This
page (Page #7) has great articles from newspapers and school
newsletters. Check out all these great comments about ArtReach
popular titles: Peter Pan, Sleepy Hollow,
Wizard of Oz, Shakespeare to Go!,
Laura Ingalls Wilder, A Thousand Cranes,
World Day, Alice
in Christmas Land, The
Jungle Book, Kid Frankenstein, Aladdin.
Kirkham
Grammar School presents ArtReach's Peter
Pan by J. M. Barrie
Lancashire,
UK,
Author: Nathan Benson
KGS:
Yesterday we received a wonderful review from NODA following our
recent Peter Pan production.
This can be read below. Congratulations to everyone involved!
On
Thursday and Friday, we welcomed an audience in to the Summerlee
Hall to take them on a magical adventure to Neverland. Extra-seating
had to be released, due to the popularity of J M Barrie's famous
story about the boy who never grows up.
"An
awfully big adventure"
ArtReach's Peter
Pan - Kirkham Gammar School, Lancashire UK
Kathryn
Schultz Miller's version of Peter
Pan from ArtReach Children's Theatre Plays, begins the action in
the Darling household. The stage was set, and with the help of
OKA George Critchley, who offered his expertise as a professional
theatre producer and owner of PMA Productions, the Darling household
came to life.
The
exasperation of Mr Darling attempting to tie his tie whilst having
to be assisted by his wife, created a lovely irony as he informed his
daughter Wendy that the time had come for her to leave the nursery
and grow up. Mr Darling, played by Callum Benson, and Mrs Darling,
played by Dotty Hackett, established the mood of the production from
the outset. Their children, Wendy, played by Brooke Medhurst,
John played by Raphael Ikram and Michael played by Manny Elleray,
were very quick to object to Mr Darling's new rule; the injustice was
beautifully portrayed when Mr Darling ordered the family dog, Nana,
played by Sophie Noblett, to leave the nursery - which she did
reluctantly, with a dramatic howl!
"The
audience was transported back to a land of childhood and stories."
ArtReach's Peter
Pan - Kirkham Gammar School, Lancashire UK
The
exit of the "adults" is when the magic starts. The
audience was transported back to a land of childhood and stories,
into a timeless world. Peter Pan, played by Olivia Coupe,
arrived through the Darling window searching for her shadow and so
met Wendy and her brothers. Peter Pan's loyal but jealous
companion, Tinkerbell, played by Tabitha Berry, reluctantly sprinkled
fairy dust on the three Darling children and they exit the security
of their home to fly to the "second star to the right and
straight on 'til morning".
Schultz
Miller's script uses fairies to narrate the journey of Pan and his
new companions. Isabella Durston, Poppy Pickervance, Jessica
Grice and Tilly Musson described to the audience the action that
followed. The Indians, led menacingly by Hannah Pilkington, had
excellent stage presence which contrasted with the haunting beauty of
a well-choreographed and enchanting Mermaids' dance. Special thanks
to my very talented team of choreographers Zea Trend, Raia Trend,
Eleanor Smith, Abbie Southern, Charlotte Fisher, Eve Darwen, Gabby
Pearson, Niamh Smith and Olivia Noblett.
"The
most poignant moment - Tinkerbell shows her loyalty to Peter Pan."
ArtReach's Peter
Pan - Kirkham Gammar School, Lancashire UK
Tinkerbell,
tried in vain to prevent Wendy from helping Peter and the Lost Boys
(played by Joshua Horton, Declan Calderbank, Henry Jackson, Rosa
Gill, Charlie Cassidy and other pupils from the First Year to Third
Year), but they were pleased to have a new mother, albeit for just a
short time.
Underpinning
the happy family though were some sinister characters. Peter
Pan's arch-enemy, Captain Hook, and his Pirate Crew, played by pupils
from the First Year to the Upper Sixth, were seeking revenge on Peter
Pan, who famously caused Hook to lose his hand to the crocodile.
