This
page (Page #8) has great articles from newspapers and school
newsletters. Check out all these great comments about ArtReach
popular titles: Pinocchio, Cinderella,
Amelia Earhart, A Thousand Cranes,
Wizard of Oz, Young Cherokee, Red
Badge of Courage, Christmas Peter Pan, A
Thousand Cranes, Pinocchio, Sleepy
Hollow.
'Pinocchio'
production with a dramatic twist
Lincoln
Akerman School students put on a show, ArtReach's Pinocchio
Hampton
Union Press,
Hampton Falls, NH
Tradition
with a twist is familiar territory for theater-goers familiar with
Lincoln Akerman School art teacher and drama director Stacey Bellen's productions.
Especially
when working with students in the younger grades, Bellen searches
out scripts that allow for maximum participation in terms of the
number of cast members. She also likes to provide students familiar
stories, but with a different spin, allowing "creative
license" for the young actors.
"More
than 30 third & fourth-grade students took the stage."
ArtReach's
Pinocchio
- Lincoln
Akerman School, Hampton Falls NH - Siena
Heights University, Adrian MI
The
recent production of Carlo Collodi's "Pinocchio," adapted
by Kathryn Schultz Miller, proved no exception. The familiar Jiminy
Cricket was replaced by Hickory Cricket. Lorenzo the Magnifico was in
charge of the puppets, which had names like Fettuccini, Gorgonzola
and Pepperoni - not your traditional Pinocchio fare.
Following
a hectic month of after-school rehearsals and set painting, more
than 30 third- and fourth-grade students from Lincoln Akerman School
took the stage in the Winnacunnet High School auditorium to perform
Pinocchio last Friday night.
Joey
Hackett immediately drew the audience into the humor of the show in
his role as Lorenzo the Magnifico. With his tuxedo, top hat and cape,
he was clearly the man in charge and had the audience in the palm of
his white glove from the get-go.
Christopher
Shek's Geppetto saw his little, wooden-headed Pinocchio brought to
life by Griffin O'Brien with help from his Lucky Star (Elizabeth
Baker) and the Blue Fairy (Isabel Reis).
Fibber
the Fox (Anna Farinola) and Lefty the Cat (Kate Pontbriand) drew
guffaws from the audience as they sized up Pinocchio and talked him
into skipping school and seeking a life in show business. With her
twirling tail and purrfect purr, Pontbriand was a great foil to
Farinola's wise-aleck fox.
"The
audience was filled with family, friends and teachers."
ArtReach's
Pinocchio
- Margaret River Independent School, AU
Hickory
Cricket, played by Kaela Werchniak in the first half and Kerrie Ward
during the second half of the production, had the entire audience
imitating a cricket as they helped Pinocchio call his
"conscience" for help. The theater reverberated with shouts
of "cricket, cricket, cricket. There was no way Hickory could
not know Pinocchio was in trouble.
Justin
Roberts, playing Pinocchio during the show's second half, completed
Pinocchio's transformation from wooden puppet to "real boy"
with youthful exuberance and contagious excitement.
The
audience was filled with family, friends and teachers. Younger
siblings excitedly pointed up to the stage and sometimes not so
quietly whispered, "There he is!"
The
traditional photo-op at the end of the show was filled with young
actors smiling from ear to ear and hamming it up for their parent's
cameras - justifiably proud of a job well done.
Resourceful
youth theater in Plain will perform ArtReach's "Cinderella"
By
Jessica Drake, World staff writer - Wenatchee WA
PLAIN
- Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! Director Kari Novikoff borrowed costumes from
Plain Community Church to transform 11 youth actors into the magical
characters of the musical "Cinderella." Novikoff is the
founder of Ponderosa Youth Theatre - and also the evil stepmother in
the cast - that will perform "Cinderella" at 7 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday at the Ponderosa Clubhouse, 21100 Cayuse St.
"Youngsters
ages 5-16 - each actor plays a double-role."
Ponderosa Youth Theatre, Lake
Wenatchee WA - ArtReach's Cinderella
Audience
size is capped at 70 seats with advance reservations online at
PYT-Cinderella.eventbrite.com; a $5 donation at the door is required.
For assistance, email [email protected].
