Posted 5/7/2004 11:14:15 PM by Webmaster
News from Laura E. Sutton viewed 886 times
Friday, May 07, 2004 - Lexington, KY
Fred Dahlinger at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI suggested CFA members might be interested in a website for "Liz's Circus Story", a television program produced by Kentucky Educational TV.
(Aired May 7th, 2004)
The television version of Liz’s Circus Story is a 2003 production
of KET, Kentucky’s statewide public television network. Vince Spoelker
was producer/director, and Nancy Carpenter was executive producer (see
complete production credits). The play is available
on videotape from KET; call (800) 945-9167 or e-mail tapes@ket.org
for information.
LINK TO WEBSITE= www.ket.org/circusstory
Press Release
KET1: Thursday, May 6 at 10/9 pm CT
Actress learns life lessons under the big top on KET1 Liz's Circus Story originally produced by Horse Cave Theatre
As ringmistress, organist and roustabout, Kentuckian Liz Bussey Fentress lived the life of a traveling circus performer, learning to pitch tents, promote shows and captivate an audience alongside Paulo the Magnificent, Buck the horse, Okha the elephant and the “largest aggregation of trained goats in the world.”
Fentress recounts her experiences in Liz’s Circus Story, a one-woman play about life lessons learned under the big top and the value of following one’s dreams. Fentress adapted her play—which was originally produced by Horse Cave Theatre—for TV and also stars in the production, airing Thursday, May 6 at 10/9 p.m. CT on KET1.
Liz’s Circus Story spans 23 years, beginning in 1974 when 21-year-old Liz joins the circus and meets Wayne Franzen, a former shop teacher in Wisconsin. When Franzen revealed his childhood dream of running his own circus, his teacher told him “You should do that.” Over time, Liz adopts these words as her own mantra. At the play’s end, Liz realizes that her circus experience has taught her humorous, tragic and life-changing lessons about what an individual can achieve if she believes in her dreams.
“Liz’s Circus Story is not really about the circus,” said Vince Spoelker, who directed and produced the program for KET. “It is about pursuing your dreams and growing as a person. Liz learned how to put on a circus and how to promote a circus, but what she was really learning was the self-confidence to pursue her own dreams.”
A former associate producer at Horse Cave Theatre, Liz Fentress’ new work, The Honey Harvest, about a beginning beekeeper who is the sole caregiver for her depressed father, has its world premiere at Kentucky Repertory Theatre (formerly Horse Cave Theatre) in August.
For more information about Liz’s Circus Story, including interviews with Liz Fentress as well as KET and Horse Cave Theatre staff members, photos from Fentress’s real-life stint with the circus and suggested activities for using the production with students, viewers can visit www.ket.org/circusstory.
Liz’s Circus Story is a KET production, produced and directed by Vince Spoelker. Nancy Carpenter is executive producer. The program is closed-captioned for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Viewers can find out more about programming on KET’s six digital channels by visiting the KET Web site at www.ket.org
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