The week of Oct. 24 Tryon Fine Arts Center’s (TFAC) touring production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” hits the road with 14 scheduled performances in half that many days. The cast and crew, including several tour veterans, will set up and perform the 50-minute version of Washington Irving’s ghost story in nine venues from Spartanburg to Rutherfordton.
Doing the fall tour has become a tradition for several high school actors. Seniors Katie Duncan, Jerreth Emory and Alexa Hughes have participated since the tour’s inception in 2009.
Emory will spend time on the road playing the role of Ichabod Crane in both N.C and S.C. Emory is also drum major for the LHS marching band. “This experience mostly helps with time management,” Emory said. “The tour forces you to discover what your priorities are and how to say ‘no’ to going out as opposed to the homework that is due.”
“It can be intimidating to pull into the next show space and have absolutely no idea how to set up,” said home-schooled senior, Alexa Hughes.
Behind the scenes, Hughes operates sound and lights at every stop on the tour.
“I keep doing the tour to learn new things. I would love to pursue a career in theater, so everything I learn every year helps me to get to that goal.”
“I keep doing the tour because as an actress I stretch myself to new heights that I didn’t even know I had,” said Katie Duncan. Duncan also is a drum major, musician and dancer.
Tour Director Marianne Carruth said, “These seniors are talented and dedicated students who make tremendous demands on themselves, committing to a variety of activities both scholastically and personally. They hold themselves to high standards and TFAC has been fortunate to work with them over the years.”
A public performance of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” will be held at TFAC on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. With props and costumes loaned by Tryon Little Theater and sponsored in part by Duke Energy Foundation and Costco, the tour is offered free to the public. Donations are welcome. Contact
Marianne Carruth for more information at 828-859-8322, ext. 213.
– article submitted by Marianne Carruth