Tryon Fine Arts Center opened the 2013 Educational Theater Touring production of A Thousand Cranes on Monday, Oct. 14 with a performance at Polk County High School and Tuesday, Oct. 15 with two performances at Chapman High School.

The touring program, made up of two troupes of high school actors, is on the road for a week presenting live theater performed by students to students in grades 3-12 in Polk County and District One, Spartanburg County.

The final presentation will be Sunday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Peterson Amphitheater at TFAC.

“The Travelling Show,” as student veterans call  this production of TFAC’s Arts in Education department, requires hard work, not only from the two casts of actors involved in the show, but also from the dedication and imagination of many other adults and students involved.

The Japanese-inspired set, deceptively simple, was created collaboratively by artist Christine Mariotti, producer Jody McPherson, Mike Carruth, director Marianne Carruth, with help from David Riddle.

Graphic design for T-shirts, posters and advertising was provided by artist Jeff Jenkins, and significant assistance with costumes was provided by Amber Keeran.

This year’s production includes technical elements of sound and light which underscore the powerful story of Sadako, a young Japanese girl who died of “atom bomb sickness” ten years after the bombing of Hiroshima in World War II.

Theater Tech student Sara Seagle has designed lighting to help tell the story.

Seagle’s fluid and colorful design is executed at all venues with the help of Polk Early College student Nathan Metcalf. Carruth’s sound design, consisting mainly of traditional Japanese music, is run by Andrew Attwood.

Both young casts depend on the experienced, supportive and reliable backstage help of Jody McPherson who also created many of the props used by the actors. McPherson is assisted in the SC shows by Landrum Middle School student Sophie Sandahl.

A Thousand Cranes is a moving story of one girl’s courage and triumph.  Sunday’s show at TFAC will combine both casts in a single production.

During the five years of the tour’s history, the Sunday show has become an adventure for cast and crew as they work together to create a new adaptation of the material.

The tour is sponsored by the Duke Energy Foundation and presented free of charge to the schools and to the public.

For more information, call 828-859-8322 or email marianne@tryonarts.org.