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This
page (Page #6) has great articles from newspapers and school
newsletters. Check out all these great comments about ArtReach
popular titles: Alice in Wonderland, The
Wizard of Oz, Mulan,
Sleepy Hollow, Kid Frankenstein,
Christmas Carol, A Thousand Cranes, Peter
Pan, Christmas Peter Pan, Snow White,
The Velveteen Rabbit, Pinocchio,
Hansel and Gretel, Welcome Home.
Curiouser
and curiouser: Theatre group breathes new life into ‘Alice
in Wonderland’
Daily
Journal, Franklin IN
This
is one rabbit hole you’re going to want to tumble down.
"A
unique perspective on finding your place in the world."
  
ArtReach's Alice
in Wonderland - Agape Theatre Company,
Greenwood, IN
In
the hands of some of the area’s talented young actors, the
story of “Alice in Wonderland” takes on new life.
Certainly, the beloved characters of the classic tale are all there
— the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, and of
course, Alice herself.
But
filtered through the prism of modern youth, the story can offer a
unique perspective on finding your place in the world.
“Part
of what makes ‘Alice in Wonderland’ such a beautiful story
is, on some level, it’s about finding your individuality and
where you fit,” said Mia Joelle, assistant director for Agape
Theater Company’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
The
students of Agape Theater Company’s theater practicum class
have put their spin on “Alice in Wonderland” and are ready
to present it to the community. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the
Greenwood-based theater troupe will stage the show at the Arts for
Lawrence Theater at the Fort.
"It’s
about finding your individuality and where you fit in."
  
ArtReach's Alice
in Wonderland - Agape Theatre Company,
Greenwood, IN
“When
a story has been told so many times, it comes down to how it’s
being told and who’s doing the telling,” said Ben
Frederick, director of the show. “The way this show was written,
there’s a lot more humor in it. There’s some audience
interaction, and a lot more interesting storytelling bits than just
‘Alice in Wonderland’ the play.”
Nearly
everyone is familiar with the story of “Alice in
Wonderland.” But those who have spent months putting the show
together think that this version offers an entertaining opportunity
to look at the world.
“A
lot of times, we forget that ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is
written to be a kids’ perspective on the adult world — how
everything looks a little bit ridiculous,” Frederick said.
“The whole point of this show is emphasizing that all of these
characters are in this colorful, crazy, wacky world, and they
don’t even realize it, really. None of them really appreciate
their world except Alice, the newcomer to Wonderland.
“So
we want to remind people: slow down, take your time and don’t
forget to enjoy this sometimes weird and wacky world around you.
Because it’s not forever.”
"Students
ages 8 to 18 to grow in their understanding of theater arts."
  
ArtReach's Alice
in Wonderland - Agape Theatre Company,
Greenwood, IN
Agape
Theater Company is a nonprofit organization committed to making a
positive impact in our community by providing quality,
family-friendly theater productions at a budget friendly price. The
troupe was founded by Kathy Phipps, a theater educator for more than
40 years; her intention was to give area youth the opportunity for
challenging yet fun theater experiences on the southside.
What
started as a theater ministry of Our Lady of Greenwood Catholic
Church has grown to become an award-winning program. Their production
of “Les Misérables” won the Most Impressive Youth
Theater Production of 2017 Award, while the production of “The
Tempest” won the Most Impressive Youth Theater Production of
2019 Award.
The
theater practicum class was created as a fun and safe opportunity
for students ages 8 to 18 to grow in their understanding of theater
arts. New actors will learn about the basics of stagecraft and
acting, while more experienced students will continue to develop
their performing arts skills.
Starting
in January, the class auditioned, rehearsed, and performed the
non-musical production of “Alice in Wonderland,” allowing
them to focus on character development, authentic acting,
storytelling, and teamwork, according to the group’s website.
"The
cast has made the play their own."
  
ArtReach's Alice
in Wonderland - Agape Theatre Company,
Greenwood, IN
Students
would meet for 2 1/2 hours on Monday nights at St. Roch Catholic
School on the southside.
“The
nice thing about the theater practicum class is it not only teaches
them to do a show, but it teaches them how to make a prop, how to
respond as an actor. I really like that in the context of a show
that’s so fun, because every week, you get to see them come and
be excited about learning new things,” Joelle said.
One
of the lessons was helping the students not only think about their
characters, but themselves.
“Something
we’ve worked with a lot of them on is, figuring out who their
characters are, but also who they are as actors,” Joelle said.
Over
the evolution of the show, Frederick has been consistently surprised
by how often the cast has made the play their own.
“The
kids have just taken it and absolutely ran with it. The timing, the
jokes and the way the kids execute them and make them land, it’s
incredible. Some of the funniest parts of the show are things the
kids came up with,” he said.
The
classic story told by a 28-person cast, with actors ranging from 8
to 14, in this production by Agape Theater Company.
No
Place Like Home for Actors: Kids Perform ArtReach's Wizard
of Oz
Homeschoolers'
version will benefit a local library's 90th anniversary.
By
Barbara L. Fredricksen, Tampa Bay Times FL
School
plays are part of going to school.
So,
what do you do when your school is your dining room table, and your
parents are your teachers?
You
become part of H.I.P. Performers, a drama group for homeschooled
kids from Pasco and Pinellas counties.
And
you put on a play, not only for the usual reasons - fun with others,
learning stagecraft - but also to raise money for the New Port Richey
Library, which is celebrating its 90th year.
"I
said, 'I'm going to do this for homeschoolers.'"
ArtReach's The
Wizard of Oz - Star Power Performing Arts, Uddingston UK
The
play with music is Kathryn Schultz Miller's 50-minute version of The
Wizard of Oz, done in full costume by a 31-member cast, ages 4
through 13. It will be presented at 5 p.m. Sunday at Richey Suncoast
Theatre. Tickets are $5 at the door, or, in advance, at the library.
"I
started drama classes four years ago," said Sandy Goldman, who
is a homeschool parent and director of the play. "I've always
loved drama, and I said, 'I'm going to do this for homeschoolers'."
She
wrote to Miller for permission to do the show and has been in
rehearsal for several weeks.
"It's
the simplified version, about 45 or 50 minutes long."
  
