Howling Good Time

Arts Live play elicits snickers, not scares

Tabatha Taylor and Sean Thorup star as couple Arlene and Tony in “I Was A Teenage Werewolf.” The show opens Thursday and runs throughout next weekend at Arts Live Theatre.
Tabatha Taylor and Sean Thorup star as couple Arlene and Tony in “I Was A Teenage Werewolf.” The show opens Thursday and runs throughout next weekend at Arts Live Theatre.

If you like your Halloween fun more "Young Frankenstein" than "Nightmare On Elm Street," Arts Live Theatre has a treat for you.

"I Was A Teenage Werewolf," a play adapted by Mark Landon Smith, executive director of Arts Live Theatre, from the 1957 film, starring a pre-"Bonanza" Michael Landon, opens Thursday. Jules Taylor directs.

FAQ

‘I Was A Teenage Werewolf’

WHEN — 7 p.m. Oct. 13-15; 2 pm. Oct. 15-16

WHERE — Arts Live Theatre in Fayetteville, 818 N. Sang Ave.

COST — $7-$9

INFO — 521-4932

The play stars Sean Thorup as Tony, a troubled teenager who often loses his temper. After a school fight, Tony is sent to see a "psychologist" who uses him as a guinea pig for an experimental serum.

The film's original tone was definitely serious, Taylor says, but the play's tone is decidedly not. She says it is similar in style to last October's "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," which Smith adapted, Taylor directed and in which Thorup had a small role.

In the last year, Thorup has really grown as an actor, Taylor says.

"He had a really great role in ['Santa Claus Conquers the Martians'] and was able to fill it out more," Taylor says.

Since then he's appeared in several other ALT plays and has has taken a few of Taylor's comedy improv classes, she says.

"He's really discovering his comedic timing. That's so fun to watch, encourage and guide. He's one funny kid," she says.

The play is set in the 1950s and Smith has inserted several references to the 1970s and the 1980s -- "which are all ancient to these kids" -- but Taylor says those references turn out to be great teaching points.

"It's fun to talk with them about the 1950s, not to mention the other references. Even though it's a silly comedy, I think [the actors] learn a lot about history through the pop cultural references," Taylor says.

-- Kelly Barnett

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NAN What's Up on 10/07/2016

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