A Life in Theatre

Welcome to Sleepy Hollow

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" has been re-titled
SLEEPY HOLLOW: The Curse of Headless Horseman

Find out why

This sold-out production premiered at
The Venice Theatre on September 24th 2009
and was extended due to its popularity.
It has become the highest-grossing
Generations Theatre production in history.


Script and DVD are available for Theatres and Publishers


Scroll down for the trailer of the play

Summary

Download 10 page sample

Download Set Design
Set Design by Donna Buckhalter copyright © 2009



"Venice Theatre has a hit on its hands with its
Generations series production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
                                                                                      
Jay Handelman
                                                                                                      Sarasota Herald-Tribune
 

SLEEPY HOLLOW 
The Curse of Headless Horseman
adapted and directed by Ronald Krine Myroup
 
copyright 2009© ronald krine myroup


If you're not clearly seeing this trailer here try watching it on


SLEEPY HOLLOW: The Curse of the Headless Horseman




The Cast of Characters
9F/9M / 2 m/f


The Men
Ichabod Crane, age 17-21
Diedrech Knickerbocker, 200 plus

Brom Bones/Andre Van Brunt, 17-21

Vicar Edwin, 17-21


The Family

Katrina Van Tassel, 17-21 (18)

Baltus Van Tassel, 40 ish

Emma Van Tassel, 40 ish 

Ida Rose Van Tassel, 14

and

William Van Tassel, 17-21

Rose, the Witch of Raven Rock, died at 18


Crane’s Students

Jacob Halter, 10-17

Kaleb Ravenscroft, 10-17


The Ladies of Town

Agatha Ravenscroft, 50-60 ish

Gladys Halter, 50-60 ish


The Sleepy Hollow Boys

Wendel Van Ripper, 14-17

Ernst Vandercamp, 14-17 


The Living Dead

The Dead Bride or Groom

The Witch

The Vampire Child

The Flying Dutchman/The Headless Horseman


POSTER DESIGN by Rhonda Sudik



SUMMARY

Sleepy Hollow: The Curse of the Headless Horseman

The original love triangle between Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel and Brom Bones is perfectly intact.  I’ve added a second family-friendly supernatural plotline involving Katrina’s kid sister, Ida, discovering the root of the Horseman’s curse.

In a 1775 war-torn flashback we meet the horseman, WIlliam Van Tassel, his wife, Rose, and their friend Andre Van Brunt (Brom Bone’s great-grandfather) both men are AWOL Hessian soliders during the American Revolution.  We witness what makes him the headless horseman. 

On Halloween in1820. Ida and her schoolyard friends meet the wItch of Raven Rock who turns out to be, Rose,  Ida’s great-grandmother. Because the Horseman has no head, he cannot see or hear Rose and she cannot tell him where his head is buried. It’s up to Ida to solve the mystery and reunite the Horseman with his head, thus breaking the curse, ultimately reuniting WIliam and Rose.

The entire play is humorously narrated by the very dead Diedrech Kinckerbocker who crawls out of his grave at the top of the show. Before the final curtain he reveals that in life he had been Ichabod Crane, dead now for over a hundred years, and the tale he narrated was his own history. His mysterious disappearance from Sleepy Hollow was a cagey ruse to change identities.

The play provides an evening with colorful characters, compelling language, an intriguing and not-quite-familiar story line, with enough action and a dash of humor to charm any audience.


PHOTOS

The late Diedrech Knickerbocker narrates




Crane enchants the Ladies of Town




By all accounts Crane is a good teacher




Ida Rose doesn't believe in ghosts . . . yet





Brom Bones and the Sleepy Hollow Boys intimidate Crane's students





The Bride, The Vampire Girl and The Witch in the cemetery with Ida Rose





The student Vicar runs a foul of the real Headless Horseman




Ida Rose asks her father, Baltus, if he believes in ghosts



Edwin has run into The Headless Horseman but Crane doesn't believe him




As narrator Diedrech always gives the audience a "Heads up" but has 
a tendency to get a "Head" of himself