ArtReach's The
Wizard of Oz - Star Power Performing Arts, Uddingston UK
"It's
the simplified version, about 45 or 50 minutes long," she said.
"There's some music and dancing, but it's not the movie or
musical version."
Even
so, there is music.
"The
audience will recognize a few familiar songs in the show," Ms.
Goldman said. During the Munchkinland scene, for example, 8-year-old
Claire Valley will perform an Irish step dance.
The
cast includes Dana Goldman as Dorothy, John LaSpada as Scarecrow,
Everett Foisy as Tin Man, Jaron Kaplan as Lion, Seth Goldman as the
Wizard, Kate Valley as Glinda, Bailey Dohman as the Wicked Witch, Mia
Foisy as Auntie Em, Isabel Bradley as Narrator and Kevin Fisher as
the Gate Keeper.
The
cast also has 11 female Munchkins, three male Munchkins, two Living
Trees, and a five monkeys, plus several stage hands.
"This
has been a great experience for our children and their families."
 
ArtReach's The
Wizard of Oz - Star Power Performing Arts, Uddingston UK
Most
of the music is on compact disc, but Daniel Bradley will play a few
of the pieces on the piano, Ms. Goldman said.
"This
has been a great experience for our children and their
families," she said. "Everyone has worked so hard together
creating great costumes and props for our show.
"We
also love that we can give back to our community and support the New
Port Richey Library."
IF
YOU GO: 'The Wizard of Oz' Where: Richey Suncoast Theatre,
6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey
ArtReach's
The Legend of Mulan comes alive!
PEGGY
LOH ~ MY JOHOR STORIES, Malaysia
Review:
Crescendo HELP International School Performance
Having
successfully staged several shows including classics like, Oliver
Twist and Aladdin, the Arts Department at Crescendo HELP
International School embarked on an ambitious project to stage The
Legend of Mulan in 2019.
When
the global pandemic reached our shores in early 2020, this exciting
vision and all the plans for The
Legend of Mulan was however, shelved indefinitely. Then at
the start of the first school term in August 2023, the school decided
to adopt The Legend of Mulan as
a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) in a project that would involve
students and teachers from the Primary and Secondary schools.
This marked the start of an extraordinary journey as everyone was
encouraged to be part of this exciting project that needed dedicated
teams of talents to turn the plans into reality.
"Everyone
was encouraged to be part of this exciting project."
  
ArtReach's
The Legend of Mulan - Crescendo
HELP International School
The
teachers were aware that such a project required countless hours of
hard work, creativity and collaboration, and it was up to them to
lead and inspire the youngsters to contribute their best to present a
live performance on stage. This presentation would be a
collective effort of students, teachers and staff, working on its
promotion, acting on stage, playing the music, preparing the props,
managing the multi-media, sound, lighting and every detail behind the
scenes, and in every area of the production.
Students
were encouraged to attend auditions to discover their talents not
only in character roles on stage but also as musicians to form an
orchestra as well as for skills in prop-making, stage backdrop
designs and costumes.
Head
of the Arts Department, Abdul Wafi, said that this project, dubbed
the Mulan CCA, kicked off in September 2023 with the various
components working separately for one hour during CCA every Thursday.
While the directors worked with the actors and the music conductors
worked with the musicians, the prop-makers and costume-design teams,
each worked separately.
"Audience
participation encouraged the audience to join in."
  
ArtReach's
The Legend of Mulan - Crescendo
HELP International School
The
directors included teachers as well as six-formers who recently
completed their studies with the school but were passionate to work
with the team in this project. Then a week before the presentation
date, all these teams came together for rehearsals with a full-dress
rehearsal held just ahead of June 29, where two shows were staged at
11am and 2pm.
I
had the pleasure to accept the invitation from Wafi to the first
show and arrived at the school, well ahead of time so that I could
soak in the atmosphere and gear myself up to better appreciate this
live performance.
It
was good to be back at the school again and to meet with staff
members who got to know My Johor Stories when I was at the school for
their Book Week event in 2018. As I was warmly welcomed and ushered
to my seat, it was good to see many familiar faces as well as a
number of people including family members of the students who were in
the audience to support and encourage them. In the brief introduction
by the Master of Ceremony, he advised the audience to keep to their
seats and leave the central corridor free as the performers would be
using this space during their performance. He also hinted that the
performance would include an invitation for audience participation
and encouraged the audience to join in, to make the story come alive
for everyone.
"I
was impressed with the professional touch."
 
ArtReach's
The Legend of Mulan - Crescendo
HELP International School
Before
the show started, the school's effort in the Mulan CCA was shared in
a video for a glimpse of behind-the-scenes activities by some 130
students and teachers as prop-makers, costume designers and wardrobe
makers, practice sessions for musicians and the actors, as well as
the work of the stage crew and the multi-media team.
Members
of the Media Club, photographers and videographers, were in the
audience, discreetly ready to capture the moments as the show opened
with a brief synopsis of the story presented in three languages,
English, Malay and Mandarin.
As
the scenes unfolded in the familiar story on The Legend of Mulan, it
was interesting that the directors exercised dramatic license to
create characters to convey a more complete story with narration
provided by a group of 'ancestors.'
"A
good show enthralled and enjoyed by players and audience alike."
 
