3/1-3/3 at 7:30 pm - Arts / Entertainment

Mindset runs from March 1 - March 3, 2012 in the H-B Woodlawn auditorium,
4100 N. Vacation Lane. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at
7:30 p.m.

CREATIVE TEAM: Jace Casey (Director, Composer, Playwright, Choreographer, Music Director, Music Arrangements)
Cassandra Kendall (Assistant Director, Choreographer, Lighting Design, Technical Director)
Ibby Han (Associate Music Director, Music Arrangements)
Helen Westergren (Costume Design and Construction)
Shelby Smout (Playwright, Make-up Design)

A group of H-B Woodlawn high school students is currently in rehearsals for Mindset, an original, student-made production that synthesizes music, vocal performance, dance and theatre. The show is about an artist’s inner battle against the fear of failure. The plot follows the artist through life and takes place inside the artist’s imagination. The stages of life are represented by four personalities: Child, Teenager, Adult, and Elder. Each act offers a glimpse into the world of each personality, representing the different stages of the artist’s life. Stylistically, Mindset doesn’t fit the typical mold of most high school productions since it draws influence from performance art, musical theatre, and live concert. The performance is structured around dialogue but is interwoven with dance and live music from popular culture.

Mindset is directed by Jace Casey and is assistant directed by Cassandra Kendall, both eleventh-graders. Casey and Kendall have been teaming up since they began high school and have created original stage productions annually.
Each successive production expands on the previous production, pushing the
boundaries of high school theatre. In ninth grade, they conceived an original dance production that was a tribute to popular music. Last year, the team collaborated again to create [stop] culture, a performance art piece centered around expressing individuality and incorporated film and live music. [stop] culture can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvC9DepkpbI.

The team does not hold auditions. There is an open door policy for any student that wants to participate. The Mindset cast, orchestra pit, creative team, and< backstage crew totals thirty-five students. Casey organizes rehearsals and meetings for each of these groups during free periods, and after school. The creative team is fortunate enough to attend a non-traditional high school that allows students to express their creativity in unique and engaging ways.

A portion of the proceeds from Mindset will be donated to the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry.