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| By Wayne Brekke |
It's a well known fact that Stephen King didn't like the movie version of his book "The Shining." In fact, the original story was written as a 5-act play. Even the mini-series had to take liberties. Now, for the first time, The Benson Theater Project in Omaha NE is currently in rehearsals to produce The Shining as a stage production. In fact, the production is fully endorsed by the man himself, Stephen King. The author even sold the rights for a buck! He also has approved the cast and the script.The main reason for this is the Benson Theater is currently being restored to its former days of glory. Not by a big architecture firm or corporation, but by a small, non-profit and an entire community of creative and dedicated volunteers. King knows Omaha. He comes here for the College World Series sometimes and I like to think realizes the historic potential of small neighborhoods and the buildings that founded them. Maybe that's the reason he was gracious enough to lend his story to help bring this theater back to life.
From the facebook page, here are some details of the play's production and team:
"“The Shining” will be the Benson Theatre’s first major production, and we could not be more excited about what we have in store. What better way to introduce the Benson Theater into the world of performing arts than with a big, bold, innovative new work from and for our community.
Helping to advise the production are Tom Elkins, director of the film “The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia”, and Kevin Lawler, Producing Artistic Director of the Great Plains Theatre Conference and co-founder of the Blue Barn Theatre. Lighting design is being developed by Tommy Wilson, Charlie Wagner, and the rest of the team at JSAV. Our set designer is Kit Gough, who has worked in the Omaha theatre community for several years, most recently as the set designer for “Seussical The Musical” at The Rose Theatre.
Providing the artwork for our marketing is local artist Jeremy Caniglia, whose beautiful and terrifying work can be seen gracing the covers of books by authors such as William Peter Blatty (40th anniversary edition of “The Exorcist”), Douglas Clegg, Peter Straub, Max L Brooks, Anne Rice, and yes, Stephen King. The play will be directed by Jason Levering, from a script written by Levering and fellow writer Aaron Sailors and approved by Mr. King. Questions can be directed to jason@bensontheatre.org."
The play runs March 21st and 22nd, at the Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska. For more information, visit the facebook events page : STEPHEN KING'S THE SHINING - A PLAY