ArtReach's
The Legend of Mulan - Crescendo
HELP International School
It
was truly a commendable effort by the students who played their
various parts as main characters along with the many supporting roles
as well as the team of guards.
While
I observed the coordination among the teams in changing the
backdrop, moving the stage props and the music accompaniment to the
various scenes, I was impressed with the professional touch even for
a school production such as this. The performance kept the
audience engaged and entertained, especially during the vocal
rendition of familiar tunes like Reflection performed by Sam Tan Hann
and the closing song, True to Your Heart, by Brian Lo Jing Chen.
Everyone
did an excellent job and should be congratulated for putting up a
good show that enthralled and was enjoyed by both players and
audience alike. Well done!
Crescendo
HELP International School is located at PTD 204446, Jalan Lebuh
Cemerlang, Taman Desa Cemerlang, 81800 Ulu Tiram, Johor. For more
info about the school and its curriculum, visit website: chis.edu.my
Theatre
Review: 'Sleepy Hollow
Experience' at Serenbe
Atlanta
In Town, In the Loop: By Manning Harris
Serenbe
Playhouse, which thrilled us this summer with their outdoor
Woodstockian version of "Hair," has come out of their
customary fall hibernation with a delightful theatre piece called
"The Sleepy Hollow Experience." It will run through
October 31 at The Stables in Serenbe; it's based, of course, on
Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow," published in 1820.
"Flows
smoothly from comedy to horror!"
The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow by ArtReach - Serenbe Playhouse, GA
That's
the good news. The not so good news, if you'd like to go, is
that the theatregoing cognoscenti of Atlanta has made the show a
complete sellout-even before the opening night. But there's
hope! Four late night shows have been added: October 18,
19, 25, 26 at 10:30pm. The show runs just over an hour, so
that's not as late as it might seem. Be sure to check the
theatre website in case there are additional changes.
This
unprecedented popularity and confidence in the Playhouse is a
tribute to the excellence of their work and also to the vision and
expertise of their founder and Artistic Director, Brian Clowdus.
To him and to the whole Serenbe group we offer our congratulations.
"A
perfect Halloween entertainment."
The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Kathryn Schultz Miller - Serenbe
Playhouse, GA
Now
on with the show. Have you heard of the nervous schoolteacher
Ichabod Crane (Chris Mayers) and the Headless Horseman? You're
about to meet them, if you go. The story's quite well known,
but I won't supply the plot; don't want to be a spoiler.
But there's Katrina Van Tassel (Jessica Miesel), the 18-year-old
daughter of a wealthy farmer, eminently marriageable. And
there's the town bad boy, Brom Bones (Jacob Cooper), known to have a
fondness for playing pranks on the superstitious Ichabod. Two
storytellers, Laura Floyd and Brandon Connor Patrick, not only keep
the story moving but usher the audience from place to place.
All the actors look splendid, dressed in period costumes designed by
Brittany Quigley.
The
story is set in 1790 near the Dutch settlement of Tarrytown, New
York, in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow. It begins
upstairs in the stables; heavy mist and fog set in; occasionally an
apparition of a woman in white appears, usually accompanied by a
shrill scream.
Are
you beginning to perceive that "The Sleepy Hollow
Experience" is, among other things, a perfect Halloween
entertainment? It is. There's also charming, original
music composed by Jevares C. Myrick and Bobby Johnston and directed
by Seth Davis. The show is adapted from Irving's story by Kathryn
Schultz Miller. The entire production is directed by Brian Clowdus.
"Sleepy
Hollow" is what we'll call participatory theatre."
 
The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Kathryn Schultz Miller - Serenbe
Playhouse, GA
I
haven't emphasized that "Sleepy
Hollow" is what we'll call participatory theatre:
There is some audience interaction, but it's not distracting or
excessive. I was quite thrilled to suddenly find myself in
private conversation with Brom Bones; I forget what he asked me, but
it was great fun. The show "roams"; it's
"situational theatre"; but the whole piece flows smoothly
and easily from place to place, from comedy to horror!
At
the end the audience is safely corralled in the stables to allow the
Headless Horseman (we're talking real horses here) to fly by.
Is he really headless? Is he as big as Ichabod's imagination
pictures him? You'll have to wait and see. And talk about
authentic ambience-the Serenbe Stables redefines the term.
I
haven't said enough about the cast; but they're all superb-from Ms.
Floyd's lovely, powerful voice to the quite dashing Brom to the
nervous Ichabod to the coquettish Katrina to Mr. Patrick's easy charm.
As
I mentioned, the problem is tickets. If you already have them,
rejoice. If not, check the site. This year Serenbe has,
quite obviously, broken through to the other side, as Jim Morrison
would say.
Hunter
Drama is bringing Kid
Frankenstein to the Civic Playhouse in Newcastle
By
Ken Longworth: Newcastle Herald, Australian Community Media
WHEN English
novelist Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was published in 1818 she didn't
see it as being so popular that it would have many stage adaptations,
plus sequels that were written by other people.
Just five
years after it was published it received its first theatrical
treatment with Richard Brinsley Peake's Presumption! Or The Fate of
Frankenstein. Shelley attended a performance and reported that,
though she was "most amused", she thought the story was
"not well managed". And when films were initially presented
in the early 20th century a short film which kept the book's name was
made by the first film company established in the United States, a
country that subsequently developed many very different Frankenstein
films that had people very eagerly seeing them.
"Will the
brain transference work?"
Hunter Drama presents Teen
Cast of ArtReach's "Kid
Frankenstein"
In 1931, for
example, Boris Karloff, an actor who often played very demanding
people, was a monstrous creature that was as sympathetic as it was
frightening in the film Frankenstein.
And as the
film was a hit, the film company produced a sequel, Bride of
Frankenstein (1935), that also had many full houses, followed by
several other films: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of
Frankenstein (1944), and in 1948 its first comedy version Abbott and
Costello Meet Frankenstein.
As the films
attracted people of all ages, it's not surprising that an American
playwright recently adapted the story for theatre stages, with the
casts being mainly young people.
So the
play's title is Kid Frankenstein.
Hunter
Drama, a Newcastle theatre company that trains young people in acting
and other theatre activities, such as directing and writing plays, is
staging Kid Frankenstein at the Civic Playhouse, with six
performances between Thursday, April 21, and Saturday, April 23.
"The
play has many of the teens played by male or a female."
 