Halloween Night




Ida tries to contact the spirit of her dead great-grandmother,
The witch of Raven Rock




And finds her, Rose the witch of Raven Rock





The famous bridge which patrons had to walk through to get to their seats



The dead are never pretty except in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery




The Vampire Girl is angry





Finally Crane shows some fear





I designed the neck piece for the Horseman and nobody liked the bone sticking out, 
but the audience giggled night after night




The Fight scenes were well done




The Lovers are reunited





Brom gives the wrong directions to Crane





Well Diedrech better quit . . . while he's a "head"



The Final Confrontation


The Van Tassel Beauties and Brom





Katrina proposes to Brom after he saves her life







MEDIA

TITLE CHANGE

Regarding the title change. As there are so many film and play
versions of this iconic American tale I wanted to establish that
the Headless Horseman was given his due in this version. And
that the subplot was a race to reunite the Horseman with his head.
While the original story line is intact,  the addition
gives the audience a glimpse of the Headless Horseman as
a man.


rkm

Words from your set designer

"Hi, Ron.  Wonderful show!  The kids, and you, really did a terrific job.  It was light years ahead of the rehearsal we saw a week ago. Crane came a long, long way.  Patrick is hilarious and Haley is really, really creepy.  Katrina is a wonderful actress, I think. The beginning is really, really scary.  I think you will make little kids cry.  Yay!!  Did you hear Melanie laughing?  She laughs easier than me or Mark.  She was cracking up!  One thing I forgot to mention with regard to the set.  Just ask the cast and crew not to go in and out of secret entrances before they are supposed to (like before the show starts when the audience is coming in and sitting down).  I saw people opening and/or going through the mauseleum door and the secret bridge door..  And as we discussed, if you could have the table brought in during the blackout, I think you will make it a bigger surprise.  If it works out.  Also, I am sending an official e-mail to Murray, John and yourself with regard to policing the set, just to cover myself for any liability issues, as best I can.  It is always my worst nightmare that someone will get hurt on a set I design.  Hopefully this will not happen in Sleepy Hollow or any other show!  Again, congratulations on a really terrific show, and please pass the kudos along to the kids.  Have a great run!  Love, Donna"

The Real Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Donna and Mark Buckalter, legendary set designers, and my very good friends,
just got back from Sleepy Hollow. Here are pictures they took.


BROM BONES GRAVE

A CHILD'S GRAVE

DONNA AND WILLIAM LETZ, CARETAKER OF THE CEMETERY, WHO GAVE OUR FRIENDS A PERSONAL
TOUR OF THE HISTORY AND LORE OF SLEEPY HOLLOW.


KATRINA VAN TASSEL'S GRAVE (Right)

MAUSOLEUM

MAUSOLEUM

DUTCH CHURCH

THE REAL CHURCH YARD BRIDGE ON OLD CHURCH ROAD

WASHINGTON IRVING'S GRAVE










A little mood music for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Download | Duration: 00:02:52

The Characters Requirments

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
something about the characters



Ichabod Crane is a fussy, snippy fellow who is very proud of himself. He loves food and women who cook well. He is a good and honest teacher. Young Adult Male (age 16-25)

Diedrech Knickerbocker has been dead for over a century and he looks it too. A comical character who serves as the narrator. (Male Teen 16-19) The actor would have to develop a relationship with the audience.

Andre Van Brunt/Abraham Van Brunt (nickname Brom Bones)

Duel Role:
Andre, a solider brave and tough. The great grand father of Brom.
Both are a bit of a bully, head strong and have a soft spot for the ladies. (Male Teen 16-19)

William Van Tassel/Headless Horseman
Duel Role:
Will, a handsome solider and husband to Rose, is a charmer and the Headless Horseman is a mysterious terror. Being tall really helps here. (Male Teen 16-19)

Rose Van Tassel/the Witch of Raven Rock
A spirited brave young woman, as the ghost of herself she is a vision of romance.  (Female Teen 16-19)

Katrina Van Tassel
A no-nonsence young lady who loves to cook and loves her family but she does not suffer fools gladly. (Female Teen 16-19)

