A high-seas adventure is about to set sail.
By: MaryAnn DiPietro
The Alchemy Theatre Company has always embraced the challenge of creating theatrical magic without a permanent stage to call home. This year, however, they’re setting sail for new horizons with their most ambitious production yet: a world-premiere adaptation of “Treasure Island”, opening at The Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center’s Virginia De Land Theatre. Under the direction of Preston Helms and featuring Artistic Director Jeff Lowe as the infamous Long John Silver, this production promises all the adventure, heart, and high-stakes swashbuckling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless tale.
Founded in 2012, Alchemy Theatre Company has been “chugging along,” as Lowe puts it, staging productions wherever space allows. This year marks a pivotal moment as they collaborate with The Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center in a trial run before potentially dropping anchor at a permanent home. In addition to their mainstage productions, Alchemy is also making waves in arts education, providing theatre programming to underserved students in the Pomona Unified School District-- a full-circle moment for Lowe, who is now giving back to the schools that shaped him. “Treasure Island” marks a rare occasion: he’s stepping into the spotlight. “I usually do the directing,” he says with a chuckle. “But this time, I get to embrace my inner pirate.”
The script, adapted by Alchemy board member Loralee Barlow-Boyes, offers a fresh take on a classic tale and was workshopped with high school students before arriving on the professional stage. “We’re so proud of Lora,” Lowe says. “The script is clear, the motivations are strong, and she’s done a wonderful job making the relationships between the characters feel authentic.”
In addition to being a new adaptation, this production embraces nontraditional casting. “To an extent, you could say it’s gender-blind,” Lowe explains. “But Lora had a vision for certain characters that shifts the traditional dynamic in exciting ways. We cast based on who was right for the role, not just based on what the book originally dictated.”
Alchemy is excited to have built a fully functioning 30-foot ship on stage. “It’s an inn, it’s a ship, it’s an island—it’s a massive undertaking,” Lowe says. The set, constructed with the help of RSD Total Control, was brought to life under the meticulous craftsmanship of Lowe’s father, Jim, who serves as Alchemy’s technical director. “He can build anything,” Lowe says proudly. “And he’s a perfectionist, so we know it’s going to be sturdy and safe. The ship itself is a living, breathing part of the production. It transforms throughout the show. At the beginning, when we’re at the inn, you can still see elements of the ship—like sails that aren’t quite raised yet. Then, as the story progresses, the audience watches the ship being built in real time.”
“Treasure Island” is a deeply human story. Lowe, in his role as Long John Silver, is especially drawn to a key moment between Silver and young Jim Hawkins. “Jim talks about the doctor, and Silver replies, ‘We are often more than our professions.’ There’s so much wonderful wordplay in this script, but that line really sticks with me.”
Beyond the sword fights and buried treasure, the production explores the cost of ambition and the choices that define a person’s character. “It’s about integrity,” Lowe says. “Jim comes of age in a dangerous world, but he chooses to be moral and upstanding. He makes tough choices, but that doesn’t mean they’re the wrong ones.”
Audiences can expect thrilling fight choreography, intricate prop weaponry, and a sweeping score reminiscent of “The Princess Bride.” “It’s a classic adventure,” Lowe says. “It’s got the feel of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ meets ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’—tough, hardened characters with sensitive sides, plenty of action, and a lot of heart. There’s even a dance number on the ship,” Lowe teases.
For a theatre company that has spent over a decade proving that great performances don’t require a fixed location, “Treasure Island” represents a thrilling new chapter. “This is our chance to show our donors and audiences exactly how their support translates to what they see on stage,” Lowe says. “From the technical elements to the performances, we’re stepping it up in every way.”
“I want audiences to leave saying, ‘That was a really fun adventure.’ Because at the end of the day, that’s what “Treasure Island” is—a rollicking, heartfelt journey about the choices we make and the treasures we seek,” Lowe says. So hoist the anchor and set sail—“Treasure Island” is about to make landfall, and you won’t want to miss the adventure of a lifetime.
MaryAnn DiPietro is an actor, singer, pianist, music director, and writer.
“Treasure Island”
Alchemy Theatre Company
The Virginia De Land Theatre at The Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center
4802 Lakeview Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92886
March 7- March 23, 2025
(888) 455-4212, www.alchemytheatre.com
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