Avon Lake High School Presents "Children of Eden"

The Avon Lake Drama Club is presenting Children of Eden April 14-17 in the Performing Arts Center.  

The play, under the direction of Patricia Frank, is a family musical journey that takes the audience through the first nine chapters of the Book of Genesis.

The high school's presentation offers an assault of color, from the stages backdrop to sapphire blue ribbons that drop from the ceiling above the stage--and audience. Audiences shouldn't be surprised to see cast members dancing down the aisles or across the front row of seats. 

At a dress rehearsal Tuesday night, students rehearsed the dozens of songs that will be performed throughout the night from solos to full ensembles (see video). 

More than 60 drama club members comprise a full cast including Hannah Matgouranis as the featured story teller, Jon Warren as Father, Tom Sweeney as Adam, Natalie Rosmarin as Eve, Jacob Shalov as Noah, Andrea Bestor as Mama Noah, TJ Fallon as Cain/Japheth, Katie Rudnik as Yonah (Japheth’s Wife), Eric Moenich as Abel, Brad Bill as Ham, and Noah Rish as Young Cain. Kyle Burr and Nick Hansburough will split duties as Young Abel.

Storytellers also include Julie Bastulli, Christopher Beal, Dylan Bomba, Brent Carpenter, Rebekah Dovci, Hannah Matgouranis, Lindsay Quintero, Mikhaila Rice, Alexander Riley, Nathan Rish, Rachel Van Scyoc, Brain Webner and Celia Wright.

Children of Eden was written in 1986 as Family Tree for Youth Sing Praise, a religiously based high school theatre camp at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, ILL.

The script and music of Family Tree was adapted into a full-length musical by Stephen Schwartz adapted who gave it the title, “Children of Eden.” The play has undergone several adaptations and remains a popular theatrical choice. The play is broken into two acts: the story of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel followed by the story of Noah and the flood.

Show times are April 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. and April 17 at 2 pm. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 presale/senior citizens. Call 440-930-5219 for tickets.