Harbison Theatre to Present Story Squad: “Once Upon a Time” Remixed on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 2 p.m.

August 28, 2012

COLUMBIA, SC – September 22, 2012 – There’s a story to be told, and Story Squad is on the job! Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College in Irmo, S.C. will host the daytime Family Series show, Story Squad, on September 22, 2012 at 2 p.m. Story Squad kicks off the inaugural season at the new, 400-seat performing arts venue, which will present seven Signature Series and three Family Series shows between September 2012 and May 2013. Delighting children and adults alike, Story Squad is comprised of a band of actors, musicians and visual artists who combine high-tech theatrical elements with robust, oral, visual and musical traditions to create a fun, educational feast for the ears and eyes.

Part of the Harbison Theatre’s Family Series, this 60-minute matinee performance of Story Squad: “Once Upon a Time” Remixed is a collection of original productions which showcase talent and technology in fun, engaging ways that will surprise and enthrall audience members of all ages. Story Squad Captain Darion McCloud and his cast of performers have collaborated with Harbison Theatre’s new Technical Director, Aaron Pelzek, and Katie Fox, Director of Theatre Operations, to utilize the theatre’s sophisticated lighting and sound capabilities to add depth, dimension and delight to the proceedings.

“The show is a true melding of our theatrical technology with the Carolinas’ rich performing arts traditions,” notes Fox, “Our hope is to capture the imaginations of our young audience members and inspire them to create their own Story Squad adventures after the curtain falls.”

Darion McCloud is the Captain of the Story Squad, with James Robinson on percussion, The Dubber and Marcus Thomas on guitar, and Eboni Raimm and Katrina Garvin on vocals.

The Story Squad performance will include the following:

The Creation Poem by James Weldon Johnson The creation story is told in an engaging way, punctuated by the soulful chorus, And God said, ‘That’s good! Actual mountains will rise from the stage; lighting design will simulate the formation of the sun, and the creation of the moon will be emphasized with lit stars.

Because of Lozo Brown A child with a new neighbor on his street assumes the worst before even meeting him, recounting all of the ways that this new neighbor must be a big scary bully. The child finds out, of course, that things are much different than they seem.

Fireflies Told entirely via lighting effects and background speech and sound, Fireflies was developed specifically for the Harbison Theatre stage. Lightning bugs communicate with each other across the stage, find each other and move forward into the world.

“The Story Squad includes not only the performers onstage, but all of our audience members, too” notes Fox, “They’ll be clapping, snapping, and striking scary poses. Everyone will play a part in the performance!”

Story Squad is the first show of Harbison Theatre’s inaugural season. Throughout Fall 2012 and Spring 2013, the new, state-of-the-art performing arts venue will feature international touring shows and the best of the Midlands’ arts scene, from Pilobolus Dance Theatre and Squonk Opera to the South Carolina Philharmonic and the Southeast Family Puppet Slam.

The 27,000-square-foot, 400-seat Harbison Theatre was founded in 2010 and serves the greater Columbia area from its location on the Midlands Technical College Harbison Campus in Irmo, S.C. Technical specifications are some of the most robust in the state. Numerous local cultural organizations have already begun presenting music, dance, theatre and other programming at the venue, which played host to a sold-out crowd for the first-ever TedXColumbiaSC event in January 2012.

Tickets for Story Squad are $9-$10 and can be bought using this eTix link: http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1650562

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/337391146343875/

About Harbison Theatre

Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College presents high-quality performances and events that strengthen the education of our students, deepen our relationship with the community, and make the Midlands a region where people love to learn, work, play, and prosper. To learn about upcoming events, purchase tickets, and pursue volunteer opportunities with Harbison Theatre, please visit http://www.HarbisonTheatre.org.

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About Midlands Technical College

Midlands Technical College is a comprehensive, multi-campus, public, two-year college serving the primary region of Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties of South Carolina. The college enrolls approximately 18,000 credit students annually, and provides continuing education to 30,000 individuals and hundreds of area businesses each year. MTC is the largest provider of transfer students to the University of South Carolina. www.midlandstech.edu.