Ida Rose Van Tassel
Smart and sassy this young lady would stand up to anyone -- even the Horseman.   (Female Preteen/Teen 12-14)

Edwin Van Vilmer, The young Vicar
A worried and overworked parish student. He’s a comedic character. (Male Teen 15-19)

Jacob Halter
a playful character who is afraid of his own shadow.  (Male preteen/Teen 12-15 but also by someone younger with solid experience)

Kaleb Ravenscroft
A smart character with a sarcastic streak. A little wiser than Jacob but just as fun.  (Male preteen/Teen 12-15 but also by someone younger with solid experience)

Wendel Van Ripper
A tough Sleepy Hollow boy who wants to learn how to write. (Male preteen/Teen 12-15)

Ernst Vandercamp
The main henchman of Brom. Big and mean!  (Male preteen/Teen 12-15)

Four Dancers of the Graveyard.
Under make-up and decaying flesh these dancers can be male or female  (12-18)





Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow


The play is about masks, nearly everyone is wearing one in this play.

It is Halloween and every person is trying to be something or someone else. Wearing a mask gives one a short-lived power.  To hid the truth. Those that do not have heads and therefore no mask, are blinded by the story. Ultimately the Horseman is, itself, a mask, for in the end the man, Will’m, is resurrected, tossing off the mask of the headless horseman. Katrina hides her ultimate intentions regarding Brom.

Ida’s mask is a tough girl who doesn’t believe in magic.

Brom’s mask is the "Rouge" because he is a good man at heart.

Diedrech Knickerbocker has his mask too.

And so does Ichabod Crane.

The two men, one mask.





This Halloween . . .

. . . watch out for flaming pumpkins





cast

Ichabod Crane

Diedrech Knickerbocker

Will’m/Headless Horseman

Brom Bones/Andre Van Brunt

Katrina Van Tassel
Baltus Van Tassel (adult)
Emma Van Tassel (adult)
Ida Rose Van Tassel

Parsons Edwin

and
Rose, the Witch of Raven Rock

Crane’s Students
Jacob Halter
Kaleb Ravenscroft

The Ladies of Town
Agatha Ravenscroft, the dancer (adult)
Gladys Halter, the cook (adult)

The Sleepy Hollow Boys:
Wendel and Ernst

4 Dancers of the Dead m/f




The next show I'm directing. . .

Research

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW

by Washington Irving



Found among the papers of the late Diedrech Knickerbocker.

A pleasing land of drowsy head it was,
Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye;
And of gay castles in the clouds that pass,
Forever flushing round a summer sky.
Castle of Indolence.

   In the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the
eastern shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river
denominated by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappan Zee, and
where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the
protection of St. Nicholas when they crossed, there lies a small
market town or rural port, which ...<< MORE >>

My latest play

Costumes

Thursday, May 14th
Show #6












I- Is- Is that a- a sm- smile?!

\
Goofball!




















Vouge it Johnnycake!








GHOST SOC!


Cherry, Marcia...




Neither of them were ready for this one...


*gasp* An Affair? Better watch out Sodapop!




Two-bit and the orderly- The Ultimate Creepers!

-Sydmonsterr











We will be on tomorrow morning (we think)

NPR Radio interview about the Outsiders

Listen to Director Ronald Myroup and Director of Education Sandy Davisson talk about THE OUTSIDERS on National Public Radio.

T-minus 21.5 hours to Preview

We are almost there.

We are united.

We are Outsiders.

Everybody say thank you, Jeremy.

I am pleased.

I am tired.

I am strong because of you.

We are Outsiders.

Everybody say thank you, Sydney.

You will hit on Opening Night.

You will blow your audience away.

You have worked so hard.

We are Outsiders.

Everybody say thank you, Sandi!

Ladies and gentlemen, Amber Lee and Bryanna

The Family

Volunteer Party

The Venice Theatre Volunteer Party was a whole lot of fun!























Sorry to those of you who missed it- it was a blasty blast.