Auditions
were held in Plain and rehearsals were two hours every day at the
multi-purpose Burgess Hall for the youngsters, ages 5-16. Each actor
plays a double-role, for instance the evil stepsister makes a quick
change into the fairy godmother.
"Leading
kids to play pretend, to use imagination first."
Ponderosa Youth Theatre, Lake
Wenatchee WA - ArtReach's Cinderella
"Novikoff
appreciates ArtReach because 'if you need to add or take a character
away or insert music, basically they give you permission' and there
are short memorizable lines with lots of action for the young performers."
Novikoff
describes leading kids to play pretend, to use imagination first and
then build it together at the theater in Plain, which she says is
"a growing community - more and more families with young kids in
the area."
Behind-the-scenes
planning began in January by Novikoff, who has also produced "A
Charlie Brown Christmas" in December 2021 and "Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs" in August 2018 with the youth theater company.
As
a self-proclaimed "hoarder of cardboard," Navikoff has
resourcefully constructed the set with painted cardboard set pieces
including a castle, a garden scene for when the coach appears, and a
cottage for the mice, all on a shoestring budget.
"Director
transformed 11 youth actors into magical characters"
Ponderosa Youth Theatre, Lake
Wenatchee WA - ArtReach's Cinderella
The
musical is by Kathryn Shultz Miller, who has written over 70 plays
for young audiences. It comes from ArtReach Children's Production,
which Novikoff appreciates because "if you need to add or take a
character away or insert music, basically they give you
permission" and there are short memorizable lines with lots of
action for the young performers.
What
happened to Amelia Earhart? A new show explores the mystery, this weekend.
Lexington Herald
Leader, Lexington Children's Theatre Production
By Rich Copley
"A
modern day journalist seeks to crack the mystery."
Emily Asbury plays the
title role in "Amelia Earhart"
- Lexington Children's Theatre.
It's one of those plays that
makes reporters look cool, and you know, we're kind of partial to
those. In "Amelia Earhart,"
a modern day journalist seeks to crack the mystery of what happened
to the title aviator when she went missing over the Pacific Ocean
during a 1937 attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
In addition to the mystery,
the play lays out the many accomplishments of the First Lady of
Flight. It's at 2 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Lexington
Children's Theatre, 418 West Short St. There are also school matinees
this week and next. Contact the theater at lctonstage.org or by
calling 859-254-4546 for more information and tickets.
As a bonus, the Aviation
Museum of Kentucky is offering free admission to kids who bring an
Amelia Earhart ticket to the museum from Sept. 22 to Oct. 31. Find
out more about the museum at aviationky.org.
Folding,
not breaking: Kabuki shows the strength of a paper crane
The
story is an inspiring one, simply and powerfully told
Published
in the Portland Phoenix, Jim Inglis
Take
a seat. Sit mute, without moving. Watch. Listen. Feel. Sights,
sounds, feelings, thoughts.
Lights
brighten as a girl steps forward from a delicately painted set full
of robust colors. They are hues of life, of unbridled energy, of
unconquerable power. Youthful vigor and atomic fury collide on the walls.
The
girl begins to run, already racing towards a future of untold
promise, and trying to elude a past that is close behind her and
catching up. She is Sadako Sasaki (Michele Lee), now 12, who was a
two-year-old girl when, on August 6, 1945, the US dropped "Little
Boy" on Hiroshima, Japan.
In
a 40-minute performance heavily influenced by the Japanese kabuki
style of theater, Sadako's story is retold at the Children's Theatre
of Maine.
"Sadako's
story is retold at the Children's Theatre of Maine."
ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes
Kabuki
plays often deal with the conflict between humanity and a larger
system or social structure, such as a wartime government's impossible
choice between the death of millions or merely hundreds of thousands.
This
play combines the two main types of kabuki plays, historical dramas
and stories about normal people. It includes ritualized gestures and
line-delivery that is more singing or chanting than speaking.
There
are also amazing masks with bright colors and strong designs, which
clarify character elements in this three-actor, multiple-character
show. At the same time, the masks slightly obscure speech - not
enough to matter, but enough to anonymize the speakers, as when
masked doctors report on Sadako's condition.
