Back to the Wood
By Christian N. Kraus
In the early months of 2022, the 1926 children’s book, Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne, passed into public domain, voiding its original copyright. And while the Walt Disney Corporation’s version is still under protection, Milne’s famously adorable “silly old bear” can now be used in artistic and performance projects without too much difficulty. And that is exactly what the performing arts department at East Georgia State College has been up to for the past few semesters.
The East Georgia State College Performing Arts Group, under the guidance of Program Director, Christian N. Kraus, has been writing, editing, compiling, and creating a script that brings the original cast of characters from the Hundred Acre Wood to the stage. The production, which has been in the works since Spring semester 2022, is entirely student and faculty driven, and is also entirely student directed, with Kraus taking on the “behind-the-scenes” role of project producer.
“I wanted this production to be something really special for the students and the faculty members involved,” said Kraus.
Sydney Guy, a Performing Arts Scholarship Award recipient and recent winner of this academic year’s Most Valuable Player Award, has been acting as Director for the play since late Fall Semester, 2023. She has worked closely with the cast and crew, and now the play is nearly set for opening night.
“It has been a real honor having this opportunity to direct this amazing cast and work with this crew,” noted Guy.
On top of this being a student directed production, this performance is also breaking new theatrical ground by having Emanuel County Schools’ Dual-Enrollment students in the production. Emanuel County Institute’s own Braxton Jones and Will Taylor lead the cast as Milne’s primary protagonists, Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh.
The EGSC Performing Arts Group’s production of Tales From the Hundred Acre Wood will be performed one night only, Thursday, May 4th, 2023, at 6:00PM in the Luck Flanders Gambrell Auditorium on East Georgia State College’s main Swainsboro campus. Students, faculty, and staff get in free with their EGSC ID, and General Admission is 10.00 for adults over 21, 5.00 for young adults 20-13, and admission is also free for children 12 and under. All proceeds go to fund the performing arts scholarship program at EGSC and Ddonations are also accepted at the door and are much appreciated!
Come kick off your Pine Tree Festival weekend Thursday night with a walk through a very familiar forest with some very dear old friends!
