The Perpich Center for Arts Education is a state agency created to improve arts education opportunities for students throughout the state of Minnesota. The Arts High School component is a tuition-free state wide public high school for eleventh and twelfth graders who are selected to attend the school through competitive application and review process. The arts and academics are stressed equally and integrated using interdisciplinary curriculum that stresses creative and analytical thinking. Students apply to study an intensive academics program and one of the six arts areas in-depth; Media, Literary, Dance, Music, Visual Arts and Theater.

“We are all freeloaders in the eyes of God.”
--Marina
From Uncle Vanya

10 & 7 Freeloaders was developed by the 2007 senior theater students at Perpich Center for Arts Education for production on November 15, 16, 17. This playwriting/directing class defines the roles of playwright, director and the issues faced when building an ensemble-based theater performance. The production unit teaches approaches to playwriting and directing based upon analysis and interpretation of selected Anton Chekhov short stories. Playwrights focus on adaptation of a Chekhov story by developing action through dialogue, character studies, plot structure and theme. Directors focus on developing skills such as evaluating plays, analyzing scripts and creating stories through stage pictures and movement.

The Senior playwriting/directing class has been at work adapting Anton Chekhov short stories into one-act plays since the beginning ’07-’08 school year. Students were asked to select short stories with a theme that resonates with audiences now and ideally, one that is close to what they would want to write about in their own personal artistic work. They then develop a conflict from the story focusing on creating original dialogue as the driving force of action. These adaptations cannot be simple illustrations or dramatizations of the short story itself—the adaptations need to focus on a variety of distinct dramatic parts (character, conflict, plot, subject matter and voice) and all must be analyzed, interpreted and retailored.

These adaptations are intended to produce a better understanding of physical style, language and dramatic structure. By utilizing Anton Chekhov’s pre-written texts students focus on and develop the ideas of theme, character, and plot while concentrating on how these elements are applied through the Chekhovian structure.

A Dopey Fairytale is loosely based on Chekhov’s The Skit, a short story in which an amateur writer produces a play for his dinner guests. Playwright Michael Weller’s A Dopey Fairytale is the skit he imagines the dinner guests are treated to in Chekhov’s story: an absurd fairy tale with broad comedic characters including a talking dog and a manic depressive princess. In addition to performing Weller’s play, we have adapted the rest of Chekhov’s story thereby inserting A Dopey Fairytale into the original text.

Performers include St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists students: Sara Baker, Alina Bumbu, Sarah Cagley, Cassandra Cameron, Devon Cox, Sophia Gori, Chesa Greene, Erin Harris, Alyssa Hawkinson, Brittany Juntenen, Jacob Krech, Katie LeCapitaine, Michel Matson, Sean McSteen, Caroline Mitchell, Sophia Santiago, Alan Taverna, Ariel Thornton and Tess Walker.

About St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists: Imagine a high school unlike any other in our state. A place where talented youth can advance their artistic skills, learn from some of the best in the business, and have access to state-of-the-art facilities. Imagine an environment where students are challenged both academically and artistically and each and every day is full and enriching. To be encouraged, engaged, and empowered under the direction of highly trained professionals. And upon graduation, to be able to apply to any first-class conservatory, university, performing arts school, or professional company across the nation, or around the world. There are those who have imagined it, and are now making it a reality. This is the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. For more information visit www.spcpa.org.