Nancy
Brown and Richard Gammon play the roles of doctors, parents, and
friends, as well as Sadako's grandmother, felled instantly when the
bomb struck. Brown's presence on stage - and Lee's - is a significant
departure from kabuki's no-women-actors tradition, but the adaptation
is more than appropriate. While the break from tradition would raise
eyebrows in Japan, in the US, having men play the female roles would
be worse than distracting.
"This
is our cry, this is our prayer - Peace in the world."
ArtReach's A
Thousand Cranes
Brown
and Gammon work well together, often separated by an entire stage
and not even looking at each other, but moving and speaking together
and in counterpoint. Their movements and lines are precisely
delivered, with just enough passion to have meaning without losing
the strict composure and reserved aspect possessed by many Japanese people.
Even
Sadako's lament, when she is struck down by "the atom bomb
disease," leukemia, is subdued.
"I
don't have any scars from the bomb. It didn't touch me," she
cries, not understanding that the bomb's real blast was invisible. It
was not just a bomb that leveled her house, killed her grandmother,
and seared her neighbors' shadows on the walls.
As
the dead of Hiroshima later tell her in a vision, "The bomb
continues to fall, Sadako. It is falling even now."
Youthful
innocence attempts to triumph in this tragedy. Sadako's friend Kenji
(Gammon) arrives with a legend and a message of hope: A person who
folds a 1000 paper cranes will have her wish granted by the gods.
Sadako
wishes for her grandmother to live, for herself to be well, and for
no bomb like that ever to happen again. (She forgets it already did,
three days after the bomb came to her hometown.)
"It
is falling even now."
Interact Theatre Company, Galt CA
As
Kenji demonstrates folding the crane, he is turned away from the
audience - and toward Sadako. It means we can't see the nimble
fingers and intricate movements that for nearly two full minutes are
the only action on the stage. Turning slightly toward those watching
would show the skill required in executing a flawless crane under
stage lights and dozens of watching eyes.
It
is with the crane-folding that the play differs from the story told
by the World Peace Project for Children, the real-world organization
inspired by Sadako's story. The play says Sadako did not manage to
fold 1000 cranes before she died in 1955, at age 12. The Peace
Project says she folded more than that number.
The
disparity is important. Either she did not manage to appease the
gods in time, as the play suggests, or the gods chose which wish to
grant - and it wasn't her grandmother's resurrection or Sadako's own
survival. Whichever is the case, the story is an inspiring one,
simply and powerfully told.
It
ends with the description of a statue of Sadako erected in 1958 by
Japanese children in the Hiroshima Peace Park. In her outstretched
arm she holds an origami crane. On the base is inscribed, "This
is our cry, this is our prayer - Peace in the world."
A
replica of that statue in the Seattle Peace Park was vandalized in
December. The arm holding the crane was chopped off.
A
Thousand Cranes, Written by Kathryn Shultz Miller. Directed by
Pamela DiPasquale. With Michele Lee, Richard Gammon, and Nancy Brown.
At Children's Theatre of Maine
Summer
Theatre Kids Camp Tackles Oz
Grand Rapids,
MN Herald Tribune
The Grand
Rapids Players Summer Theatre Kids Camp invites you to travel with
them to meet the "Wizard
of Oz" at the Reif Center June 20 and
21. In keeping with the timeless classic, you'll meet Dorothy,
Scarecrow, TinMan, the Cowardly Lion, Glinda, and the Wicked Witch of
the West. Oh, and let's not forget Toto! They'll take you all the way
from Kansas to Oz and back again!
This 75-minute
production is a condensed version of the well-known story and
celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the making of the movie. When a
twister uproots her house Dorothy (Lydia Mariano) finds herself and
Toto (Luke Torrent) in the Land of Oz where she meets two witches,
Glinda (MacKenzie McKay) the Good Witch of the North, and the
notorious Wicked Witch of the West (Kayla Witherill). Anxious to get
back home to Kansas, the Munchkins send her on her way to Oz where
the Wonderful Wizard (Kyle Pennertz) just might be able to help her.
That is, if the Oz Gatekeeper (Arianna Erickson) will let her in! On
her journey she meets up with three misbegotten characters that could
also benefit from the magic of this mysterious wizard: The Scarecrow
(Isabella Eastman), the Tin Man (Lucas Berard) and the Cowardly Lion
(Madison Christianson).
