THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610300153
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 49 lines
HUGH COPELAND, director of the Hurrah Players, calls the upcoming version of ``Charlotte's Web'' a Suffolk production.
Why? Because five of the leads are local youngsters.
Charlotte is portrayed by Rachel Ford. Kaitlin Bowles plays the owl. A farm hand named Lurvy is portrayed by Maggie Chambers, whose sister, Jennifer, portrays Martha Arable. And Heather Carroll is a sheep.
All except Heather are veterans of Hurrah Players productions.
``I did work in a summer project at the Hurrah camp,'' she said. ``I was also an extra in `The Locket,' a movie made at Regent University.''
A role in ``Charlotte's Web'' is a natural for Heather, whose career choices are ``either acting or working with animals.''
There are animals aplenty in ``Charlotte's Web'' - pigs, sheep, bats, owls, rats and, of course, the spider.
Charles Strouse, who added music and lyrics to the classic E.B. White children's tale, also composed the songs for ``Annie,'' ``Applause'' and ``Bye, Bye Birdie.''
``Charlotte's Web'' has a cast of 46, most of them ``animals in human form, but with animal characteristics,'' said Heather, who gets to ``baaaa'' as she talks.
When she is not performing, the 12-year-old Nansemond-Suffolk Academy sixth-grader - a straight-A student - enjoys water and snow skiing, soccer and horseback riding.
``I don't watch much television,'' Heather said. ``I'm mostly outdoors.''
Not nowadays, though. The almost-daily rehearsal schedule is rigorous, but past Hurrah productions show that they are worthwhile. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Heather Carroll
Heather Carroll, left, plays one of the sheep in ``Charlottes's
Web.''
Graphic
AT A GLANCE
What: ``Charlotte's Web''
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 1 and 8; 3 p.m. Nov. 2, 3, 9 and 10
Where: Pavilion Theatre, Virginia Beach
Tickets: $11, orchestra seats; $9, others. Group rates available.
Call: 623-7418 by CNB