Captain Hook, ominously played by Tyler Cowie, captured the essence
of Barrie's story. His intimidation of Tinkerbell to gain
knowledge of Peter Pan's whereabouts was comically dark in its
portrayal. His exasperation at the unfortunate Smee, played by
Shamir Ameer, also created some delightful scenes, especially with
the kidnapping of Tiger Lily, played stoically by Louisa Seacy.
"A
magical adventure to Neverland."
ArtReach's Peter
Pan - Kirkham Gammar School, Lancashire UK
As
ever, one of the most poignant moments of the play is when
Tinkerbell shows her true loyalty to Peter Pan. Olivia Coupe,
as Pan and Tabitha Berry as Tinkerbell, really roused the audience
when asking them to clap if they believed in fairies.
Tinkerbell and Peter Pan become reunited and Pan was able to defeat
Captain Hook, once and for all, in a dramatic fight that, once again,
led to the crocodile stealthily wending its way across the stage.
Wendy,
of course, realised that childhood can't last forever and she asked
Peter permission to let her and her brothers return home, which he
did reluctantly. Mr and Mrs Darling were relieved to have their
children safely back at home, but Wendy has not forgotten the magic
of childhood and Neverland, and the play ended with her talking to
Peter at her bedroom window.
Last
but by no means least, Tinkerbell was played by Tabitha Berry. This
performance was consistently outstanding throughout the production!
For a non-verbal part, she expressively gave her characters thoughts,
feelings and reactions extremely clearly and with control, which
clearly translated as communication to other characters to drive the
story forwards. There was not a moment she did not embody the
character and gave a sassy richness to the bring a more modern
interpretation with her.
It
was an incredible feat to manage the cast and crew of almost one
hundred pupils, but the reaction of the audiences for all
performances was testament to the commitment and dedication of
all. Thanks too, to all the staff who assisted with the
performances and we are hugely indebted to Old Kirkhamian George
Critchley for the set, costume and advice he offered to all. I
look forward to seeing future productions from Kirkham Grammar School.
Lake
Cumberland Performing Arts and The Center for Rural Development
Presents
Children's Prime Time Theatre's 'The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow'
ArtReach's
Clever Script appeals to Young Audiences
The spooky classic tale of
Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is coming
to stage just in time for Halloween during the opening performance of
Children's Prime Time Theatre's new season on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at
The Center for Rural Development in Somerset.
"Clever
adaption, loaded with hearty audience participation."
University of Wisconsin
Whitewater, Barnett Theatre - ArtReach's
The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow
Lake Cumberland Performing
Arts, in partnership with The Center, presents the legendary story of
Ichabod Crane-the bumbling, awkward schoolmaster trying to win the
hand of his sweetheart Katrina-in this timeless piece of classic literature.
The play, performed by
professional actors from ArtReach, a division of The Children's
Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio, opens at 7 p.m. at The Center and is
part of a night of family entertainment for all ages. A
Halloween-themed Pre-Show Event with children's activities and an
optional child-friendly catered dinner served by Chef Mete Sergin
will be held prior to the Children's Prime Time Theatre performance
from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in The Center's Front Lobby.
"Thrills,
chills, and laughs for young audiences!"
University of Wisconsin
Whitewater, Barnett Theatre - ArtReach's
The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow
"A perfect Halloween
treat, this classic storybook adventure comes with all the thrills,
chills, and laughs that will keep young audiences on the edges of
their seats," said Dianna Winstead, associate director of arts,
culture, and events for The Center. "As much fun as the play
presents, it saves the best for last-the ride of the headless horseman."
Irving's eerie tale of
romantic rivalry along the Hudson pits Ichabod Crane against the
local hero and bully, Brom Bones, for the hand in marriage to Katrina
Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer. This
haunting drama climaxes with the appearance of one of the great,
legendary ghosts of all time: the Headless Horseman.
"This clever adaption,
loaded with hearty audience participation, is more funny than
scary," said Winstead. "Children of all ages are sure to
enjoy this Children's Prime Time Theatre performance."