"The
kids have made this their show!"
Grand Rapids
Players Summer Theatre Kids Camp
"We have
37 participants this year ranging in age from 8-16. This show, with
its many scene changes, created lots of opportunities for lots of
kids on stage," said program coordinator, and one of the show's
three directors, Sharon Marty-Rasmussen. "We have many kiddos
who'd love to be on stage so, by golly, they are! You'll see them
come out as Munchkins, flowers, crows, trees, spooks, jitterbugs,
flying monkeys, Winkie guards, and characters in Oz."
This program
divides the participants into 3 groups: The principal characters, the
chorus (who narrate the show and provide special effects), and the
ensemble. The chorus consists of Yellow (Charli Seelye), Red (Noelle
Gunderson), Orange (Olivia Gunderson), Green (Kaitlyn Lokken), Blue
(Dalton Thoennes), Purple (Rece Kuschel), and special effects from
Ava Peters (Auntie Em/Scamp), Caleb Christianson (Uncle Henry/Bobo),
Nathaniel Bush (Joe Crow), Jacob Anderson (Moe Crow), Aubrey Mendonsa
(Woody/Chip), Bethany Mendonsa (Shady/Rascal).
The ensemble
group, usually the largest, weave through the entire show, out front
on-stage and backstage with scene changes. Those participants include
Eiley Lien, Bailey Bunes, Andrew Kottke, Ella Downing, Ella Knutson,
Sydney Sjodin, Aidan Thoennes, Nathan Nichols, Zachary Nichols, Jayna
Tabbert, Kiira Halvorson, Hunter Seabolt, Kaden Pennertz, Taylor
Turman, Samara Eastman, and Brianna Peters.
According to
directors Jean Goad, "Everyone has put their unique mark on this
wonderful production of 'The
Wizard of Oz.' From our audition day
through dress rehearsal, the kids have made this their show, not only
doing the acting, singing and dancing, but working with costumes,
sets and props."
In addition to
broadening skills and knowledge in theatre, the children develop
interpersonal skills as they learn to operate as a team-player, take
risks, build trust, fine-tune their focusing ability, take on
responsibilities that include memorizing their lines and blocking
cues, organize their props and costume pieces, and make good choices
that enhance the progress of their colleagues and the quality of the performance.
"They have
all worked hard and been great sports as they learn to act
"outside the box," improvising as necessary and learning to
develop a character enough to know what that person would do or say
in a given situation," said director Amy Thurm.
‘THE
YOUNG CHEROKEE’ SHARES NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE
Baker City Herald,
OR
BAKER CITY - Baker City youth
have learned a bit about Native American legends as they've learned
their lines for ArtReach's "The
Young Cherokee," the latest production by Eastern Oregon
Regional Theatre's youth program.
This story follows "The
Chosen One," a young Cherokee boy who goes on his vision quest.
Through his eyes, the audience learns about Cherokee myths and
legends. Many of these are taught by his parents, Mountain Flower
(played by Savannah Brown) and Walking Bear (Jadyn Berry).
"He was tasked by the Sun
to guard the sacred fire," says director Scot Violette. "But
he gets lured away chasing a deer, and the sacred fire goes out. The
earth disappears - it's all flooded."
So The Chosen One must trick
the Underwater Panther into giving up the earth (with help from a
crawfish), and then trick the Great and Mighty Thunderbird into
giving him fire. Throughout these trials, Mountain Flower and Walking
Bear sit on each side of the stage to narrate and explain the action.
Authentic Cherokee language is
used throughout the play, and the audience will also have a script to
participate when Walking Bear speaks directly to the crowd. The
audience also participates in a tribe session and helps The Chosen
One build the sacred fire.
Brown, a seventh-grader who
plays Mountain Flower, worked on her lines at the same time she was
rehearsing for "The Curious Savage," a play at Baker High
School. And rehearsals for "Savage" started the day after
she finished the Christmas play in December.
"The
audience learns about Cherokee myths and legends."
ArtReach's
Young Cherokee - Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre, Baker City, OR
Two plays at the same time can
be a challenge, Brown said.
"It's really hard,
actually," she said. "I have a rehearsal every day of the week."
