Press Release
NAVAL ACADEMY MASQUERADERS TO PERFORM “THE ARABIAN NIGHTS”
| #080-11 | Oct 14, 2011 |
NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: Please contact the Public Affairs Office at 410-293-2292 no later than noon the day before a performance if you wish to cover any of the performances this year.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Naval Academy's midshipmen drama group, The Masqueraders, will perform Mary Zimmerman’s play “The Arabian Nights” based on the classic stories told by Scheherazade to her husband for 1,001 nights.
“The Arabian Nights” will be performed Oct. 28 and 29 and Nov. 4, 5, and 6 in Mahan Hall at the academy. Friday and Saturday performances (Oct. 28-29 and Nov. 4-5) begin at 8 p.m. The Sunday Nov. 6, matinee begins at 2 p.m. All are open to the public. Tickets are $10 per person or $8 per person for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (410) 293-TIXS (8497) or at the door.
Zimmerman's adaptation of Scheherazade’s tales offers a wonderful blend of the lesser-known tales from the 1,001 Arabian Nights with the recurring theme of how the magic of storytelling holds the power to change people. The final scene brings the audience back to a modern day Baghdad with the wail of air raid sirens threatening the rich culture and history that are embodied by these tales.
Each fall the Masqueraders produce one main-stage show which is selected to support the curriculum of the academy's English department. Past performances have included “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “Macbeth” and “Green Grow the Lilacs.” They also performed “Green Grown the Lilacs” at the Smithsonian's Museum of the American Indian in November 2010.
Visitors to the Naval Academy may walk through Gate 1 (King George St.) and Gate 3 (Maryland Ave.) and will be required to show valid, government issued picture ID. Vehicles without Department of Defense decals are not permitted on the Naval Academy grounds. Handicapped visitors with proper decals are permitted through Gate 1 after a vehicle inspection. All bags are subject to search.
A Naval Academy shuttle will also be available for each performance except for Nov. 5. Visitors may park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, at a cost of $5, at the Blue (West) Side off of Taylor Ave. The shuttle will transport visitors to Alumni Hall on the academy grounds at no cost and will run from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 28, 29 and Nov. 4 and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6.
