"Robin Hood, Streets of Sherwood" a Vero Voce Original Production

(ST CHARLES) Vero Voce is proud to announce its original production, “Robin Hood, Streets of Sherwood”, written and directed by Vero Voce’s Theatrical Artistic Director, David M. Rodriguez, with fight choreography by Tony Pellegrino, produced and performed on Vero Voce’s live stage, 951 State Avenue, Ste F, St Charles, Illinois 60174.

“Robin Hood: Streets of Sherwood” is a modern interpretation of the legendary hero’s origin story. This brand new take on Robin Hood provides a slick and fast-paced version of the bow and arrow wielding vigilante. Sherwood City is under the grips of corruption and greed as Mayor Johnson conspires with Nottingham County’s Police Superintendent Richman to further their own careers while crushing anybody who gets in their way. When a young cleaning lady, Marion, accidentally overhears a dangerous conversation, she has no choice but to find help from a team of thieves who have shaken the city by stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. The team, led by a charismatic character with the codename “Robin Hood”, decides to take the fight to the Mayor and Sheriff’s Department. They all soon find out they may be in over their heads. “Robin Hood: Streets of Sherwood” will utilize stage combat, high concept projections, and the atmosphere of watching a film performed live on stage.

“Streets of Sherwood” is a culmination of what I’ve been trying to attempt here at Vero Voce since I arrived over two years ago,” Rodriguez s states, “ I’ve reached to prove that younger artists can be present something onstage with great depth. Something mature. Something different. First, Tony Pellegrino’s fight choreography displays a level of stage combat more often seen at a professional level. Next, we have the script. I knew I wanted to present something beyond the kid’s shows and “junior versions” I’m used to reading. This team took a script that began as a superhero origin story and transformed it into a modern crime drama. Most of you should be able to recognize where the script’s influences came from: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and of course, Arrow. What we are left with is a morality tale; drawing a line in the sand to define right and wrong. In order to do that, we had to dissect the Robin Hood legend and completely reassemble it. We wanted to take each character out of their comfort zone and place them in situations that result in the strongest conflicts possible. Therefore, the focus had to be taken off of Robin and redirected to Marion, since we see this new world through her eyes. She functions as the moral compass, driving the events of the story into the direction they need to go by challenging both the villains and heroes. Finally, we have the cast. This group of performers all challenged themselves to not simply play characters, but instead to portray actual human beings. That was easy. The hard part was fixing the dozens of mistakes I had made in the script. So, I want to clarify: this is not my show. What you are about to watch completely belongs to the cast. They’re bringing it to life “.

Robin Hood, Streets of Sherwood runs March 28-April 4, 2015. Sat at 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm, Sunday at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $15 Adult / $9 Child (general admission) and may be purchased online at www.verovoce.com or by calling (630) 584-0139. All major credit cards accepted. Free parking lot on site at 951 State Ave., four blocks from the St Charles Public Library.

Vero Voce Theater was established in 2012 drawing some of the best non-equity actors in Chicago and the Western Suburbs. Our versatile100 seat theater space allows many different configurations and creativity is aided by the use of projected images. Our main stage series has some of the best plays and musicals in the area.

More information about the productions and the many other offerings at Vero Voce can be obtained by visiting the website:verovoce.com, or calling (630) 584-0139.