But she didn't worry about
confusing the parts on stage. In one performance, she played a
patient at an insane asylum and in the other, the mother of a young
Cherokee boy. For "The Young Cherokee," she said
Violette taught them about Cherokee legends as they rehearsed.
"The legends are really interesting," Brown said.
Berry said she has enjoyed
learning about the Cherokee culture. "Just from the script
I've learned that the Cherokee really respect and kind of worship the
sun and Mother Nature." Berry has many speaking parts
throughout the play, including some in traditional Cherokee language.
For those lines, she also had to learn the Cherokee style of speaking.
"We have to slow down the
words and pause every couple syllables," she said.
Violette has also taught the
young cast Cherokee music, which Berry found a particular challenge
during rehearsals. "I cannot for the life of me keep up
with the beat," she said
"The
Young Cherokee" is a one-act, family-friendly play. The
cast includes Daniel Crist, Grace Taylor, Cassie Pettit, Luciano
Eaton, Izzy Watchtel, Emese Marvin and Reece Hatfield. Taya Riley is
the stage manager/assistant director, and Evee Collard is handling
the sound and lights.
Letters
to the Editor for March 29, 2017
Kiddos deserve another round
of applause for "Young Cherokee"
"We attended the March
production of Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre.
Live before a packed house,
the one-act play, "Young
Cherokee," was cast by members of the EORT Youth Theatre.
The young actors were flawless, and delighted the audience in
coaching a few words of the Cherokee language.
These kiddos devoted countless
hours to memorizing their roles and additional hours together in
rehearsals. They each deserve another round of applause.
By supporting live theatre,
you will see a friend, family member, or someone you least expect, on
stage simply to entertain you. And the popcorn is only $1."
Deanna Davis, Baker City
Herald, OR
Sauratown
Summer Theatre to Present “The
Red Badge of Courage”
The Stokes
News, King, NC
Stephen Crane's
classic story of the Civil War comes alive on the stage of the King
Central Park amphitheater, 302 Kirby Road in King, as the Stokes
County Arts Council presents the community theater production of
"The Red Badge of Courage."
Local actor
Colin Anderson portrays Henry Fleming, a young man anxious to join
the Union Army. To the innocent Henry, the war is exciting and
romantic. Later, swapping stories around the campfire with his fellow
troops, the reality of war begins to darken his thoughts. Facing the
chaos of combat for the first time, Henry panics and runs. As he
ponders his actions, Henry realizes that he will never be the same.
He knows that he must discover his own courage, humility and wisdom
as he attempts to atone for his moment of cowardice.
To help tell
the story, the play utilizes a sort of "Greek chorus" in
the form of four female narrators, who move around and through the
action on the battlefield and in the soldiers' encampment. They speak
directly to the audience, moving the story forward and reading from
actual Civil War letters.
Sauratown
Summer Theatre, King, NC - ArtReach's Red Badge of Courage
The script for "The
Red Badge of Courage" was adapted
from Stephen Crane's book by Kathryn Schultz Miller and is faithful
to the story and language as Crane wrote it. The production is
presented without an intermission and runs about one hour. - Courtesy photos
Several times
the cast breaks the "fourth wall," charging into the
audience in the heat of battle. The play also uses music from the
Civil War to bridge scenes and add dramatic effect.
The look of
"The Red Badge of Courage" is especially authentic, thanks
to local historian and Civil War reenactor Eric Marshall. Marshall
has drawn from his extensive collection of artifacts and replicas to
provide the production with uniforms, weapons, flags and other gear,
including tents and a wagon.
"Eric has
been an invaluable resource for this play," said director Brack
Llewellyn. "He has not only loaned us an incredible amount of
props, he has served as our technical advisor, instructing our actors
in everything from terminology to handling a rifle to how Civil War
soldiers saluted. Much of the show's realistic look is because of
Eric's assistance and generosity."
"The
look of The Red Badge of Courage is especially authentic."
Phantom Project Theatre, CA - Lexington
Children's Theatre, KY
The script for
"The Red Badge of Courage" was adapted from Stephen Crane's
book by Kathryn Schultz Miller available through ArtReach Plays and
is faithful to the story and language as Crane wrote it. The
production is presented without an intermission and runs about one hour.
