Legends of Sleepy Hollow

     
     I played Alice Hudson in Legends of Sleepy Hollow on Oct. 25-27, 2012.  It is a spooky play loosely based off Washington Irving's famous short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow which was first published in 1820.  
     Though it is a very similar story line to the short story is has it's own twists in it. My favorite part of the play that is not in the story is the ending.  In the story Ichabod Crane is thought to be killed by the Headless Horseman but they never found his body or any real proof.  In the play Ichabod's body is found and buried in a safety coffin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_coffin) but right after the funeral his dead ringer bell starts to ring!  Katrina Van-tassel, who is a suspected to be the murderer, is the only one who sees the bell, she rips the bell away and silences Ichabod for the final time.  Soon after that however Alice Hudson (me) and her brother Johnny Hudson go back to the grave site because they feel that something is wrong (they are very spiritual people).  They notice that the bell is missing and the curtain closes as they start to unearth the grave.  The epilogue states that Alice and Johnny disappeared that night and so did Ichabod's body.  The epilogue also gives us reason to believe that Alice and Ichabod -who was still alive- ran away to Connecticut and got married.  But no one can be certain.

     UVSC premiered Mahonri’s play, Legends of Sleepy Hollow, loosely based on Washington Irving’s classic story and other spooky tales of New England. Legends of Sleepy Hollow won the Ruth and Nathan Hale Comedy Playwriting Award  (A) 
  
           

Why did Washington Irving write The legend of Sleepy Hollow?

    One theory is that Washington Irving grew up admiring horror books. Also, he admired to write stories. So, he put 2 and 2 together, and wrote the legend of Sleepy Hollow. 

     Another theory and the one that i personally believe is that he wrote stories like the legend of sleepy hollow and Rip Van Winkle to give America a sense of folklore and legend. Europe had the brothers Grimm and America's only source of legend was from Native Americans. Irving wrote to create the sense of legend and folklore old European countries had built up for his newborn America, he created the American legacy. (E) 

Random facts!

    The real Sleepy Hollow village in New York, originally known as North Tarrytown, was given its current name in 1996 when residents voted to have it changed to honor Washington Irving's story.  (D) 
 
Journalizing:

   I played Alice Hudson in Legends of Sleepy Hollow and I loved it!  My director, Kristen Hickman, was so amazing.  She was able to direct us in such a way that brought out true emotions and laughter.  My fellow cast members were simply wonderful, all of them had what you would call pure talent.  

   Being around such excellent people is (for the most part) why I love acting so much.  There are no other people in the world that I would rather be with than the 'Sleepy Hollow' cast :) 

  I think that this performance was the best I have ever done!  On the second night my mic cut out and stayed out for the whole second half of the play.  I have never been really great at projecting but that night I could be heard by every ear in the theater.  Though it was a small theater it was a miracle for sure.

   I think we had a good review (I put the link to it down below) even though I am not mentioned in it I still feel pleased with my performance as the lead girl  :)     

Legends of Sleepy Hollow Review (about the performance I was in): 

    http://utahtheaterbloggers.com/13528/legends-of-sleepy-hollow-permeated-with-halloween-spirit


Bibliography/ Sources of information:

(A): http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/mahonri-stewarts-introduction/

(E):  http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Washington_Irving_write_The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow

(D):  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepy_Hollow,_New_York