Hunter Drama presents Teen
Cast of ArtReach's "Kid
Frankenstein"
It is an
interesting play because the nature of the story has many of the
friends who are in their teens played by a male or a female.
And while
the play is often publicised as a just-for-kids version of Mary
Shelley's classic novel, it remains true to Shelley's original text
and has people of all ages enjoying it.
After Victor
Frankenstein discovers the secret to life in the novel and uses it to
build an eight-foot-tall monster, he realises he's made a creature
that he can't take care of - or control.
Frankenstein
and the monster chase each other across Europe, along the way
learning lessons about ambition, the effects of technology on our
lives, judging others based on looks, and the healing powers of nature.
In Kid
Frankenstein Victor is a kid scientist, Frankie Stein, who
collaborates with his friends, Irving and Helga, in creating a
monster to help them win an award at the upcoming Science Fair. The
kids sneak into the science lab to grab a monkey brain for their
monster. But it gets mixed up with the brain of little Fluffy, a
sweet puppy dog. Chaos ensues. Will the brain transference work? Can
order be restored at the Science Fair? Will the villagers storm the
kids' basement laboratory and ruin everything? And how will they
react when they see the monster?
"Will
the villagers storm the kids' basement laboratory?"
 
Hunter Drama presents Teen
Cast of ArtReach's "Kid
Frankenstein"
Kid
Frankenstein has a brisk 50-minute running time. It has been
directed by Tim Turner, who is an actor, educator and entertainer,
with a strong passion for teaching and instilling the joy of
performance in young people.
A
new twist on old Dickens
Review
of ArtReach's stage adaptation of A
Christmas Carol
By
Jenna Prewett, Washington Times-Herald, IN
The
Veale Creek Theatre is putting a new twist on an old tale this
Christmas season.
The
theatre will be presenting "A
Christmas Carol"
by Charles Dickens and adapted for the stage by Kathryn Schultz
Miller of ArtReach Children's Theatre Plays, Bradenton FL.
"It's
a new way to appreciate A Christmas Carol"
Young Cast Veale
Creek Theatre, Washington
IN
The
original Charles Dickens tale tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a
miserly old man who has spent his life being uncharitable and cruel
toward others. On the night of Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by
the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley. Marley was
greedy in life and, as a result, must wander the world in his death,
weighed down by heavy chains. He warns Scrooge that he will spend his
afterlife with the same fate, unless he changes his ways.
Throughout
the night, Scrooge is visited by three different ghosts. These
ghosts show Scrooge different aspects of his life and death in the
hope he will change his self-serving ways.
"This
musical teaches people to be kind and helpful to others," said
Colin Craig, a 10-year-old boy playing Bob Crachit, Scrooge's accountant.
This
particular adaptation of the popular novel features several
different parts for children, as well as adults. The play features
several different story tellers, including Charles Dickens and
several fairies. Popular Christmas songs are also featured in this
musical, including "Silent Night," "Joy to the
World" and "Deck the Halls."
"It's
a new way to appreciate 'A
Christmas Carol'
and get into the Christmas spirit," said Dean Dorrell, who
plays Marley's ghost.
Veale
Creek Theatre's 'A
Christmas Carol'
will run today and Nov. 29 through Dec. 1. The performances will
begin at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for
children age 12 and under. Contact Hibbett Sports at 257-0892 to
purchase tickets. Performance nights have already begun to sell out,
so it's recommended to buy tickets ahead, rather than trying to buy
them at the door.
"We
hate to turn people away, but we love to turn people away,"
said Elke Guratzch, one of the directors. "It means we've sold out."
Music
for the program will be performed by Elain Dahl, and refreshments
will be provided in the theatre after the show.
A
Thousand Cranes
By Kathryn
Schultz Miller | Directed by David Hsieh
January 13, 2018 - February 3, 2018
 The
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. The star of her school's running team, Sadako is lively and
athletic ... until the dizzy spells start. Then she must face the
hardest race of her life - the race against time. A
Thousand Cranes celebrates the courage that makes one young
woman a heroine in Japan. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, completed in
1958, has a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane. At the base is a
plaque that says: "This is our cry, this is our prayer: peace in
the world."
SECONDSTORY REPERTORY
Live Theater at the Redmond
Town Center
www.secondstoryrepertory.org
The
summer campers performing "A Thousand Cranes" are having a blast.
Grand
Rapids Herald Review
Grand
Rapids is a city that is proud of its spectacular theatre scene. At
the base of this amazing theatre presence are the youth programs
available for budding actors, costumers, tech helpers, and more. For
10 years, The Grand Rapids Players have been hosting a Summer Theatre
Kids Camp for community kids interested in the world of theatre. 60
kids will be performing "Jungle Book" and "A
Thousand Cranes" on Friday, July 22 at 7 p.m. and Saturday,
July 23 at 2 p.m. in the Reif Center.
The
camp has always aimed to teach children as much as possible about
theatre in a short three weeks; campers learn about acting, stage
directions, blocking, costuming and makeup, set design, and much more.
"It's
all about the kids, and exposing them to the entire world of
theatre," said Sharon Marty-Rasmussen, who has been a director
of the camp since its inception.
This
year, the camp is switching things up. In past years, campers only
performed one show. However, this year, the camp has split into two
separate groups, and are performing two different shows, which are
directed by Marty-Rasmussen, Jean Goad, Susie Morgan, and Taylor Eck.
Dave Martin has also contributed to the camp this year.
The
first group, which meets in the morning, will be performing Disney
Junior's musical version of "Jungle Book." The story
follows a young boy Mowgli, played by Manny Lister, who has
adventures with his animal friends in the jungle.
The
afternoon group will be performing the famous Japanese show "A
Thousand Cranes," which tells the story of a girl Sadako,
played by Lydia Mariano, who was diagnosed with leukemia in the
aftermath of the dropping of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. This
second show is a lot more serious than those the camp has tackled in
the past.
"These
guys are ready."
 