Performances of "The
Red Badge of Courage" are Friday August 26 and Saturday
August 27 at 7 p.m. each evening at the King Central Park
amphitheater. The rain venue will be Mount Olive Elementary School,
2145 Chestnut Grove Road in King. Concessions will be available at
both performances. Attendees should bring blankets or lawn chairs for
seating. Tickets and more information are available by calling the
Stokes County Arts Council at 336-593-8159 or at www.stokesarts.org.
Angels
Academy presents "A
Christmas Peter Pan" story
Abaco
Island Press, Bahamas
Angels
Academy's students and staff added a holiday spin to last year's
Christmas Program with "A
Christmas Peter Pan" story, which was directed by Stacey
Adderley, the school's drama teacher.
Even
the Christmas Sing-A-Long Songs were sung to familiar tunes with a
variation in the words to reflect the program's theme.
"Sing-A-Long
Songs were sung to familiar tunes."
A
Christmas Peter Pan in the Bahamas
In
Act I, Tinker Bell summoned a few of the characters to help save
Peter Pan and Santa Claus from Captain Hook's pirates on Christmas
Eve. Act II revealed that Santa Claus had been frozen in the North
Pole, so he was unable to deliver Christmas presents. Santa's elves
were tasked with searching for the Lost Toys.
Snow
fairies along with the help of the audience un-froze Santa Claus in
Act III, so he gathered the Lost Toys on his sleigh to deliver them
to children all over the world. In the final act, Peter Pan led
Wendy and the children home. They were surprised to find that Santa
Claus had left them the Lost Toys they had met at the North Pole.
Barbara
Johnson thanked the parents for their attendance and support of the
school. She added that it was only the beginning of things to come,
so they must prepare themselves for the future. She invited the
teachers to sing a few Christmas songs before dismissing the audience.
Downtown
Mission to benefit from A
Christmas Peter Pan
Windsor's
Premiere Youth Theatre Company, Ontario
"The
best Junior show ever"
The happy cast
of A Christmas Peter Pan at the end of dress rehearsal!
On December 8th
and 9th, Riverfront Theatre Company presented A
Christmas Peter Pan at the Downtown
Mission's Chapel.
We had been
fortunate to receive permission from the Mission to hold our
performance then when our planned venue space was unavailable. In
gratitude, we decided to hold a can drive for the Mission, and to
split the proceeds from the admission and bake sale, both of which
are always by donation for our Junior productions.
For a regular
Junior Production, we anticipate donations coming in around
$1000-$1500 for the weekend. We were delighted and astonished to
receive not only a wonderful, massive pile of canned goods donated by
our generous audience members, but to raise $2600 for the production
overall - which means a $1300 donation that we are able to make to
the Downtown Mission.
That means that
23 young performers have done a pretty good thing, indeed. In
addition to giving two fine performances of a delightful little play
"The best Junior show ever," one audience member enthused),
they've managed to make a sizable donation of food and money to a
worthy cause, through their hard work in rehearsal and performance.
Special thanks
to our wonderful hosts, of course, but also to the director of the
Juniors, Jeffrey Gartshore, and his able Assistant, Perla Pichardo.
We're also thankful to Caitlin Jacobs for her help with the Juniors
during rehearsal, and to all the parents who donated enough baked
goods to feed an army, helped to decorate our set and entranceway,
and helped so much with props and costumes. As always, many thanks to
Denise Duckett for her lovely costume work!
The Riverfront
Theatre Company provides all youth, regardless of ethnic, social or
economic background, the opportunity to participate in a
collaborative theatre experience. We offer a safe, accessible, open
forum in which young people can express themselves and we provide
them with the resources, tools and leadership to study, produce,
promote, market and perform live theatrical works.
Join
The Academy of Children's Theatre as They Tell the Story of A
Thousand Cranes.
The
Huntsville Hospital Foundation to benefit
Thought
provoking and dramatic true and poignant story of Sadako Sasaki, who
was 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on the small city of
Hiroshima, where she lived. Ten years later, Sadalo is diagnosed with
leukemia-an effect of the bombing that happened 10 years before,
during which her grandmother was killed. Through her friend Kenji, He
reminds her of the old story about the crane. If a sick person folds
a thousand origami cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her
healthy again.
