American Sign Language illuminates Running Rabbit's TREASURE ISLAND TREASURE ISLAND MAY 8 10:30 A.M JULY 22 & 23 10:30 AM RUNNING RABBIT FAMILY THEATRE (RRFT), proudly presents their ground-breaking production of TREASURE ISLAND TREASURE ISLAND with direction and libretto by Running Rabbit producer Paul Whelihan is the only musical of its kind by a professional New Jersey theatre company: the entire acting troupe uses spoken word, song and American Sign Language (ASL) throughout to tell the story. Combining the beauty of ASL with the richness of the musical score and theatrical text, this production crosses many barriers - from good places and people to "not so good" -- from solitude to the embrace of family -- from prejudice to understanding. Says Peter Filichia of the Star-Ledger: "The best choreography in any musicla this season isn't done by legs, but by hands...no small acheivement." "This is a swashbuckling journey appropriate for all ages," notes Whelihan. "We've adapted Robert Lewis Stevenson's thrilling novel and added some twists to the story. Using ASL to help tell the tale makes this production uniquely accessible to deaf audiences, while educating hearing audiences to a form of communication that is truly like dance. Consistent with our mission, Running Rabbit productions aim to bring a greater awareness and sensitivity to diversity issues. That being said, the production is enormously entertaining, and filled with exceptional music, wit and warmth." TREASURE ISLAND follows the exploits of Jim Hawkins, who happens upon a map to find buried treasure. What ensues is an adventure of mishaps, mistakes, swordfights, chases and memorable characters. Jim is played by Christopher Jones, a sophomore theatre major at Manhattan Mary, who most recently played Tony in WEST SIDE STORY at the Union County Center . Long John Silver, a pirate leader who befriends Jim and then races him for the treasure is Brian Townes, who has appeared in numerous film and television projects and performed in Luna Stage's A Beautifiul Home for the Incurables. Debra Stewart plays Mrs. Hawkins, Jim's mother, who relunctantly allows her son to follow his dreams of striking it rich. Stewart most recently performed in RRFT's Schoolhouse Rock Live and tours regularly with Youth Stages. She graduated from Union County College with a degree in ASL. Squire Trelawney, who secures a ship and helps Jim begin his dventure is portrayed by Ted Wrigley, a long-time disc jockey in a North Jersey aletrnative dance club. He is a member of the comedy imprivisation troupe, Nutty by Nature, and teaches acting and improv aith the NJ School of Dramatic Arts. Blind Pew, an unsavory pirate who joins the race for the loot is played by Michael Barretti, a musical theatre major at Montclair State, where he has appeared in Parade, Cabaret and A Grand Night for Singing, in addition to rising star performances at Paper Mill Playhouse

The characters of Billy Bones and Captain Smollet are played simultaneously by Paul Whelihan and Liam Jennings. In a method of sign interpretation called "shadowing", Whelihan and Jennings go through the staging, speaking, singing and ASL of Bones, a swarthy old sea salt who has the treasure map in his secret posession. Jennings, an actor who is deaf, provides the sign language, while Whelihan provides the voice. In what's referred to as reverse shadowing, Jennings plays the scenes of Smollet, the captain of the sail ship, while Whelihan gives dialogue and singing from a position outside of the scene.

Whelihan is an actor with extensive performing experience off Broadway, regionally and in locally filmed movies and TV spots in everything from world premiere works to musicals to experimental theatre. TREASURE ISLAND is the ninth book he has written for family musicals. Jennings is and actor and visual artist, and is the choreographer of all the ASL for TREASURE ISLAND. Ben Gunn, a marooned sailor whom Jim meets on the island is played by Steve Graham, who has appeared in the RRFT's The Frog Prince and in two season's at The Growing Stage.

Musical direction is by Jonathan Tuzman, a frequent musician with RRFT who most recently served as musical director for Granbury Opera House in Texas, Urintown ant Montclair Kimberly Academy and SUESSICAL with Westfield Performing Arts. Music is by Mark Baron, who's musical FRANKENSTEIN is now playing off-Broadway, and who is a regular performer with Kenny Vance and the Planatones. Lyrics are by Ian August, and actor and writer who has performed at Tri-State Actors Theatre and NJ Repertory Company, and who's recent plays were award winners in the Samuel French Play Festival in Manhattan.

Cast members meet and greet the children after each performance, signing autographs and having their pictures taken with new friends from the audience. Tickets are $10.00 for children and $12 for adults with generous discounts available for groups. For further information, reservations and Group Sales call  the Pollak Theatre Box Office at 732 263-6889. Visit the Monmouth University website at http://www Monmouth.edu/arts .

Running Rabbit Family Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit arts organization, and as an associate member of the NJ Theatre Alliance, the State's coalition of professional theatres, is funded in part by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts / a partner agency of The National Endowment for the Arts, and numerous businesses and individuals. RRFT enjoys residencies at LUNA STAGE and POLLAK THEATRE at MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY which are fully accessible facilities. RRFT will provide assistive services such as assistive listening devices, advance copies of scripts, pre - or - post show theatre tours and large print programs.