Caymanian Melanie Ebanks to star in the World Stage Premier of “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” in London

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape World Premiere By Alex Howarth

Alex Howarth a freelance theatre director based in London. He has worked across the UK in venues including The Capitol, The White Bear and The Cockpit, as well as on touring productions. He also works as an assistant director, most recently to Olivier Award winner David Thacker at The Octagon Theatre, Bolton. He is the Artistic Director of Patch of Blue, who create devised theatre pieces for festivals and touring. He has worked extensively in disabilities theatre, having created performances with deafblind adults for the charity Sense.

Alex is delighted to have written and be directing the first ever stage adaptation of ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’.

Just about everything in Endora, Iowa is eating Gilbert Grape, a twenty-four-year-old shop worker who dreams only of leaving. His enormous mother, once the town sweetheart, has been eating nonstop ever since her husband’s suicide, and the floor beneath her TV chair is threatening to cave in. Gilbert’s long-suffering older sister Amy, still mourns the death of Elvis, and his attractive younger sister has become hooked on makeup, boys, and Jesus. But the biggest event on the horizon for all the Grapes is the eighteenth birthday of Gilbert’s younger brother, Arnie, who is a living miracle just for having survived so long. As preparations for the big day hit fever pitch, a mysterious beauty glides through town on a bicycle and rides circles around Gilbert, until he begins to see a new vision of his family, and himself.

The novel was made into a hugely successful film in the mid-90s starring Johnny Depp and a young Leonardo DiCaprio in a performance which won him his first Oscar nomination.

This production will be the first ever stage adaptation of the novel, and has been written by after an exclusive license was granted by author Peter Hedges. After approaching Peter with the project last year, Alex has worked closely with the author to produce a faithful and exciting adaptation. The show will be performed as part of the first season of production by the new third year Acting students of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, with a live American-folk soundtrack written and performed by the up and coming band Lights On The Mountain.

‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ will open at The Bridewell Theatre on 30th September and run until 11th October in rep with another Mountview production, ‘Vernon God Little’. Tickets will be on public sale later in the month but industry tickets can be reserved now by contacting Mountview Academy on 020 8829 0036.

However, you don’t have to go to London, UK, to see Melanie.

You can watch Melanie Ebanks in Cocktails & Cabaret at The Prospect Playhouse, Red Bay Thu – Sat Aug 14 – 16 at 7PM (6:30PM happy Hour) with an additional Matinee at 3PM on Sat 16.

All proceeds will go to the Zak Quappe Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Tickets: $15 adults $10 youth (12 and under) NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT

http://www.cds.ky/Tickets.htm

email [email protected]

or by calling 938-1988

See also iNews Cayman story “Cayman Drama Society’s “Melanie EBANKS and Friends” Charity Concert BOOK NOW” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/cayman-drama-societys-melanie-ebanks-and-friends-charity-concert-book-now/