What if an entire community read the same book at the same time?
The Hippodrome Theatre and their partners hope
to answer that question later this month through their One City One Story
program.
“One City One Story is a great program that fits
right into the mission of the Hipp,” said Stephanie Lynge, Hippodrome Artistic
Director. “One City One Story allows us to bring our storytelling off the main
stage and look at it from more perspectives in collaboration with the
community.”
Starting with an open-mic night at the Hipp on
August 22 and continuing with events through September, One City One Story aims
to bring the community together through thought-provoking discussion of “The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” The book, by Mark Haddon, has
since been developed into a Tony Award-winning play by Simon Stephens; the Hipp
and the UF School of Theater and Dance will partner on a production of the play
that opens on August 30.
This year’s story revolves around Christopher, a young man whose unique characteristics, which resemble Autism Spectrum Disorder, shape the plot of “Curious Incident.”
“‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time’ is the perfect play for One City One Story and for our upcoming
season, Breaking Boundaries,” Lynge said. “Through Christopher, we get to
experience life through the eyes of someone who processes and experiences the
world differently than many of us.”
This year, those new ideas will center on Christopher’s unique condition and themes like individuality that are presented in “Curious Incident.”
The Hippodrome will be collaborating with other Gainesville organizations including UF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, the Alachua County Library System, and UF’s student theatre company, Florida Players.
On top of the Hipp’s theatrical production, One
City One Story will also include a lecture series, UF-partnered panels, an
informal book club, a stage reading presentation and more. All events will be
free and open to the public.
One City One Story Events:
Open Mic Night: Individuality & Identity
Thursday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.
At the Hipp Lower Level
Alachua County Library Book Club
Sunday, Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
At the Hipp Lower Level
Unique: A New Theatrical Performance
Created and performed by local middle and high school students
Monday, Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m.
At Alachua County Headquarters Library
New Stage Play Reading: “Milligrams” by Laura Chiarello
Presented by UF’s Florida Players
Sunday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
At the Hipp Lower Level
Led Panel Discussion with Director Dr. Ralf Remshardt & UF’s CARD Center for Autism
Saturday, Aug. 31 & Saturday, Sept. 14
Immediately following matinee performance on the Hipp Mainstage