Warrendale
Student-Led Production of ArtReach's 'Wizard
of Oz' Delights Audience
National
Heritage Academy, NHA Communications Team
What
began as a video effort to support monthly Moral Focus presentations
grew into a student-led production of "The
Wizard of Oz" for a live audience at Warrendale Charter Academy.
Sixth-grade
Teacher Annie Golick started the Warrendale Warrior Drama Club in
October 2021 during virtual instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She began creating monthly Moral Focus Moments for school assemblies
on Fridays.
"There
were oohs and aahs coming from the audience."
Warrendale
Charter Academy performed ArtReach's The
Wizard of Oz
"The
students involved would audition monthly to have a role in the mini
plays," Golick said. "Due to being virtual, we created
storybook videos of images that followed the story. The students
would then recite their parts over the video recording."
That
led to a broader interest in performing once students returned to
in-person school.
"Our
plan is to increase the Moral Focus Moments to one per month (in
person) as we did in the prior year, and to increase our play
productions to two separate plays, one for December and one for the
end of the year."
For
"The Wizard of Oz," two students lead as co-directors:
Laila Bell and Dewey Rambin. Both were part of the 2020-21 group who
voted for this year's production.
"A
highlight of the play was the melting of the Wicked Witch."
Warrendale
Charter Academy performed ArtReach's The
Wizard of Oz
"These
two held open auditions for students to gain parts in the play,"
Golick said. "They auditioned up to 20 students to decide who
would hold which role. They assisted in practices and directed
students on positioning and projection. They also took a role in the
day of the play by being the lead stagehand in the back (Dewey) and
the narrator for the play (Laila)."
A
highlight of the play was the melting of the Wicked Witch, played by
Natalina Cawthon.
"The
Evil Witch truly stole the show with her acting during the melting
scene," Golick said. "Additionally, when the students
returned back to Oz and the Emerald City scene was revealed there
were oohs and aahs coming from the audience."
"About
130 people attended the performance."
Warrendale
Charter Academy performed ArtReach's The
Wizard of Oz
About
130 people attended the performance and the club is hoping to put on
at least two plays next school year.
Warrendale
Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Detroit,
Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It
is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes 98
tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000
students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For
more information, visit nhaschools.com.
CTW
Presents ArtReach's The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Widener
Children’s Theatre Workshop
The Widener Children’s
Theatre Workshop (CTW) performed The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the famed ghost story originally penned
by Washington Irving, on November 3, 4, and 6. Unlike Washington
Irving’s or Tim Burton’s version of the story, this was
specifically written for a younger audience.
The story still follows the
same basic plot: a middle-aged school teacher named Ichabod Crane
(Brian Harrington) comes to the town of Sleepy Hollow to take a job
as the new school teacher. Ichabod falls for the young Katrina Van
Tassel (Kara Gilbert), a woman whom Brom Bones (Jon Owens) has
already spoken for. Brom wastes no time in telling Ichabod of the
Headless Horseman (Dan Cronin), the ghost who haunts the bridge in
the town. This version deviates the most from the others in the
play’s climax when Ichabod meets his demise at the hands of the
Headless Horseman. Unlike other adaptations, CTW’s production
contains more comic relief and less scares.
"I
got a real kick out of making six hundred kids scream.”
University of Wisconsin
Whitewater, Barnett Theatre - ArtReach's
The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow
The play, however, was meant
specifically for children and in that regard was a success. The
children in the audience were very receptive, both during and after
the show. "I would ask rhetorical questions and they would
answer,” Harrington said of his performance. "They’re
a lot more receptive.” Cronin offered a similar sentiment.
"With adult theater, people are more subdued. What makes it
special for [children] is knowing it played for them.” During
the show, many of the children offered more audible cues than simply
laughter or screaming. If there was a plot point, for example, that a
child didn’t understand, he would express that aloud.
As a 20-year-old writer,
it’s difficult to put myself in the mindset of a child and enjoy
it in that manner. However, I agree with the performers that the
children in attendance found it extremely enjoyable. As a college
student, I didn’t find the conclusion frightening, but if I were
in grade school, I probably would have. During the show’s
confrontation between Ichabod and the Horseman, the audience reacted
the most, both with laughter and screams.