The
Grand Rapids Players, Summer Theatre Kids Camp
Marty-Rasmussen
said this decision to have two groups was about including as many
kids as possible, and letting the returning kids be challenged. The
first group will be focusing on the fundamentals of theatre, and are
performing a more lighthearted show. The second group is composed of
campers with more theatre experience, and are taking on an
emotionally complex show that is serious in tone. Those campers will
be focusing on more complex emotion, character development, and
advanced blocking.
"We
have so many kids that want to come back, so it's time to let them
move beyond," Marty-Rasmussen explained.
This
is also the first year that the camp is held daily in the Reif
Center. In the past, the camp was held in the old Grand Rapids
Players building on the south side of town, and campers moved into
the Reif for the last week of camp for a tech week. Marty-Rasmussen
said being in the Reif for the whole camp has really streamlined the process.
Kids
in both groups started rehearsing on July 5, and have learned a ton
so far about the world of theatre. All campers are looking forward to
performing for their families, friends, and community members.
The
campers performing "A Thousand Cranes" said they are
having a blast, and are learning a lot about theatre.
Students
are "learning a lot about history by doing this show."
 
The
Grand Rapids Players, Summer Theatre Kids Camp
Andrew
Kottke said he is learning a lot about history by doing this show.
He expressed interest in World War II history, and found it
interesting to learn about the tragic Japanese side of the story.
In
general, the campers in "A
Thousand Cranes" are enjoying doing a more serious show. It
is a new thing for them, and it has been very educational.
"I
just like how it's more of a serious play, it has a story with
it," explained camper Morgan Tinquist.
"It's
so sentimental," said camper Charli Seelye. "I can't wait
to make the audience cry."
The
cast of "A Thousand Cranes" is also doing a little
something special. In the show, Sadako folds 1,000 paper cranes in
the hope that her with to live would be granted. Today, people from
all around the world send paper cranes to the Children's Peace
Monument, located in Hiroshima, Japan. The cast is in the process of
folding 1,000 paper cranes, that they plan on sending to the
monument. This has been an emotional experience for the campers.
All
the campers and directors are looking forward to the performances in
the Wilcox Theatre. They all hope to see the community there at the
shows. Marty-Rasmussen has faith in all of the campers to perform two
great shows.
"These
guys are ready," she said, smiling.
Theater
Review: A Thousand Cranes
by Studio 52 at Flat Rock Playhouse
Mountain
Express, Ashville, NC
A
Thousand Cranes opens
with a stunning Kabuki theater-style dancer, who inhabits the stage
with a silent, flowing grace. The show, at times, delves into
Japanese culture and ritual, and the presence of this Kabuki Lion
Dancer amplifies the differences between our culture and theirs. Sara
Jane Killian performs this role with a poetic flourish.
"A
Thousand Cranes packs an emotional wallop."
  
Studio 52 Kids fold cranes at
Flat Rock Playhouse, Ashville, NC
The
opening sequence is a series of vignettes that brings the audience
from the humble lives of those living in Hiroshima to that fateful
day, when the bomb - known as "Little Boy" - dropped from
the Enola Gay bomber and forever altered countless innocent lives.
The opening also includes Travis Pressley as an Enola Gay officer. He
shares the reactions of the airmen who had no idea of the devastating
impact of their duty that day. It is haunting and refreshing to
experience that often-overlooked perspective.
By
the end of the opening sequence, many audience members were softly
weeping. It packs an emotional wallop. The show pivots to the mundane
day to day lives that the survivors cobble for themselves afterward.
For Sadako, reality is worrying about winning a school relay race and
playing with her friends. The normalization after such a traumatic
event is stark, and reminds us of the innocence of children. But
Sadako's youthful journey is interrupted by Leukemia (which she
develops a full decade years after the bomb decimated her family's
lives and home). Her fight to overcome the disease is often sad, but
also inspiring.
Many
of the roles are cast with actors who alternate weekends of
performance, but several play the same roles across the full run.
Andrew Johnson and Aniela Lane play Sadako's parents, and though they
are clearly too young to comprehend the span of emotions required,
they give it their all and provide a solid anchor of emotion for the show.
Nearly
two dozen young actors are a part of this production, with a dozen
more involved behind the scenes. Their ambitious production is
remarkable in its execution, and holds its own as a serious piece of
theater, youth or otherwise. These kids and their families and
friends should be proud of the powerful message they are presenting.
'Peter
Pan' sprinkles enjoyment on RRES
Nelson
County Times, Staff Reports Feb 14, 2017
Rockfish
River Elementary School had an adventure to Neverland last Thursday
as students were treated to a performance of "Peter
Pan."
"Actors
include students from second through fifth grade."
 
The Play Peter
Pan at Rockfish School, Lynchburg VA
Wendy,
Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and other legendary figures of the classic
from novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie came to life in the school's
cafeteria with plenty of laughter from the audience. Actors include
students from second through fifth grade.
Rockfish School, Lynchburg VA
The
Rockfish River Players is putting on the play this Wednesday, Feb.
15 and Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $3 at the door and
children 2 and under are free, according to the school's website.
Celebrate
season at Villagers Theatre with 'Christmas
Peter Pan'
Franklin
theater presents 'Christmas Peter Pan'
My
Central Jersey: Part of the USA Today Network
FRANKLIN
(Somerset) - Capt. Hook is at it again! No longer satisfied with
disrupting the peace in Neverland, he has decided to take a
"stab" at ruining Christmas. That is the premise of "A
Christmas Peter Pan" opening at the Villagers Theatre on
Saturday and running through Dec. 20.
Hook's
plan includes preventing Santa from making his deliveries, capturing
Peter Pan to keep him from interfering with Part One of the plan,
and, for extra-bad measure, scattering all the toys out over the
frozen North Pole landscape. Now it's up to Tinker Bell and those
darling kids, Wendy, Michael and John - with a little help from the
audience - to save the day.
"Captain
Hook is at it again!"
 
