’

WHAT: Moby Dick by Herman Melville, adapted by Peter J. Hill
WHEN: Nov. 2nd – 18th, 2007 Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm
WHERE: Fountain Hills Community Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ
HOW: Reservations: (480) 837-9661 x3 Visa/MC/Amex/Discover
PRICE: Individual Adult Tickets $20, Children 12 and under $15.
WEBSITE: www.fountainhillstheater.com

Fountain Hills Community Theater has virtually turned its theater into a shipyard for its world premier of Moby Dick! In creating the set for Moby Dick, designer Peter J. Hill wanted to evoke the wharfs and ship decks of the 1850’s. Not surprisingly, large ropes – called hawsers – are required to meet the demands. When it was discovered that this sort of rope would cost the theater nearly $2000.00, Peter turned to former Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Power Squadron Member - Ross Collins (who is also the Artistic and Technical Director of the Fountain Hills Youth Theater.) who, in turn created his own rope-making machine! Turning the theater into a shipyard with its own rope-laying machine is rather unique to say the least. Collins says he learned the craft through the scouting organizations and when he was a boy by “listening to the old salts who hung around Grosse File Naval Air Station” in Michigan.

“Call me Ishmael” The classic novel Moby Dick comes to life on stage in the form of a single actor portraying the unforgettable characters from Herman Melville’s timeless saga. Written in 1851, Moby Dick recounts the adventures of its central character, Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Believing he has signed on to an average ship, Ishmael soon learns that Ahab intends to use the Pequod and her crew, not to hunt whales for market trade, but rather to hunt down and wreck revenge upon one specific whale; the great white whale, Moby Dick.

This World Premier production was penned by FHCT’s Artistic Director, Peter J. Hill, who has been working on this one-man production of the novel for more than two years. Whittling down Melville’s 800-page tome to a manageable play length proved to be a daunting task indeed, but then creating a theatrical evening with a single man portraying 17 of Melville’s unforgettable characters became a Herculean effort.

“Melville’s didn’t make this easy!” Hill says. “In telling an apparently simple story, he employs stylized language, symbolism and metaphor to explore a number of complex universal themes. Concepts of class and social status, good and evil and, finally, the existence of God, are all examined as Ishmael attempts to determine what his personal beliefs are and who he is as an individual. But most importantly, at its heart, Moby Dick is a great, heroic adventure story. Getting to tell it in this unique and exciting form – one man, alone on stage - is proving to be one of the great challenges of my life.”
Often considered the acme of American Romanticism, Moby Dick was first published by Richard Bentley in London on October 18, 1851, in an expurgated three-volume edition entitled The Whale, and later as one massive volume, by New York City publisher Harper and Brothers as Moby Dick; or, The Whale on November 14, 1851. The first line of Chapter One—"Call me Ishmael."—is one of the most famous in literature. Although the book initially received negative reviews, Moby Dick is now considered one of the greatest novels in the English language and has secured Melville's place among America's greatest writers.

Fountain Hills Community Theater is delighted and honored to have the award-winning actor, Charles Sohn taking on the roles of Ishmael, Ahab, Starbuck and a myriad of other characters. Charles is one of the valley’s finest and most highly sought-after performers. FHCT audiences will remember him from his award-winning performance in “The Woman in Black”.

Moby Dick is produced by Patricia Tonzi and directed by Peter J. Hill. Original musical score is by Russ Noble and sound design by Jesse Berger. The production stars Charles Sohn.

Moby Dick will play Nov 2 - 18, 2007. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 P.M. and Sunday afternoons at 2:00 P.M. Individual tickets are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for children 12 and under. All performances are at Fountain Hills Community Theater on its Mainstage at 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. (the Corner of Saguaro and Rand). Tickets are available through the theater Box Office at (480) 837-9661 x3. Box Office Hours are 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

For publicity photos, please contact Patty Torrilhon at Fountain Hills Community Theater at (480) 837-9661 ext. 5.

For additional information not contained in this press release, please call Fountain Hills Community Theater Artistic Director, Peter J. Hill at (480) 837-9661 EXT. 7.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE09/21/07 

FOUNTAIN HILLS COMMUNITY THEATER INVITES AUDIENCES TO A ‘MOBY DICK’ TALK-BACK WITH THE AUTHOR/DIRECTOR AND STAR.

WHAT: Talk-Back with the author/director and star of Moby Dick

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, following the performance of Moby Dick

WHERE: Fountain Hills Community Theater11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ

HOW: Reservations: (480) 837-9661 x3 Visa/MC/Amex/Discover

PRICE: Individual Adult Tickets $20, Children 12 and under $15.

Fountain Hills Community Theater is proud to invite audiences to participate in a “Talk-Back” session with author/director Peter J. Hill and Charles Sohn, star of Moby Dick.

The classic novel, Moby Dick, comes to life on stage in the form of a single actor portraying the unforgettable characters from Herman Melville’s timeless saga. Written in 1851, Moby Dick recounts the adventures of its central character, Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Believing he has signed on to an average ship, Ishmael soon learns that Ahab intends to use the Pequod and her crew, not to hunt whales for market trade, but rather to hunt down and wreck revenge upon one specific whale; the great white whale, Moby Dick.