"The
play was a success!"
ArtReach's The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Widener Children’s Theatre Workshop
Unlike traditional theater,
this production took full advantage of the building in which it was
being performed. Most theater creates a separation between the
audience and the performers; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow instead
tried to build a gap between the two. During the climax, Ichabod is
chased by the Horseman not just on the stage, but through the aisles
and the seats, which allowed the audience to react even more
strongly. To further solidify the union between the performers and
the audience, after the performance the cast took questions from the audience.
To be sure, the response I got
from the cast was that it was equally as fun for them as it was for
the children. "I got a real kick out of making six hundred kids
scream,” said a smiling Cronin. Lisa Eckley Cocchiarale, the
director of The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow play, described it as being an
intelligent play made specifically for kids. If the reactions of the
children were any indication, the play was a success.
THEATRE
WINTER HAVEN: SHAKESPEARE TO GO!
A Play for
Young Audiences by ArtReach's Kathryn Schultz Miller
An ensemble of teens
performing for their peers at local middle and high schools!
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE: SHAKESPEARE
TO GO!
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
at 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Theatre Winter Haven
| https://www.theatrewinterhaven.com/
TICKETS: $5 General Admission
Co-produced by The George W.
Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Foundation
Please stop by the Box Office
to purchase your tickets!
Evergreen
Playhouse to Debut the Story of Laura
Ingalls Wilder
American
Classic: Play Opens on Feb. 12, Runs Through Feb. 28
The Daily
Chronicle, Centralia, WA By Justyna Tomtas
Actors at the
Evergreen Playhouse will be performing a classic American story of
hardships and triumphs focused on a pioneer family trying to create a
life on the prairie.
The 15-person
cast will open ArtReach's play "Laura
Ingalls Wilder: Voice of the Prairie" on Friday.
The play will
span Wilder's life from early childhood into her older years. The
dramatic and heartfelt scenes will depict her family's extraordinary
survival of life on the prairie.
Director Angela
Wilcox said she was inspired to do this play because it is one of her
daughter's favorite stories. It holds personal significance to her,
but she also said it's a very important and meaningful story loved by many.
"It is
dramatic and genuine. The thing about the Ingalls and Wilder families
is that they endured a lot of heartache throughout their whole lives,
but they were farmers and pioneers so they just kept moving on,"
Wilcox said. "It's really about love and family and moving
forward in the time of grief and loss."
"It
really is a beautiful, heartfelt story."
Laura
Ingall Wilder: Voice of the Prairie - Evergreen Playhouse,
Eugene OR
The play,
written by Kathryn Schultz Miller, licensed
through ArtReach Children's Theatre Plays, is
unique because it features over 24 scenes and spans about 60 years
of Wilder's life, Wilcox said. The entire production is accompanied
by a live musician who plays fiddle and guitar.
"We get to
see basic snapshots of poignant memories in her life and her
story," she said. "You get to relive the books if you are a
Laura Ingalls fan and get to relive some of those favorite scenes."
Wilcox is a new
director at the Evergreen Playhouse although she has directed in the
past for Performing Arts to Homeschoolers, a Lewis County branch of a
homeschool cooperative. Her cast varies in age and features
children to actors with a lot of stage experience behind them.
For the opening
weekend, a local fiddler family will play music from the Wilder era
during intermissions. The Fiddlin' Brownies feature six children from
the Brown family. The new addition provides something new for
audience members that have enjoyed plays at the Evergreen Playhouse before.
"It
will be a meaningful night for your family."
Laura
Ingall Wilder: Voice of the Prairie - Evergreen Playhouse,
Eugene OR
The play itself
is family-friendly and suitable for all ages, Wilcox said.
"Laura
Ingalls is a favorite character, so if you love Laura Ingalls Wilder,
come and see this because you will be blessed by it, and it will be a
meaningful night for your family," Wilcox said. "My actors
do a wonderful job, and it really is a beautiful, heartfelt story."