Gorton Center,
Lake Forest, IL - Christian Needs Center, LaMars IA
The
production is directed by Tina Lee and produced by Paul Carver, both
of township residents. Performances are 12 and 3 p.m. on Saturdays
and 12 p.m. on Sundays. The 12 p.m. performance on Dec. 19 is not
open to the public and is reserved for the "My Name is
Matthew" program. The purpose of the "My Name is
Matthew" program is to invite children with special needs to
enjoy the experience of live theatre.
Theatre
Experience - The Dalles Chronicle:
Columbia Gorge News
By Mark Gibson,
Dalles OR
The Dalles
Theater Company presents Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs on June 23 (6 p.m.) and June 24 (2
p.m.) at The Dalles High School auditorium. The Dalles Theater
Company will "bring to life the enchanting tale of the
beautiful, gentle Snow White and her jealous stepmother, the Queen.
Sent on a perilous journey into the woods, Snow White befriends the
forest animals and the delightful seven dwarfs in this classic
tale." Doors open half an hour before each performance.
"Performing
arts helps foster creative thinking."
The Dalles Theatre Company - Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Dalles
Theatre Company sponsored a children's performance of ArtReach's
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this weekend at The Dalles High
School Auditorium. Above, the 30-minute play climaxes with a rousing
cheer of triumph.
In an age where
performing arts, of any type, is sometimes eliminated from the
classroom - TDYTC recognizes the importance and value such a program
will have on our youth. Performing Arts helps foster creative
thinking, improve positive self-worth and instill proper etiquette
that children will use in their daily lives now and in adulthood.
TDYTC will provide a safe learning environment where theatre skills
will be all encompassing. Children will be given the opportunity to
explore ALL aspects of the art of theatre. TDYTC recognizes that not
everyone wants to be on stage. Therefore, learning set/prop building,
lighting, staging, and costuming concepts will be offered as well.
Fleetwood
Community Theatre presents The
Velveteen Rabbit
A
Christmas Musical by Margery Williams, adapted by Kathryn Schultz
Miller, on Dec. 4 and 5.
On
Christmas morning, a young boy receives, among many gifts, a stuffed
velveteen rabbit. When the little stuffed Rabbit shows up under the
tree, the other toys laugh at him. And although the little boy loves
his little rabbit, it is often overshadowed by the other toys the boy
likes better. But Skin Horse, the shabbiest and wisest toy in the
nursery, tells him to be patient. A young boys love for his toys is a
magical thing!
"The
production offers endless surprises."
Fleetwood Community Theatre
performs The Velveteen Rabbit
The
cast brings to life this innovative, creative script which is full
of lively action, comedy and tender moments! The production offers
endless surprises, including a swashbuckling adventure and a spin on
Christmas carols that will captivate audiences both young and old.
Fleetwood Community Theatre's junior cast is comprised of young
actors from all of Berks County and is directed by Debbi Silas, with
Aimee Deibert as musical director and Ashley Frankhouser as choreographer.
Fleetwood
Community Theatre is a volunteer organization of theatre lovers
currently in their 28th season. FCT is committed to the education and
development of their membership within the theatre arts program by
offering opportunities to all ages both on-stage and behind the
scenes. As an outlet of quality musical, dramatic and ensemble
productions, it encourages and supports local youth to pursue
performing arts opportunities through school, church, collegiate or
other local productions.
"Full
of lively action, comedy and tender moments."
  
Wolf Creek Collective, Cape
Coral FL
The
Velveteen Rabbit - A Christmas Musical is performed one weekend
only at the Fleetwood Area Middle School Auditorium, 407 N. Richmond
St., Fleetwood. Two performances are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4 at
7 p.m. as well as a Saturday, Dec. 5, matinee performance at 2 p.m.
Tickets are for sale. Tickets can be pre-purchased online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2444332
or by calling Fleetwood Community Theatre at 484-637-7067.
Finding
the funny: Children's 'Pinocchio'
show at Valley Center Stage gets the youth crowd's approval
by
Carol Ladwig, Snoqualmie Valley Record and Sound Publishing, Inc
Logan
Eubank is hooked. The 4-year-old is on the edge of his seat - make
that his mom's lap - watching the adventures of Pinocchio in a new
Valley Center Stage production. He grins when Lorenzo chases
Pinocchio through the audience, chirps like a cricket on cue, nods
his head vigorously in answer to "anyone want a free ride to the
Land of Toys?" and, hands to his mouth, he looks really, really
worried when Pinocchio's dad can't wake the boy-puppet up.
"Their
imaginations are so limitless," said a gratified Craig Ewing,
who plays Pinocchio's father Gepetto in the children's show opening
Feb. 7 at the North Bend community theatre. The children, a group of
Cub Scouts and their families, not only enjoyed the first full dress
rehearsal of the show last Tuesday, they also had a few suggestions
to improve it.
"This
is called an interactive show."
 
Valley Center Stage, North
Bend, WA
For
instance, several of the children thought both Pinocchio and Alberto
should stay out of the "fire" in one of the final scenes,
and nearly all of them thought Pinocchio should dance "Gangnam
Style" when he first comes to life. Just at the suggestion, a
handful of Scouts got up to demonstrate their dance moves from the
Korean pop video.
Director
Gary Schwartz, delighted with the reaction, says "It's funny, right?"
Funny
is what Schwartz wanted, which is why he invited the Scouts to watch
the rehearsal.
The
writer "just knows how to write this kind of interaction."
 
