Theatre Macon pilots production of popular fantasy tale

Theatre Macon’s youth actors will soar to new heights this month, bringing “How to Train Your Dragon Jr.” to the southeast for the first time.

Only a handful of other theaters across the country have run pilot productions of the DreamWorks Theatricals musical.

“There is no blueprint of what the show should look like or how the show should be staged, so we have a lot of creative freedom,” Richard Frazier-Sostillio, Theatre Macon’s artistic director, said. 

Based on the 2003 novel “How to Train Your Dragon” and its 2010 film adaptation, the musical follows the story of Hiccup, a young Viking from a community of dragon-slayers who stumbles upon a rare dragon named Toothless and stands up against his community’s animosity towards the massive, winged creatures. 

The film offers Frazier-Sostillio and his cast of young actors, ranging from 8 to 18, their only reference point for the creative development of the live show. Photos, notes and ideas from Theatre Macon will contribute to scripts and director’s guides used in future productions of the show. 

Theatre Macon has put on other pilot productions in the past, including “Beetlejuice Jr.” and “Matilda the Musical.”

Curating a cinematic experience for the audience is a key focus for the live production, Frazier-Sostillio said. He began with a “sky-is-the-limit” approach to special effects, set design and costuming. He then narrowed his ideas to what would be feasible in his space. 

The goal is to make the show adaptable in scale and financially accessible to school, community and church theater programs, Frazier-Sostillio said.

“One of the challenging parts was definitely having to learn all this brand-new stuff that not a whole lot of theaters have ever done before,” said Sterling Gray Grisamore, 10, who plays Snotlout. 

With the help of parents, volunteers, and Theatre Macon’s scenic and costume designers, Frazier-Sostillio created 12 large-scale dragon puppets with moveable wings that the young actors will bring to life on stage. 

The puppets — constructed from EVA foam and PVC pipes — range from 6-8 feet tall. Some will extend 4 feet above the actors’ heads. 

Andy Martinez-Lopez, 17, plays Toothless and is learning to embrace the role of puppeteer.

“I’ve only acted as my person, but I’m acting through a puppet and it’s very new to me,” he said. “It’s making me a better actor.”

Maggie Greer, 15, said singing alto and mastering the physical skills — wielding a shield and sword — as her young Viking character, Astrid, have been her biggest challenges throughout the production process.

The show, which runs for 45 minutes, will utilize projections and 4D effects. Actors will move around the audience and even “fly” to provide a perspective similar to the movie. 

Underneath the towering costumes and special effects are powerful messages about “mob mentality” and “blazing your own trail,” Frazier-Sostillio said.

“In a world with so much noise, it’s more important than ever to look inside of ourselves and say, ‘Well, how do I feel about these things?’” he said. “‘How do these things affect me, and how am I championing our world and making it a better place?’”

The production runs for two weekends from Sept. 19-28. Visit theatremacon.com to purchase tickets.

Editor’s note: One of the actors quoted in this story is the granddaughter of a Melody staff member.