The play will
run Feb. 12-14, 18-21, and 26-28. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and
Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8
for students with a valid ID.
There will also
be a Thursday pay-what-you-can night on Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Proceeds from
the play will help support the Evergreen Playhouse, which is located
at 226 W. Center St., Centralia.
Sadako
and The Thousand Paper Cranes @ Riverside
The Boys and
Girls Club of East Providence RI
February 2 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00
pm: Teens from Rumford Dance Theater will tell the story of a
young Japanese girl who becomes ill and attempts to follow an ancient
legend of folding a thousand paper cranes in order to get well.
Kids will make their own paper cranes at the end of the performance.
"Kids
will make their own paper cranes."
Rumford Dance Theater - ArtReach's
A Thousand Cranes
This Saturday - Take Your
Child to the Library Day! Search the Children's Room at either
the Weaver or Riverside Library to find the ever-elusive Waldo and
his pals. Each participant will receive a small prize. Also, at
1:00, teens from Rumford Dance Theatre will present the play "Sadako
and the Thousand Paper Cranes" at the Riverside Library.
Kids will make their own paper cranes at the end of the performance.
This is for families with children ages 5+.
Hiroshima
Survivor Honored by ‘A Thousand Cranes’ Cast Members
From Salisbury
Post (NC) - March 8, 2014, JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST
"Suddenly,”
Leonard said, "the play means more. Art is not just about
applause. It has a history. There’s a lot of good things in it.”
"I’m
Sadako, and she’s Sadako, too.”
Piedmont Players Theatre’s
"A Thousand Cranes”
"It was kind of
like a connection between me and her. I’m Sadako, and she’s
Sadako, too,” says Bayleigh Grace Miller, who plays one of
the parts of main character Sadako in the production of A Thousand Cranes.
Piedmont Players Theatre’s
"A Thousand Cranes”
is the story of a young girl growing up in the shadow of Hiroshima.
But to the young cast members, it’s become much more than
that. They’ve had the opportunity to meet Yoshiko Otey,
who survived the bombing of Hiroshima.
And in between shows for the
county’s fourth-graders this week at the Norvell Theatre, they
were folding 1,000 cranes for her.
When Otey was diagnosed with
lymphoma a few years ago, their daughter sent her a box of tiny
cranes. It meant more to Otey than any words her daughter
could’ve said.
The cast decided to do the
same to wish her well.
In the play, the girl, Sadako,
becomes ill 10 years after the bombing of Hiroshima. She wanted
to fold 1,000 cranes, based on the legend that doing so would restore
her to health. She only made 644 before her death, but her classmates
finished for her, making an additional 356 cranes. Today, a
statue in her honor can be found in Hiroshima — a cry for peace
from children.
JON
C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST: Fleming Otey helps Vivien Rudisell with
her costume.
Rudisell plays
the part of the grandmother in the Norvell Children's Theater production
of A
Thousand Cranes.
At 9 a.m., they’d
performed for a house full of students, all sitting in hushed
excitement, eager to see the 30-minute, one-act play.
Their admission ticket? A
folded crane.
There were already hundreds of
colorful cranes decorating the lobby. Director Reid Leonard
said the lobby would be full of cranes by the end of the week.
Theoretically, he said, the cast could give three people 1,000 cranes
each — in addition to the 1,000 they were making for Otey.
"We’re in the healing business now,” Leonard said.
"It’s one of the things this cast never expected.”
You never know exactly where a
show will go, Leonard noted. "You just launch it and
hope.” Each cast member dropped a completed crane into his
or her own small, plastic laundry basket. The Oteys stood nearby,
looking on with gentle smiles.
Pastor Otey has seen the play
more than once. "It’s just as strong each time,”
he said.
Seeing the play for Yoshiko
Otey has been emotional but healing, she said. "It’s been
such a long time. It’s like waking up from a dream.”
Following treatment, Otey is doing well.