-Sydmonsterr

Fan's Film

This is a short film one of Noelle's friends made,
unfortunately she made it with a demo copy of a program,
which is why there is a watermark across the film, that
happens when you share your project with the greater world,
having not bought the program.

NONE THE LESS THE FILM IS GREAT. I LOVE IT AND HOPE YOU DO!!


Download | Duration: 00:00:00

Dallas

Download | Duration: 00:00:00

The Fights

Download | Duration: 00:00:00



OMG has got to be louder!!!!! They won't hear it.

Everyone needs to talk more. When punched, let's hear it. Louder.

You caught a puppy and you're torturing him.

The Fights

Download | Duration: 00:00:54




Well, there isn't much time left...



Director Dude would like, from this point forward, if only the people needed at rehersal come to rehersal. And on the schedual, please look for page numbers instead of names! Your name may not be there but if you are in the specific scene/ act, please come to rehersal. That's all for now.

-Sydmonsterr 

Give a nice warm welcome to...


Noelle (to the Website)



Lady Doc



Emily



Logan



Briana






The Outsiders

PR Stills


"Ah, a couple of wise guys."

Johnny's getting happy.

Bobby's been a b-b-bad boy!

The Wall: Part One


Photography by Donald Walker
Words by Ronald Krine Myroup






The Wall: Part Two


Photography by Donald Walker
Words by Ronald Krine Myroup



Sydmonsterr Strikes Again


Hey guys! Some of the Cast came up with the idea of eating at LUNA'S after rehersal tommorrow, April 5th. I'm not sure on what time we will be done but we would leave the theatre after rehersal. If you would like to come be sure to bring $$MONEY$$. If you want more info just ask =D



STAGE FIGHT CLASS #2



Yea, us girls can fight too!







Haha- jake has many different looks.



Two-Bit, Dallas, Johnnycake, and Ponyboy.


<3 -Sydmonsterr

Now it's just getting silly....

Can you say- OBAMAMIZED?







-Sydmonsterr

Sydmonsterr Again










AND DIRECTOR DUDE
WANTS EVERYBODY TO KNOW:

We are off book for Act I on April 27
And off book for Act II on
April 28
Make sure you know these dates!

Rawr- Sydmonsterr


It's the Sydmonsterr!!



Stage Battle Class

Started with a warm up...









and then we started falling...





we practiced some stances...



and one thing led to another and we started throwing each other around...









And then things just got silly











Remember guys- ANY pictures I take are website potential... don't forget that
-Sydmonsterr

Sandy

Sandy's Theme


Download | Duration: 00:02:45




For those of you new to the Venice Theatre check out this
homemade video starring Tony DeNiro and Patrick Mounce,
stars of the very adult play The Pillowman from last season.
The sound you hear is the preshow music. This intense
dark comedy is filled with scares and shocks. We, as a cast,
became very close due to the creepiness of the story, and
some of the things we had to do. Like . . Tony's character
 killing both of his parents and Patrick being tortured. Yes.
This is not Disney.  Enjoy, I had a great time helming the camera.


Episode One


Download | Duration: 00:01:24

Here it is. . .

The cast of
The Outsiders
The Family
Ponyboy Curtis                       
Reed Sligar
Sodapop Curtis                Dalton Worth
Darrell “Superman” Curtis             
Jermey Heideman
Johnny “Cakes” Cade               
Jake Memon  
Steve Randle                                           
Tony DeNiro
(the understudy of Johnny)
Keith “Two-Bit” Matthews         
Jose Cruz 
Dallas “Dally” Winston   
Jake Fricke 
The Socs
Bob Sheldon      
Patrick Mounce
Randy Adderson         
Marcus Griggs
Paul Holden           
Zach Tudor 
Skif/Hospital Orderly         
Hunter Cross
Biff/Drive-in               
Parker Lawhorne
Tad                   
Shane Oss 
(the understudy of Ponyboy)
 
The Girls

Cherry Valance             
Kim Hough
Sandy
Kali (Kiwi) Beard
Marcia Kaylie Takach
The Others

Doctor Lowe 
Amber Todoroff 
Susan, the NurseBryanna Lane
Jerry Wood/Drive-in Logan Yates
Miss Bryant/Drive-in      
Emily Grimm  
Skate Hop/Hospital/Fire     
Noelle Oxboel
  
Tomorrow. 5:30 in the board room. Scripts. Welcomes. Schedules. The Reading.
The Outsiders: Episode One

2 tribes







Download | Duration: 00:00:00

SETC and Venice Theatre



Hello, hello.


