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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

PALMA CEIA - Plant High's award-winning thespians put everything they've got into all of their productions, but excitement is nearing record levels for their Halloween-themed effort opening Thursday.

The reason: The audience for Christopher Cook's adaptation of the Washington Irving classic, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," will include Cook. The author of the award-winning stage version says he will attend all three performances, the first time his long-running play has been presented beyond Columbia, S.C., where he lives.

"It's definitely every actor's dream, to perform the author's work in front of them," said sophomore Mary Krantz, 15, cast as Katrina Van Tassel. "It's scary, but it will be interesting hearing his feedback. We're just really fortunate," she said after a recent dress rehearsal.

David Patterson, the junior who plays schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, also feels the pressure. "We've definitely got to get our lines down," he said. "I'm looking forward to what (Cook) has to say" after seeing the student production.

Patterson, 17, said he also is hoping for good attendance for the three performances in the school auditorium: 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The link with the author was happenstance. Plant High drama director Teryle Traver explains:

"The kids thought it would be fun to do 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,'" a haunting tale set in a Dutch settlement in New England in 1795, and befitting the school's 2009 homecoming theme: "Thriller."
Traver began searching for a script for the short story first published in 1820. "All the scripts I found were one-acts, short scripts of 30, 40 minutes," said Traver, who was seeking a two-act version of about 90 minutes.

Diligent Internet search uncovered High Voltage Theatre in Columbia, S.C., where Cook's celebrated play premiered in October 2002.

"I called the theater to see if I could talk to the production manager," and order a script, Traver said. Though Traver didn't immediately know it, "The person who answered the phone was Christopher Cook, the playwright."

Once Traver explained his reason for calling and Cook identified himself as the author, the two directors began discussing the play in earnest.

"I think he was excited. It's a big departure from what he's done before," including it being performed by high school drama students, Traver said.

Since its South Carolina premiere seven years ago, Cook's production has enjoyed record-breaking audiences and sellout performances during its monthlong season each October at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheatre.

That amphitheater is large enough to allow the infamous headless horseman to make his appearance astride a real steed. Adapting the play to the small stage seemed to interest Cook, Traver said.

"You couldn't find a much smaller stage in Tampa than this one," Traver said of the auditorium at the 1926 school.

Joey Vazquez of Columbia - producer, director and an actor in the "Sleepy Hollow" run that concluded Halloween night - has worked with Cook for five years and also will attend the Plant High performances.

"Chris and I plan to meet and talk with the kids, and we're very excited to see the production, see their interpretation," Vazquez said in a telephone interview from Columbia.

Vazquez said he spoke with his Columbia actors and plans to share with students those actors' ideas about the characters they play.

Vazquez, who for two seasons played the role of Brom Bones, antagonist to Ichabod Crane, said he loves Irving's haunting tale. Anthony Boullosa plays that role in the Plant High production.

Vazquez said he and Cook plan to arrive in Tampa on Thursday morning, well in advance of the 7 o'clock opening-night curtain. "We are very excited and looking forward to it," Vazquez said.

"If we get to see all the performances, it'll be fantastic, because it's a story we both love," he said of Irving's haunting tale. "Now, to see it with somebody else's vision, will be a surreal experience."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," a two-act play

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday

WHERE: Plant High School auditorium, 2415 S. Himes Ave., Tampa

TICKETS: $5

INFORMATION: Call (813) 468-0812 or e-mail plantdramaclub @aol.com.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 259-7124.

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