"A
heartbreakingly beautiful story."
Academy Childrens Theatre,
Huntsville AL
Sadako
learns that her true wish may be granted. Sadako's friends and
classmates finished Sadako's work. They folded enough paper cranes to
make a thousand.The Academy Children's Theater, partnered with
Huntsville Hospital Foundation to raise awareness for childhood
cancer, and to help fund the St. Jude's in Huntsville.
At
every show, you will have an opportunity to purchase a paper crane.
100% of the money raised to purchase the crane, and other fundraising
activities will go directly to The Huntsville Hospital Foundation to
benefit our local St. Jude.
Please
come see this show, A
Thousand Cranes. It is a wonderful script with a heartbreakingly
beautiful story based on a true story.
Thank
you for your support of our efforts. For School Bookings
please email aaaproductionsaaa@gmailcom
Oswego
Children's Theater to Host Chicken BBQ Fundraiser March 16th
The
Oswego Children's Theater will be hosting a chicken BBQ as a
fundraiser to support their upcoming production of "A
Thousand Cranes".
"OCT
is presenting the one act drama for adjudication."
Pictured
in the photo are show cast members Lannie Osbourne,
Alexa
Bell, and Sydney Osbourne. Lyndsie Lee Jones photo.
The
BBQ will take place on Saturday March 16, at Lighthouse Lanes, in
Oswego., with dinners costing $12. for ½ a chicken along with
beans, salt potatoes, and a dessert. The proceeds of the BBQ
will be used to aid the teen ensemble of the Oswego Children's
Theater as they travel to the Auburn campus of Cayuga Community
College to participate in the Micheal J. Harms Youth Theater Festival
by presenting the one act drama for adjudication.
Oswego
Children's Theater has participated in the festival for several
years winning many awards along the way.
This
Years production, "A
Thousand Cranes", by Kathryn Schultz Miller, tells the
story of Sadako Saski a 12 year old Japanese Girl who after surviving
the atomic bomb dropped at Hiroshima, finds she has radiation
sickness, several years after the event.
The
cast of five includes Sydney Osbourne, as Sadako, Lannie Osbourne,
as Kenji, Alexa Bell, as Mother, Scott Swindells-Lepage, as Father,
and Carolynne Benedetto, as Grandmother. The show will utilize
various Japanese styles in the production including traditional
Kabuki theater and Noh drama techniques.
The
production is directed by Lyndsie Lee Jones assisted by Kelly and
Wayne Mosher, and is presented by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing,
The
show will be presented locally in late March at the Mc Crobie
Building in Oswego and April; 6th at the Micheal J. Harms Theater
Festival held at the Auburn campus of Cayuga Community College.
For more information concerning the BBQ or the show call 315-342 5265.
Students'
letters show the impact of A
THOUSAND CRANES
To Imaginary
theatre Company,
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Tuesday,
Feb. 28, 2017
From
time to time we receive thank you letters from schools where our
Imaginary Theatre Company has visited. We wanted to share a few with
you today.
The
quotes below are from the students at Wilson School who attended our
presentation of A Thousand Cranes, a show that looks at the impact of
the atomic bombing of Japan through a child's eyes. It's inspiring to
see what a huge impact we are having on their lives!
"I
hope that someday, Sadako's wish will come true."
A
Thousand Cranes, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis School Tour
"From
this presentation, I really know how much peace really means.
From now on, I am going to be as kind and peaceful as I can.
This play really touched my heart." -
Austin
"I
will go see Sadako's paper crane in the museum someday. I hope
that someday, Sadako's wish will come true. No more atom bombs will
ever fall again."
- Alana
"I
will always think of Sadako in bad times. Sadako is so strong even
though she had leukemia. She is an amazing character that will
always inspire me!"
- Sahar
"Thank
you for bringing the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis to us.
Their plays are always amazing, but this was the best so far. I
think it is good to spread awareness about the atomic bomb.
People need to know about what happened to the people of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki so that we don't do it again."
