PORT ANGELES — The Greek gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus mix with the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes — and even young Michael Jackson — in the original play “Digging Up the Future,” premiering Wednesday in the Peninsula College Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
This is the annual spectacle known as the Five Acre School all-school play, and it’s all about how Greek myths are still playing out in our modern lives, said Bill Jevne, Five Acre’s principal and founder.
Wednesday’s performance is free to the public, with curtain at 7 p.m. Performances for Five Acre School parents and friends are slated for 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; admission is free to those, too.
Jevne’s wife and co-founder Juanita Ramsey-Jevne conceived “Digging Up,” which features monsters, tender love scenes and cruel revenge — all with music by Jackson and other Motown legends.
The cast has some 25 youngsters bringing Zeus, Hera, Athena, Arachne the spider and other mythical compatriots alive.
The students at Five Acre — a private elementary school in Dungeness — have developed strong acting, singing and dancing skills for this elaborate production, said Mary Jane Blanton, publicist for the school.
Five Acre emphasizes theater and other art forms to integrate learning across academic disciplines and considers the arts to be as important as other subjects, she noted.
“The Greek myths are an important part of Western culture,” added Jevne, “and they have a lot to teach us,” about human behavior today.
The show has action to keep young children entertained as well as plot twists exploring the archetypes of the gods and goddesses in today’s world, Blanton said.
“I was just blown away,” after watching a rehearsal, she added. “This is another twist on the Greek gods; it’s just amazing.”
Five-Acre School has been putting on similarly complex shows for 12 years now.
To find out more about the school, phone 360-681-7255 or visit www.FiveAcreSchool.com.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladaily news.com.
