Gypsy Theatre Company

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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - Sunday, June 1, 2008
Gypsy Theatre’s second show set
during Civil War
By Jennifer Sami

School may be out, but students still can learn history this summer with the help of some
theatrical entertainment.
The Gypsy Theatre Company’s production of “Gone for a Soldier: Voices of the American
Civil War,” offers a way for children to learn about the bitter conflict while being
entertained.
The theater’s artistic director, who goes only by the name Mercury, said the play is
geared toward children from third through eighth grades, but also is entertaining for older
children and adults.
“It’s a great play that shows both sides of the American Civil War and I think it’s a great
opportunity for children to see what it was like,” he said. “The subject matter is a great
interest, particularly in the South.”
This is the theater company’s second production at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve
Amphitheater. The first performance, “Festival of Cups,” was a more cheerful production.
In addition to entertaining younger audiences, Mercury said, his goal is to expose
audiences to a variety of genres and topics. “I think it’s important that children see all
aspects of life,” he said. “And since this is a relevant subject matter in this area, it’s a
great production for them to see, so they can learn what happened in more serious times,
as well as through the fun and lighthearted times.”
The play, written by Atlanta playwright John Stephens, has been performed through metro
area schools as part of an outreach program, Mercury said.
Since the majority of the play is set outdoors, Mercury said the amphitheater is the ideal
setting for the play and “adds a lot to the production value.” The two-man cast stars
Patrick Schambach of Marietta and Cumming resident Kane Miller.
Having only one other performer on stage can be a challenge, Miller said, “because
you've got less people to carry the load.” There are, however, some benefits, he said,
including exposure.”
Miller, who is 22, said he is able to relate to his 15- to 18-year-old character. The
character’s age also helps students relate.
It’s also a short play,” he said. “It’s a one-act that runs about 40 to 45 minutes, so we’ve
got that going for us in terms of younger attention spans.”
The play is approachable and easy to digest and presents a grand sweeping tale in a
short period of time, and I think it does it pretty well.”
Gypsy Theatre is a new name to Forsyth County, but Mercury said the company has
already signed on for several productions at the Cumming Playhouse in 2009. The next
show, “Steel Magnolias,” is scheduled for January at the playhouse.
“We have slated between five and eight shows a year now,” Mercury said. “But as we
continue to grow, as the community learns more about us and as they hopefully enjoy the
productions that we present, we hope to continue to bring more.”
E-mail Jennifer Sami at jennifersami@forsythnews.com

CONTACT
“Gone for a Soldier: Voices of the American Civil War,” will run at 2 p.m. and 4 p.
m. every Saturday and Sunday in June at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve
Amphitheater, 2500 Bettis-Tribble Gap Road in Cumming. Tickets are $15 for
adults and $10 for senior citizens and children 17 and under. There will be a brief
question/answer period after each performance. For more information, visit www.
gypsytheatre.biz

GONE FOR A SOLDIER:
VOICES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
By John Stephens. Directed by Mercury. Music by Bobby Horton.

Performed in June, 2008 at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Amphitheatre

For more information of Gone For A Soldier, click here.