Valley Center Stage, North
Bend, WA - Gary Schwartz Director
"This
is called an interactive show," he explained to his audience,
so the actors will sometimes ask for help from the audience. Since it
was also a dress rehearsal, "sometimes we'll stop the show and
do something again, and then you can see it again, and that helps
tell us what you think is funny."
Almost
anything Hickory Cricket (Peter Cook) did was funny, and running,
dancing, and snoring all got great responses, but when Alberto was
about to send Pinocchio off to school with only a few books in his
backpack, one boy in the audience was distressed. "You forgot
his lunch!" he shouted to Alberto. "What about his lunch?!"
Unscripted
comedy and all, the actors - Ewing, Cook, Lisa and Peter Bryant and
their daughter Alex, Courtney Struelens and James Kolke as Pinocchio
- loved having a live audience to work with. "It makes it
easier with people, because we get to see what we're doing
right," said Struelens, appearing as the puppet Pepperoni,
"and (the audience) did such a great job!"
Lisa
Bryant, a veteran actor at the theater, likes the contrast between
children's shows - she was also in "Jack and the Beanstalk"
- and shows for older audiences. "There's a lot of breaking of
that 'fourth wall' with a children's show," she said, but it
takes "the same amount of focus."
"Anyone
want a free ride to the Land of Toys?"
  
Pendragon
Theatre NY - The Sauk, Jonesville MI
Hard
work, too. James Kolke, 11, as the title character, says the weeks
of rehearsal so far have been a lot of work, but he knew that going
into the auditions, having appeared in several productions of the
Valley Center Stage's traditional "A Christmas Carol."
"I
(auditioned) because I had the chance to do it," he said.
"I just felt like a kid should be Pinocchio, otherwise an adult
would have."
The
script originally called for an adult Pinocchio. Schwartz praised
the writer, Kathryn Schultz Miller, whose scripts he's used in other
shows, saying "she just knows how to write this kind of interaction."
After
the rehearsal, Schwartz and crew thanked their audience, then took
questions and educated them a little about community theatre and
production challenges. Asked where the set came from, he explained
"We used it two years ago, for 'The Emperor's New Clothes.'"
Then gesturing to Ewing, he added "Craig here was walking
around in his underwear!"
"Yeah,
you missed a good one," Ewing told the laughing crowd.
There's no need to miss this one, though. Pinocchio
opens Friday, Feb. 8 and runs for two weekends.
ArtReach's
'Hansel and Gretel'
becomes "Hannu and Kerttu' in Finland!
Theater
review: Theater Imatra's Hannu and Kerttu is a softer tale than
Grimm's brothers' version.
Here's
an english translation of Finland's Theater Imatra's production of
ArtReach's popular playscript: Children
are no longer sold, and the evil stepmother just nags. The hand
hairs still stand up wonderfully when the show is stolen from
Ulla-Maija Järnstedt's Metsännoita
The
play is not patched to ruin, but a familiar fairy tale is easily
identified. The fresh adaptation could also have updated the image of
the woman who saw her last day of use.
Hannu
(Kari Kinnari), Kerttu (Marika Märkolin) and father (Marko
Kurikka) leave for the forest, but end up on an adventure. Even
the smallest spectators can be taken to see Hannu and Kerttu of
Theater Imatra without any worries, as the hand program promises a
softer arrangement than previous versions. Gone are the evil
stepmothers, not to mention the parents who sell their children to
the witch.
"There
is no time to get bored during the Hannu and Kerttu play."
 
The
forest house presented by Ulla-Maija Järnsted attracts hungry
Hannu (Kari Kinnari)
and
Kertu (Marika Märkoli) to their gingerbread house.
The
arrangement of Kathryn Schultz Miller, performed on the Little Hiisi
stage, differs from the original, but it has not been patched to
ruin. The Atonement has been skillfully brought into the field
of understanding of the latest generation. The basic plot
of the fairy tale follows an old pattern in which Hannu and Kerttu
get lost in the forest. A cunning witch attracts hungry children to
her gingerbread house, with the intention of eating them. Eventually,
the kids win with the witch's wit, and get back home.
The
show isn't scary, but it doesn't go into sheer Disney either. The
threat of the oven still hovers over the children, and the witch's
spells lift the hand hairs up wonderfully. Satu has not
forgotten her roots. Like the storyteller Pekka Räty , who
arrives directly from 19th century Germany, is Wilhelm Grimm himself
, one of the brothers who recorded the fairy tale. The female
image needs reform.
In
an interview with Uutisvuok, Kari Kinnari, who jumped into Hannu's
overalls, said that years ago he had thought that he was too old for
child roles. The worry is futile. The small audience is not left to
marvel at the age of the duo, but lives and identifies with the
adventure. Kerttu performing Marika Note: I had to start life
as a Theater Imatra ranks convincingly. The performance does not
reveal that he has had time to practice the role with his colleagues
for a shorter period of time. It will be interesting to see what, in
addition to the children's plays by Täholi, it lends itself to.
The
performance follows the Grimmie era in its world, but costume
designer Jenna Väisänen has left Hannu and Kertu's clothing
timeless and colorful, identifiable in the child's eye.
The
most delicious character in the play is - whoever is more - than
Metsännoita, who lives in his gingerbread house. Ulla-Maija
Järnstedt's warty witch , waiting for the audience with fearful
feelings, delivers on her promises. In all his wickedness and
cunning, the witch has a weakness that Kerttu does not hesitate to strike.
In
Järnstedt's second role, the evil stepmother has tended to be a
nagging caregiver. The gender roles of old fairy tales are ill-suited
to the present day. However, you should try. Schultz Miller's
otherwise fresh adaptation is left to miss a more modern image of
women. In the roles of children, Kerttu is a more functional party
than siblings. Awakening attempts by a father walking in his
sleep make the audience laugh. According to the four-year-old theater
reviewer , the sympathetic and playful father played by Marko Kurika
is the best thing in the play.
Children
involved in the plot: Involvement in children's plays is often
necessary. Where adults unobtrusively dig into the ranks of theater
benches, the majority of children - albeit with a little excitement -
thirst for the limelight. The whole audience takes part in the
story of Hannu and Kertu. The child is surprised and excited when his
role solves puzzles and takes the plot forward.
The
audience in a theater aimed at children is direct, and courtesy
filters do not filter feedback, especially with the youngest. If it's
boring, that too is expressed. There is no time to get bored during
the Hannu and Kerttu play. Less than an hour is a great time to keep
the little audience in the trap of a fairy tale. The performance
proceeds at a brisk pace, and the muks sit as if enchanted.
A
Stage of Healing, ArtReach's 'Welcome
Home'
The
Vindicator, Warren OH
By
JUDITH DULBERGER, VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
In
1968, when Sean Devlin did his first tour of duty in Vietnam as an
18-year-old recruit, David Vosburgh, then in his early 30s, was in
New York City getting his theatrical career started.
Devlin
made the military his career for more than 20 years and has
committed much of his time recently to POW/MIA and other veterans
issues as a member and officer of Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle and
veterans advocacy group. Vosburgh continued in the theater.
Today he is president of the Arts Council of Youngstown and Mahoning
County, adjunct faculty member at YSU's college of Fine and
Performing Arts and director of The Actors' Project of Youngstown.
"I
had a hard time getting through it without crying."
 