A
Great Review for A Thousand Cranes
Theatre Review:
Childsplay, Tempe Center for the Arts
By David Appleford, Phoenix AZ
Sadako was just three years
old when the United States dropped the atomic bomb in 1945. Her
home was little more than a mile from where it fell. Years
later, while training for a foot race with her friend Kenji Sadako
feels a pain which causes her to stumble. Doctors diagnose
leukemia, a direct result of the fall of the atomic bomb.
Sadako is still too young to understand why she’s become
affected by something that happened several years ago but her mother
tells her "Radiation doesn’t always show up straight away.”
"Inspires
young minds to want to learn more."
Childsplay
Tempe AZ - ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes
When Kenji visits the ailing
Sadako by her bedside he offers her a folded crane as a gift and
explains why. Japanese legend has it that if a sick person
makes a thousand paper cranes then the gods will grant her wish of
health again. Inspired by Kenji’s story, Sadako attempts
to reach that number.
Told in just under forty-five
minutes with no intermission, director Dwayne Hartford’s
production presents its story with grace, poise and theatrical
precision. Holly Windingstand’s wonderful looking scenic
design is based on Noh, a form of historical Japanese theatre which
originates back as early as the fourteenth century. Here we
have a raised floor backed by the traditional painted design of a
pine tree all under a raised roof. Stage right stands a sound
station where actors produce sound effects and play drums throughout,
highlighting moments of action and movement and underlining the drama.
"Respect
for traditions, discipline and love."
Childsplay
Tempe AZ - ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes
It’s amazing that in such
a short amount of time, some important themes, issues and traditions
are explored in a manner that can’t help but inspire young minds
to want to learn more. In addition to the more obvious themes
of war, the atomic bomb and radiation, there are also examples of
respect for traditions, discipline at home, love of family and pain
of eventual loss, not to mention that many, A Thousand Cranes may
even be a child’s initial introduction to the fun of origami.
Like everything throughout the
play, the moment when the bomb drops is handled with taste, style
and, in keeping with the traditions of Noh Japanese theatre, even
elegance. There’s a flash of light followed by a boom of
sound. "The thunderbolt” Sadako’s father
begins. "It took our friends, it took our home. It
took your grandmother.”
Today a statue of Sadako
stands in Japan’s Hiroshima Peace Park. Once a year
there’s a holiday called Obon Day. This is where the
country remembers the spirits of ancestors and close family members
who have passed on. Each year, on Obon Day, Japan plays tribute
to the young girl and other children who died from the radiation
effects of the bomb by leaving thousands of paper cranes by the
statue. Childsplay’s A Thousand cranes shows why.
The thought of the many
English firesides where happy faces have smiled her a welcome, and of
the many English children to whom she has brought an hour of (I
trust) innocent amusement, is one of the brightest and pleasantest
thoughts of my life. I have a host of young friends already, whose
names and faces I know - but I cannot help feeling as if, through
"Alice's Adventures" I had made friends with many other
dear children, whose faces I shall never see.
To all my little friends,
known and unknown, I wish with all my heart, "A Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year". May God bless you, dear children, and
make each Christmas-tide, as it comes round to you, more bright and
beautiful than the last - bright with the presence of that unseen
Friend, who once on earth blessed little children - and beautiful
with memories of a loving life, which has sought and found the truest
kind of happiness, the only kind that is really worth the having, the
happiness of making others happy too!
Your affectionate Friend,
Lewis Carroll
December 25, 1871
ArtReach's
‘THE JUNGLE BOOK’
PREMIERES AT MHCC
Mount Hood
Community Theatre, Gresham Oregon
"The
Jungle Book," a play adapted for children by playwright
Kathryn Schultz Miller, is being performed by MHCC theatre arts
students for local children to enjoy and be drawn to, making it a
great event for families with young ones.
Borrowing from the book by
Rudyard Kipling published in 1894, the Children's Theatre Workshop
show is about a boy, Mowgli, who is raised by wolves when he is
forced to leave his jungle home in India because of a vicious tiger
who threatens him.
This sends Mowgli on a journey
with a sensible panther named Bagheera, and a humorous bear, Baloo.
