Faybulous, a "sing play" for children based on Aesop's Fables, is the first production to be presented in Coastal Carolina University's new Edwards Theater in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts Building. The production is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. Admission is $10, $5 for students under the age of 18.

Designed expressly for student training, workshops and smaller productions, the new Edwards Theater can be adapted to accommodate many different arrangements of staging and seating. "Although Faybulous will be presented in the traditional proscenium format, this production will be much more intimate and close to the audience," says Sandi Shackelford, professor of theater at Coastal and director of the production.

Written by David Bankston, assistant professor of music at Coastal, and Tony Makarome, a composer and graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Faybulous is based on adaptations of three of Aesop's fables, each one a mini-morality tale in a distinctive American musical mode: "The Tortoise and the Hare" is transformed into "Daddy Cool Turtle and Jacky Rabbit" with a hip jazz-gospel style; in "The Hen that Laid the Golden Egg," Granny grapples with would-be thieves Wayne and Dewayne, mixing tango, blues and country music; and "The Poor Woodsman and the Magical Rivermaid" is done in musical theater style.

"This show is a labor of love for me," says composer Bankston. "Both Tony and I have very diverse musical backgrounds, which accounts for the variety of styles in Faybulous. Aesop's fables are timeless - they're fun and instructive for children and adults alike."

The cast and technicians include Coastal faculty members Bankston, who sings the role of the narrator; Anne Denbow-Gilbert, instructor of music; Philip Powell, associate professor of music; and Robin L. Stephens, dance instructor.

The cast also includes Coastal students Matt McCarty, Carl Mueller and Chris Bergamo, and alumni Farrah Dill and Ollie Marseglia.

Faybulous was first presented in Wheelwright Auditorium in August 2000. The new production is an updated version with new costumes, additional dance numbers and many new cast members.

For ticket information, contact the Wheelwright Box Office at 349-2502.