PR Big Whoop - It's Back to School  
 

Contact Information:
Elizabeth Davis
Boardman Davis Communications
(802) 244-6425

edavis@boardmandavis.com

BIG WHOOP - IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL

Montpelier, Vermont - Students across the country are soaking in the last days of summer, but looming large is the dark cloud of federal and state funding cuts for school arts programs. Some $30 million in federal cuts are slated for fiscal year 2003. From star-studded protests in New York City and California to grass roots efforts within communities, only dogged determination will keep arts in our nation's schools. One small company in Vermont found a creative way to make a contribution to the cause through the power of the World Wide Web, which moved their effort to a national level.

"Big Whoop About Zip," - a 21st Century adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, became available this summer to any high school drama group interested in performing the play. Thanks to the Web, Cabot Creamery has made the script, poster, program, promotion materials, and ticket art, plus media tips on promoting the production, free to any high school.

“Everyone at Cabot is committed to supporting community activities, particularly for families and teens,” said Richard Stammer, President of Cabot Cheese. “Through technology and the web, Cabot is able to take this investment made in one neighboring community and make it available to all the communities that sell our farmers' products.”

Big Whoop, which brought down the house in Williamstown, Vermont at its debut on May 23, was commissioned by the dairy farmers who own Cabot Creamery. In exchange, each school pledges to credit the play's presentation to the dairy farmers who own Cabot Creamery and run a Cabot ad in the play handbill.

When current issues, characters and themes--including hip hop, drug prevention, soccer, and even President Bush--update Shakespeare's comedy classic, the laughs just get bigger.

“The play works for any school regardless of budget,” said Big Whoop Coach Marie Frohlich. “We tested all the elements at Williamstown High School in Vermont - a small, public school that does not have a drama class or even a stage. The kids and faculty put on the entire production for under $500 and it was outstanding.”

Written by Roberta Harold of Montpelier, Vermont, "Big Whoop About Zip," is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Harold is a writer, consultant and Shakespeare aficionado active in community theater in Vermont. She is a 1999 graduate of the Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College, where she studied playwriting, fiction and poetry, as well as Shakespeare and modern drama.

"Big Whoop About Zip," is available from Cabot's website at www.cabotcheese.com now. Schools, drama clubs, teachers, and actors looking for more information should check out Cabot's website first or contact the Big Whoop Coach at coach@bigwhoopaboutzip.com or 802-433-6102.


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