He meets many different animals throughout his adventure as they come
together and form one big team and embrace their wild lifestyle.
The MHCC audience will get
taken on an adventure while the Mt. Hood actors transform themselves
into wild animals from the story. The cast seems to maintain strong
focus despite having to account for 400 young children, and the
actors aren't afraid to go beyond the stage as they chase Mowgli
around the auditorium.
"Kids
Jump With Excitement"
Kaa, Mount Hood's Production
of ArtReach's THE JUNGLE BOOK
Joining in a game of
hide-and-seek, children in the audience will be sure to shout out and
give away any of the hiding actors to the others, making it fun and
interactive. The costumes are colorful and creative as one of the
actors is transformed into a devious python who hypnotizes the other
animals. The set captures the essence of the deep jungles of Madhya
Pradesh in India, with its moving vines, bushes, and shrubs -
something that looks like the theatre students had a lot of fun designing.
There are really fun effects
with lighting that make the walls appear to move with a glow. There's
also a vulture who swarms the audience, making kids jump with excitement.
The show is long enough to
cover the original story, yet short enough to maintain everyone's
attention. The actors seem to bring the better-known jungle animals
to the stage, so no one's favorite animal gets left out. The
porcupine's costume makes the audience gasp as the character appears
on stage showing off its prickly back, and the elephants inspire a
unique costume idea for Halloween next year.
While several weekday morning
performances in the College Theatre are reserved for area school
groups (note: MHCC students and staff are invited to slip into empty
seats), there's one showing for the general public at 2 p.m. on
Saturday, Nov. 18. At the MHCC Performing Arts office, Room
AC2134 on the Gresham campus.
Youth
summer theatre programs marks 13th year
Staff
Report, June 24, Grand Rapids Herald Review
Productions
of 'Aladdin, Jr.' and 'Kid
Frankenstein' to come to the Reif June 29 and 30
The
Grand Rapids Players would like to invite the community to their
Summer Theatre Camp productions of "Aladdin, Jr." and
"Kid Frankenstein," June 29 and 30 at the Reif Center.
This year marks the 13th year for the youth summer camp, with 50
campers in the morning session and 30 in the afternoon. This year's
performances are directed by Sharon Marty, Jean Goad, Alese Pomplun
and Chelsey Johnson. This year, in addition to the core (adult)
directors, the Players have welcomed a handful of veteran youth
performers to take on a number of leadership roles behind the
scenes. "These veteran performers are so hooked on theatre
that they pack a lunch and stay all day with us," explained Marty.
Taking
on the role of Assistant Directors are Kayla Witherill and Glen Key;
while choreographers include Charli Seelye, Morgan Tinquist, Lydia
Mariano and KelliJo Chandler; and backstage technicians include Mila
Adams and Chaz Adamson. "This camp is fast and furious
music theatre," explained Marty.
"This
camp is fast and furious music theatre."
Kid
Frankenstein plays Grand Rapids
In
40 hours, productions will evolve from script to stage, including
everything in between such as line memorization, blocking,
singing, dancing, character development, costumes, props and scenery.
Included in the three-week intensive are a variety of theatre
experiences in costume design, set construction/design,
improvisation, pantomime, focus, freeze, community-building and
more. "In and amongst all of these theatre education
opportunities, the kids also acquire some great life skills that
include responsibility, accountability, teamwork, self-confidence,
character building and making friends," added Marty.
This
year, the program includes performances of "Aladdin, Jr."
and "Kid Frankenstein."
The
School Science Fair is coming soon and Frankie (Autumn Brisbee) and
her friend Irving (Bradley Hewitt) are working innocently on their
project in Frankie's basement la-bore-atory. One day, a package
arrives from Transylvania, containing a book by Dr. Frankenstein:
"How I Did It!" Frankie now has the blueprint to create
life from an inanimate object.
"One
day, a package arrives from Transylvania..."