I have returned from SETC (Southern Eastern Theatre Conference) tired but satisfied and happy with my experience.

Most company members are still driving home. I flew. They have to be in Florida by now. I pray they get home safe. It was an exciting four days. College bound hopefuls auditioning for schools. I saw my alma mater and spoke with the current theatre department chair. Talked with lots of new play publishers and spent time looking at some new plays in my duty as the Venice Theatre’s play selection committee chairman.

The audience was the best we have ever had . . . about two hundred give or take a dozen. I felt a relationship with them. Like Stage II, the Alabama School of Fine Art's theatre is the perfect place for an intimate production.

The stage/theatre was a sort of demi amphitheater with 250 seats.

The adjudicators loved us. They loved everyone.


We did the best we have ever done!

In fact we were more than we thought we could be. Chase was smiling big!

Having said that, we were awarded with the runner up spot. In the event one of the chosen theatre companies cannot represent their theatre at Nationals AACT (The American Association of Community Theatre) we assume those duties. Furthermore, director Murray Chase was awarded for his direction. Amber Sulesky and I were given acting awards. She delighted everyone. Make up and Costumes picked up awards as well.

The companies who won the coveted 'Nationals' slots were from Mississippi's Starkville Community Theatre's production of Catfish Moon and Tallahassee Florida's Theatre a La Carte's production of Nine. We met them last year at FTC. Very nice people.

BOOKER’S PRESENTATION of John Lennon and Me directed by my School for Wives co-star Candace Artim was a breathtaking play. Mona Pirnot a BHS Junior was a knock-out . . . a true star.

RAW INTENT STUDENTS don't forget Saturday!!


Coming up:
THE OUTSIDER’S Pre-production begins this week. Check back for lots of details!

Well, here we go

Tomorrow I am on a plane to Birmingham Alabama
to compete in the 60th annual SETC as Arnolphe in
Moliere's The School for Wives.


The School for Wives has been with me, inside of me for two years now. The play and
its actors have changed in that time. We have grown older, hopefully wiser, but the play
has taken on a life of it's own.

I am proud of my "School" family, my good friends -- three I have known for over a decade.
This journey has weaved itself around our lives and two seasons at our theatre. It has affected
our families, our work, our souls. It will always be a part of me. Win or not, Murray
Chase has outdone himself, and that is not easy to do.  I am so proud to know him and this
beautiful company of actors, honored to share the stage with them through pain, tears and hope.

As representatives of our much loved Venice Theatre we will do our best to be more
than we think we can be -- give me one moment in time.


My love and admiration to Murray, Candace, Neil, Cathy, Amber, Scott, Dorian and Mr. Credeur

Applause to Bill, Barry, Sharon, Megan, our tireless crew.

And lastly (I speak for the entire company) a debut to Sandi Henderson, we will never be able to repay.

VENICE THEATRE ROCKS!

Enjoy!!



teaser 2

teaser

Here we go


Start spreading the news . . . .

The Flying Dutchman and the Pirate's Curse
has been accepted for Fall 2010 at Venice Theatre


I could not have done it without all of you! Thank you!

And as always more drafts will be done this year,
and yes another reading or two.

Murray Chase and Sandy Davison loved the play.
Their suggestions to make the play stronger were 'right on target'!
and I can't wait to get started.

Changes . . .

24 characters crowds the stage. 16 will be an easier number to work with.
So that means doubling up a few characters and eliminating some. Most
likely Greenleaf, Mac, Vicar, Fiona and one pirate.  Patrick will assume
Mac's lines while the town goofball Vabelle's role will expand. Ya gotta admit
Vanbelle gave us some giggles

----

Amber Sulesky's brilliant reading inspired one of Sandy's
comments. "can we have more of the Queen Anastasia DuPree"

----

Alder and King Stalwart will be played by one actor.