The “Talk-Back” will follow the Saturday, Nov. 3rd performance of Moby Dick. Audience members are invited to remain following the performance for an informal Q and A with Peter J. Hill, the author and director of Moby Dick and the production’s star, Charles Sohn. There is no additional charge to remain for the “Talk-Back.”

We’re delighted to offer our audiences the chance to meet and interact with the cast and learn more about what goes into a show, how it comes together, and the extraordinary efforts of the volunteers, crew, actors and designers dedicated to presenting this world premier production.

Moby Dick is produced by Patricia Tonzi and directed by Peter J. Hill. Original musical score by Russ Noble and sound design by Jesse Berger. The production stars Charles Sohn.

Moby Dick will play Nov 2 - 18, 2007. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 P.M. and Sunday afternoons at 2:00 P.M. Individual tickets are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for children 12 and under. All performances are at Fountain Hills Community Theater on its Mainstage at 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. (the Corner of Saguaro and Rand). Tickets are available through the theater Box Office at (480) 837-9661 x3. Box Office Hours are 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

For publicity photos, please contact Patty Torrilhon at Fountain Hills Community Theater:
(480) 837-9661 ext. 5.

For additional information not contained in this press release, please call Fountain Hills Community Theater Artistic Director, Peter J. Hill at (480) 837-9661 ext. 7.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09/21/07

FOUNTAIN HILLS COMMUNITY THEATER IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE WORLD PREMIER PRODUCTION OF
‘MOBY DICK’

WHAT: Moby Dick by Herman Melville, adapted by Peter J. Hill

WHEN: Nov. 2nd – 18th, 2007 Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm

WHERE: Fountain Hills Community Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ

HOW: Reservations: (480) 837-9661 x3 Visa/MC/Amex/Discover

PRICE: Individual Adult Tickets $20, Children 12 and under $15.

WEBSITE: www.fountainhillstheater.com

Fountain Hills Community Theater is proud to announce the world premier of Peter J. Hill’s one-man adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.

“Call me Ishmael” The classic novel Moby Dick comes to life on stage in the form of a single actor portraying the unforgettable characters from Herman Melville’s timeless saga. Written in 1851, Moby Dick recounts the adventures of its central character, Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Believing he has signed on to an average ship, Ishmael soon learns that Ahab intends to use the Pequod and her crew, not to hunt whales for market trade, but rather to hunt down and wreck revenge upon one specific whale; the great white whale, Moby Dick.

This World Premier production was penned by FHCT’s Artistic Director, Peter J. Hill, who has been working on this one-man production of the novel for more than two years. Whittling down Melville’s 800-page tome to a manageable play length proved to be a daunting task indeed, but then creating a theatrical evening with a single man portraying 17 of Melville’s unforgettable characters became a Herculean effort.

“Melville’s didn’t make this easy!” Hill says. “In telling an apparently simple story, he employs stylized language, symbolism and metaphor to explore a number of complex universal themes. Concepts of class and social status, good and evil and, finally, the existence of God, are all examined as Ishmael attempts to determine what his personal beliefs are and who he is as an individual. But most importantly, at its heart, Moby Dick is a great, heroic adventure story. Getting to tell it in this unique and exciting form – one man, alone on stage - is proving to be one of the great challenges of my life.”
Often considered the acme of American Romanticism, Moby Dick was first published by Richard Bentley in London on October 18, 1851, in an expurgated three-volume edition entitled The Whale, and later as one massive volume, by New York City publisher Harper and Brothers as Moby Dick; or, The Whale on November 14, 1851. The first line of Chapter One—"Call me Ishmael."—is one of the most famous in literature. Although the book initially received negative reviews, Moby Dick is now considered one of the greatest novels in the English language and has secured Melville's place among America's greatest writers.

Fountain Hills Community Theater is delighted and honored to have the award-winning actor, Charles Sohn taking on the roles of Ishmael, Ahab, Starbuck and a myriad of other characters. Charles is one of the valley’s finest and most highly sought-after performers. FHCT audiences will remember him from his award-winning performance in “The Woman in Black”.

Moby Dick is produced by Patricia Tonzi and directed by Peter J. Hill. Original musical score is by Russ Noble and sound design by Jesse Berger. The production stars Charles Sohn.

Moby Dick will play Nov 2 - 18, 2007. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 P.M. and Sunday afternoons at 2:00 P.M. Individual tickets are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for children 12 and under. All performances are at Fountain Hills Community Theater on its Mainstage at 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. (the Corner of Saguaro and Rand). Tickets are available through the theater Box Office at (480) 837-9661 x3. Box Office Hours are 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

For publicity photos, please contact Patty Torrilhon at Fountain Hills Community Theater at (480) 837-9661 ext. 5.

For additional information not contained in this press release, please call Fountain Hills Community Theater Artistic Director, Peter J. Hill at (480) 837-9661 EXT. 7.