Rolling
Thunder Inc. Ohio Chapter 4 - ArtReach's play "Welcome
Home"
Surprising
partnership
Despite
their differences, Devlin and Vosburgh say they hit it off right
from the start. They have teamed up to stage a new play. "Welcome
Home" is a story of a Vietnam veteran and his relationship
with his wife and teenage son and the memories of the war that haunt
him. The play portrays the father's wartime experiences
juxtaposed with the backdrop of the anti-war fervor of the Vietnam
era and an otherwise "life-as-usual" existence on the home front.
The
play's title speaks to the alienation felt by many Vietnam veterans
returning to the states after their tours of duty. It was a
"welcome home" with a question mark. Soldiers often were
welcomed home not as heroes but as killers.
"Welcome
Home" was written by Kathryn Schultz Miller of ArtReach's
ChildrensTheatrePlays.com in Cincinnati. Schultz Miller has also
developed a lesson plan to accompany the play for middle-school
teachers who want to fit the play and related classroom activities
into the social-studies curriculum. Although originally
intended for young audiences, the play's message and emotional appeal
transcend age and historical time. It's really the story of the
psychological impact of war on individuals and families.
Veterans
advocacy
So
where does Rolling Thunder fit into the picture?
Devlin,
president of Rolling Thunder Inc. Ohio Chapter 4, says the group is
underwriting the cost of the production. Despite public
perception, Rolling Thunder is not strictly a bikers organization.
"Motorcycles become a large part in the public's eye," says
Devlin, "because when you put motorcycles together it draws
attention." For instance, 250,000 motorcyclists participate in
Rolling Thunder's Memorial Day weekend pilgrimage to the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., each year.
But
the biker image has overshadowed the organization's purpose and
contribution, he said. "We identify ourselves as a veterans
advocacy group more than anything else, seeking the best interest of
current and future POW/MIAs and helping American veterans and their
families in need." And the basis of the organization is
public education, particularly in the schools.
"The
message and emotional appeal transcend age."
 
Rolling
Thunder Inc. Ohio Chapter 4 - ArtReach's play "Welcome
Home"
A
healing process
Devlin's
local chapter has been raising money for three years to develop a
major project to educate youths and benefit the community. Once
Devlin presented the idea of the play to the chapter's board of
directors, it took very little convincing that "Welcome
Home" was the project they had been seeking.
Devlin
stumbled upon the play more than a year ago while surfing the
Internet. With no apologies, he said, "The first time I read it,
I had a hard time getting through it without crying."
Since
then, Devlin has become the play's producer, a role that makes him
more than a little nervous. But the play itself has become a
healing process for Devlin, who suffers from post-traumatic stress
disorder, as do other Chapter 4 members who have contributed to the
stage play as technical advisers.
In
a way, the play has been a healing process for Vosburgh as well.
Vosburgh's brother, a Vietnam veteran, died four years ago. Although
not diagnosed as such, Vosburgh believes his brother died as a result
of wasting away over the past 30 years from the psychological and
mental consequences of participating in that conflict.
But
Vosburgh agreed to direct the play also because it is a good script,
and it's the kind of substantive subject matter that The Actors'
Project likes to deal with.
At
first, Vosburgh was a little reluctant to put on a play with a biker
club, but Sean Devlin's sincerity proved the hook. And, he says, the
play is not a polemic. It has no ax to grind. It is not pro- or
anti-war. "It is pro-people. ... It is a very human story."
Final
details
The
play's soundtrack and '60s-era music add to the nostalgia and vivid
memories that the play evokes for those who lived through the period.
For younger audiences, sound and music add a realistic dimension to
the story.
The
set includes original props and costumes, including army-issue
uniforms and demilitarized weapons. A 64-foot replica of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial has been constructed for the production.
The
play's main cast members include John Cox and Nick Cordova, who have
played opposite each other as brothers in Trumbull New Theatre's
productions "True West" and "Death of a Salesman."
Now they will be playing opposite each other as father and son.
Courtney Bartels, whose most recent role was as Daddy Warbucks'
secretary in Easy Street's production of "Annie," portrays
the wife and mother.
In
the News
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