----

And the most exciting news,
Sandy and Murray have suggested a flashback scene,
showing the audience what happened on that fateful night
our hero was trapped into a bet with the Scratchman!

Is that awesome or what!!!

----

Also Brunhilda's character will have greater purpose.
Act two will till start off with Sandipaws waiting for
the return of her daughter. A brief conversation with Brunhilda
will lead into the appearance of
Hannah with an H. and
their
sad conversation. Lights will go low and it will be come apparent
that Brunhilda has been telling the tale around the beach campfire.

----

To give the actor more time to change from, Alder to Stalwart
a small but imperative new scene will be added with Brunhilda
and Maroon further explaining Maritime and his fate.

----

Other possibilities include opening the play with a voice over
scene of wind and a driving storm, the waves and the men
on deck of the fishing ship Maroon fell from. Eerie!

This is all very exciting, and as you can image, I am already at work
making the play the best I can make it.

Please comment on these changes, I would love to hear
what you think about them.

And again without the support of Venice theatre's volunteers this
could not have happened. Thank you all so very much!!


  



Invite anyone you want tomorrow

I am very proud of all of you!

That was a wonderful rehearsal.

We are good to go.

Some things. 

Yes, invite people, moms and dads, friends etc.
The more people laughing the better.


We will be doing this in STAGE II tomorrow, so you will have to
adjust your volume accordingly.


THANK YOU VERY MUCH

A Reminder

Rehearsal tomorrow at 1:00 at Vencie Theatre!!! 
For the Flying Dutchman and the Pirate's Curse

The Dutchman sails


The Flying Dutchman and the Pirate's Curse
FIRST REHEARSAL IS
Saturday, January 17th @ 1:00pm at the Theatre

If you cannot make this date or time, call me immediately at 485-3026
or e-mail rkm5@verizon.net

For the final the cast list (so far) please look at the previous entry.

THANK YOU ALL

 

Changes as always

Yo, gang.

Happy New Year. Things have gotten straightened out in the last week.  Merry Christmas.

Kaitlyn Terpstra (our Hobbit goddess) is pre-booked for a competition and cannot join us.  We wish her the" bestest" of luck. Amber Sulesky (Best Actress School for Wives FTC 2008) has stepped into the role of Anastasia DuPree, the pirate Queen.

Our good friend Zach Tudor is headed out to the mountains to ski and isn't able to join us. But, hey! I would trade my place for his any day. Steven O'Dea,
fourteen year Venice Theatre veteran, adds his talent to Alder Muldoon, the father of Patrick and Maroon.

Our first rehearsal is Saturday, January 17th at 1:00pm at the greatest theatre on the southern region, Venice Theatre. Third ranked BTW.     


The cast list of the Flying Dutchman and the Pirate's Curse

THE CAST
The Flying Dutchman
Jake
Princess Regatta
Hayley
Queen of the Pirates
Amber Sulesky
Maroon Muldoon
Patrick
Patrick Muldoon
Dominic
Alder Muldoon
Steve O'Dea
Lord Mayor Finley
Ryan
Brunhilda Finley
Lauren Kelly
Vabelle Finley
Roxanne
The Vicar Fiore
Logan
Fiona Fiore
Kenzie
Mac Fiore
Shane
Jasmine Greenleaf
Jasmine
Tip/Catch
Hunter
Toe/Fetch
Tim
King Stalwart
Neil Kasonofsky
Scratchman
Tony
Bone
Frenchie & Sydney will be
Mad Dog
playing all of the
Calico
Pirates, Male and
Mary Read
Female, because 
Durrant
they can

First Rehearsal is 1:00 pm on Saturday January 17th at 1:00. If you have any problem with this date, please, contact me ASAP! rkm5@verizon.net or 485-3026.

Scripts will be passed out at that time. THANK YOU!!!