BRUNSWICK — The Theater Project’s Summer Teen Theater program will present “Arabian Nights” on July 31 and Aug. 1-2. Eighteen teenage actors from midcoast Maine and beyond play a variety of roles as Shahrazad tells the Persian king several stories from the collection of stories from the Middle East, originally called “1001 Nights.”

Camp participants learn theater skills through a variety of improvisational exercises. “Our goal is to enable the cast to develop and perform the show and to own it,” said director Al Miller.

Assisting Miller are Young Company veterans Karin Baard, Joe Faustine and Trevor Bostic, who will return to college as sophomores in September.

In “Arabian Nights,” Shahrazad tells the king a different story every night to save other young women in the kingdom from becoming his bride and perishing the next day. She has always loved telling stories and her sister, Dinarzad, grew up listening to them. Her father is the Vizier, the king’s advisor, who worries that one day the king will be displeased with her stories and end her life; but she is confident she can come up with an entertaining story every night.

Her stories include “Alibaba and the Forty Thieves” and “Sindibad the Sailor,” both of which have been popularized by Disney animated films.

“Arabian Nights” runs an hour and is suitable for family audiences. It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2.
Tickets are all pay-what-you-want, with a suggested price of $12. Tickets are available at www.theaterproject.com or the Theater Project box office at 729-8584.


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