We're the Parisian Marvels, and none of us are French

In honor of AQ's 125th anniversary, the AQ Theatre Program proudly presents a world premiere of this steampunk fantasy loosely inspired by a smattering of minor novels by Jules Verne (author of Around the World in 80 Days).

A string quartet finds themselves stranded on tour in Southern California when a mysterious stranger invites them to spend the night at an inn close by. The awake the next morning to discover the inn was on an island, a massive man-made island made by technological genius, Dr. Calistus Munbar. Furious at first, the quartet is stunned to discover that the doctor will make them all millionaires if they commit to living and performing on the island for a year, while the island makes its inaugural voyage around the earth. Steampunk technology abounds on the island, but so do secrets, political intrigue, espionage, doomsday weapons, killer robot women, pirates, even supernatural creatures. Will the foursome survive? And who is the mysterious woman who disappears into the clocktower?

I've been helping as a crew member for the show. This show is sooooo cool! Not only is it an original work from the AQ Theater Department Chair Randy Wyatt, but it's great seeing everyone from the Theater Department and more working on this production. It has been an interesting experience being a part of a brand new production never seen before. Here's what one of the directors has to say about it: "Sebastian is the calm rock in this fantastical world, initially feeling displaced from his own time, but ultimately happy to live out the adventure of his own life without cheating or discontentment. Steampunk is a sub-genre obsessed with the fusion of the past and future. As Aquinas looks forward into the next 125 years, may we be as content as Sebastian with our present."

The show runs April 19th, 20th, and 21st at 8:00 and April 22nd at 2:00. If you're in the Grand Rapids area please come see this show. It will be worth the time and it's a marvelous show! And really, how can you resist a play with bronze ninja robots, vampires, pirates, Russian spies, giant vegetables and steam-powered animals?”