Grand
Rapids Players Summer Theatre Camp performance of ArtReach's
Kid Frankenstein
When
they show up for school the next day, they learn that their teacher,
Mrs. Newton (Evie Adamson) has a surprise for Frankie and his
classmates. Two citizens of Snoozeville are coming to make a
contribution to the science lab: Mr. Spots (Asa Dockter) from the
local zoo is bringing a monkey's brain specimen and Mrs. Magillicutty
(Tori Gunderson) has pickled the brain of her dog, Fluffy.
Mrs.
Newton assigns Helga (Lucy Adamson) to join Frankie and Irving's
group, and the three of them go to work in Frankie's lab to create
life from his dumpster-dive treasures. After foiling the burglary of
the brains of Einstein the monkey, the three put all their found
pieces together, including the brain of Fluffy, flip the switch, and
wait. Nothing happens.
"Will
Frankie be able to tame the monster?"
Grand
Rapids Players Summer Theatre Camp performance of ArtReach's
Kid Frankenstein
Disappointed,
they all head to Irving's house for mac and cheese and, while they
are away, the monster (Andrew Kottke) comes to life and begins
terrorizing the town. Will Frankie be able to tame the monster and
get him to the Science Fair in time?
Performances
for youth theater productions will be held Friday, June 29 at 6:30
p.m., and Saturday, June 30 at 2 p.m., at the Reif Performing Arts
Center in Grand Rapids. General admission tickets are $7 and are
available one-hour prior to each performance. "Aladdin, Jr."
is produced with permission from MTI, Music Theatre International,
NY, N.Y. "Kid Frankenstein"
is produced with permission from ArtReach Children's Theatre Plays,
Bradenton, Fla.
Ramona
Youth Theater Troupe's Colorful First Production Sells Out
Out
of the Box Players put on a creative production of ArtReach's
"Aladdin,"
which
was performed at the Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary Chapel.
Heather
Rushall, Neighbor
In
a fun, colorful combination of lights, costumes and imagination, Out
of the Box Players theater troupe in Ramona set the stage at Bonham
Bros. & Stewart Mortuary for their second performance of ArtReach's
Aladdin Saturday night.
The
cast of 17 local kids brought the story of Aladdin and Princess
Ginger's love to life for the 200-person audience.
The
show, which was written by Kathryn Shultz-Miller and directed by
Juliana Stewart, was a shorter, slightly-altered version of the old
Disney movie, but with a lot more humor.
Similar
to the original story, Aladdin (James Laky) falls in love with
Princess Ginger (Katie Bradley), but her father, the Sultan (Wyatt
Stevens) is insistent she marries a man of his choosing. The Sultan
is determined to court the princess and become king and Omar (Sam
Bennett), the evil magician, is out to ruin it all. Of course,
Aladdin finds the lamp, there is a Genie (Clay Grant) and magic
carpet rides.
"A
lot more humor than the movie."
St. Andrews Catholic School,
Malabar AU
And
instead of a monkey as his pal, Aladdin is accompanied by Persia the
cat (Monica Tate), who speaks only in meows.
The
overall production was beautifully constructed and well thought out.
The simplicity and small cast made it more intimate for the audience
as well. The storytellers came in and out of the scenes through the
aisle ways and at one point a few people in the front row were used
as props.
It
was highly amusing. It was obvious the kids were having
a really good time and they were all very good actors. Bradley did a
mind-blowing solo of "A Whole New World" without any music
or accompaniment and Grant hit every joke on point, getting the best
of the audience every time.
Even
my four-year-old, who was my hot date to the show, was cracking up.
Stewart,
owner of the mortuary and founder of the troupe was impressed with
the performance and the audience turnout.
"The
kids all did a wonderful job," Stewart said. "We had two
sold-out nights and wonderful feedback. Very encouraging."
Stewart
said the kids auditioned for the show in November and started
rehearsals a week later. They rehearsed weekly until the play went
live, but in the future, they plan to have two rehearsals a week to
shorten production time. Kids in the area are encouraged to audition
for future shows.
The
next opportunity is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and auditions will
be held Friday, July 26.
The
next production by Out of the Box Players is Witness to Gettysburg,
a one-woman show featuring guest artist Annette Hubbell.