- Sofia
"I
loved how well they performed something that happened again so
realistically. I have learned so much because of these plays&ldots;.If
there's one important message of this play, it's keep hoping, and I
think that's a very important message." -
Brielle
Theatre
Review: 'Pinocchio' at Red
Branch Theatre Company
MD
Theatre guide, Washington DC
Posted
By: April Forrer
Red
Branch Theatre Company's production of Pinocchio
is a charming retelling of the well-known tale of a mischievous
animated marionette who wishes to become a real boy. In this
production, the story is told in a truly interactive way.
"The
children were surprised and delighted."
Red Branch
Theatre Company, Columbia MD Photos:
Susan Porter (Lorenzo), Kate McNichol (Alberto), Tegan Williams
(Puppet), Caroline Wolfson (Pinocchio), Kelsey Painter (Puppet),
Kristala Pouncy Smart (Hickory Cricket), and Geppetto (Kathryn
Marshall). Photo by Erika Hagen.
The
theatre audience becomes an integral part of the play, and the
children were surprised and delighted. Without the audience's
help, Pinocchio (Caroline Wolfson) wouldn't have wood for his fire or
books for school, and without the aid of the very enthusiastic voices
of the combined audience, Hickory Cricket (played by a wonderfully
spirited Kristala Pouncy Smart) could not have heard Pinocchio's
cries for help.
All
of the characters, (over 14 different ones) in Red Branch's
production of Pinocchio are played by a seven-member cast, and each
actor brings a distinctive style and is a joy to watch.
The
original Adventures of Pinocchio was written by Carlo Collodi in
Italy. Originally printed between 1881 and 1883 as a series of
short stories, the book for children was compiled and released in
February 1883. There were few books written for children at that
time, and it was also unique for its story: it was the first to
confront everyday realities like the need for food, shelter,
education and the importance of listening to one's parents to truly
be happy. As the Blue Fairy points out at the end of Adventures
of Pinocchio:
"Boys
who minister tenderly to their parents and assist them in their
misery and infirmities, are deserving of great praise and affection,
even if they cannot be cited as examples of obedience and good
behaviour. Try and do better in the future and you will be happy."
Pinocchio
eventually learns that lies and disobeying his father, the
woodcutter Geppetto, lead to nothing but loneliness, heartbreak and a
very long nose! He then vows to tell the truth, listen to his father,
and go to school. Pinocchio sustains his vow and, in the end,
he gets his wish and the Blue Fairy turns him into a real boy.
"Hurry
over to catch this not-to-be-missed gem."
Red Branch
Theatre Company, Columbia MD Photo: Caroline
Wolfson as Pinocchio and Kathryn A. Marshall as Geppetto. Photo
courtesy of Red Branch Theatre.
All
of the characters, (over 14 different ones) in Red Branch's
production of Pinocchio are
played by a seven-member cast, and each actor brings a distinctive
style and is a joy to watch. This production only plays through
December 16th, so hurry over catch this not-to-be-missed gem.
Running
Time: 45 minutes with no intermission. Pinocchio is
playing through December 16, 2012 at the Red Branch Theatre Company
at 9130-I Red Branch Road, Columbia, MD. For tickets call the
box office at 410-997-9352 or click here.
K-M
Drama Department presents "The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
K-M
Drama Department presents: Washington Irving's The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow
Kasson-Mantorville
Drama Department is pleased to present its 2020 One Act Play
competition show, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Dramatized by
Kathryn Schultz Miller, this wonderful adaptation of Washington
Irving's classic American folk tale contains all of the thrills,
chills, and comedic moments from the original story.
"A
wonderful adaptation of Washington Irving's classic!"
ArtReach's
The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow - Kasson-Mantorville Drama Department, MN
Bumbling,
awkward school teacher Ichabod Crane comes to the tiny upstate New
York hamlet of Sleepy Hollow. When he falls for the coquettish
Katrina Van Tassel, he incurs the ire of her other admirer, Brom
Bones. The local people of Sleepy Hollow tell Ichabod stories of the
infamous Headless Horseman -- but are the tales real or just local
legend? Will Ichabod survive to find out?
Join
us for two free performances on Thursday, January 23. We will
present a faculty appreciation performance at 4:00 pm, and a public
performance at 7:00 pm in the Minnesota WiFi Performing Arts
Center. Both performances are free and open to the public.
Join
us for a special night of One Act Plays!
