 April 22 - May 2 at N4th Theater
Rehearsals begin week of Feb 15
Godspell Jr. by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Children of Eden, Wicked) draws from various theatrical traditions, such as clowning, pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville. This “junior” version, reinvented to feature young voices and to condense playing time, is based on the groundbreaking reflection on the life of Jesus, and conveys universal messages of kindness, tolerance and love. It features the international hit song “Day By Day.”
Enrollment in Godspell Jr. includes training in Musical Theater via master classes taught by local experts. Casting: 13 roles, ages 13-19 April 22 - May 2 at N4th Theater (performed in rep with Godspell Jr.)
Rehearsals begin week of Feb 15
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, four English children (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) accidently discover a magic land called Narnia that lies through and beyond an ordinary wardrobe. They find that the wicked White Witch has been holding all Narnia in perpetual winter. A quest to meet the mighty lion Aslan ensues, and complications arise when Edmund betrays his siblings. This action-packed one-act play features chases, duels, and daring escapes as the Witch schemes to keep Narnia in her possession. Along the way, a host of Narnians appear: the unicorn, the centaur and other forest creatures, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Tumnus the faun, and Father Christmas. This adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic fantasy of love, faith, and courage affirms the triumph of good over evil.
Enrollment in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe includes training in fantasy makeup, stage combat, and dialects.
Casting: about 20 roles, ages 8-16
 (in development for July 2010)
Even surrounded by dozens of toys, Milo is bored. Nothing interests him at all. The Demons of Ignorance are certain he will be their next victim, telling him: “If you get the urge to do anything — don’t. It could be dangerous.” To the rescue comes the Phantom Tollbooth! Norton Juster’s beloved children’s book is given full musical treatment in this stage version of a boy who must save the princesses Rhyme and Reason and reunite the brother Kings who rule over the cities of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. Aided by a trusty time-keeping dog, Tock, Milo successfully brings harmony to the Land of Wisdom and learns many things about words and numbers along his journey. Perhaps the most important lesson he takes with him, however, is that everything we learn has a purpose and whatever we do affects everything and everyone. When he returns home, he realizes there is never a reason to be bored in a world full of so many things to discover. This inventive musical features a melodious score by Arnold Black and witty lyrics full of wordplay by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony winner Sheldon Harnick ("Fiddler on the Roof", "She Loves Me"). Casting: 30 children ages 8-14  (in development)
Training students in comedic acting and modern dance.
About the play: Mother Goose is no fool. As soon as she hears that real werewolves are in the show, she makes a break for it. Or tries to. After the carnage, four zany characters remain -- a witch, a prince, a wolf, and a fairy godmother -- who resolve that the show must go on, and so they preposterously act out their own versions of “Sleeping Beauty.” A savvy satire featuring a large cast and random dance breaks -- including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” -- Mother Goose is Eaten by Werewolves will entertain kids and adults alike. Read the play here.
Casting: 30 children ages 10-17
 The loopy fun and the darker corners of J.M. Barrie's original novel come to life in this faithful, fast-moving adaptation. When the carefree and careless Peter Pan flies into the nursery of the Darling home, Wendy follows her instincts for maternity and adventure, bringing her little brothers along to the magical Neverland to take care of the motherless Lost Boys. Soon the Darling children are swept into Peter's deadly battle with Captain Hook and his mostly-fearsome pirate crew. Read the play here. Casting: 6 m, 7f, 13 either (16-40 actors possible)  Says Jason Robert Brown (composer-lyricist of the critical smash “Parade” and the new Broadway show "13") of his gripping revue: “It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back.” Brown transports his audience to a variety of settings and situations -- from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue -- and introduces a startling array of characters -- from a young man who knows that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams and a soulless marriage. These are stories and characters of today, the songs for a new world. Conceived as an electrifying evening of song and dance, the show will feature a multi-ethnic ensemble cast delivering compelling musical monologues as well as powerhouse production numbers. The contemporary score runs the gamut of today’s popular music, ensuring that “Songs For A New World” will bring the next generation to the theatre.
Casting: 13 roles, ages 13-19
 (in development)
As this fun-filled musical unfolds, we share with Tom and his friends all of the rollicking and heart-stopping adventures that we find in Twain's masterpiece, whether it's Tom tricking his friends into white-washing the fence ("Smart Like That"), crossing swords with schoolmaster Lemuel Dobbins ("Hey, Tom Sawyer"), getting lost in McDougal's Cave ("Angels Lost"), or taking on the Reverend Sprague in church ("In The Bible"). Filled with foot-stomping, toe-tapping songs by Don Schiltz ("The Gambler"), and a warm, funny book by Ken Ludwig ("Crazy For You," "Lend Me A Tenor"), The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer is a tale of thrilling escapes, comedy and inspiration for the whole family. Casting: 8 boys, 5 girls, 9 men, 6 women
 (in development)
In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids, Imogene, Ralph, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys. Probably the most inventively awful kids in history, the Herdmans had a reputation for stealing lunches, smoking cigars (even the girls), and beating up every kid in town. You won't believe the mayhem -- and the fun -- when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on! Based on the bestselling book by Beth Robinson.
Casting: 4 men, 6 women, plus 8 boys and 9 girls  (in development) The Children's Literature Association named this "the best American children's book of the past two hundred years," and Joseph Robinette, working with the advice of E.B. White, has created a play that captures this work in a thrilling and utterly practical theatrical presentation. All the enchanting characters are here: Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately wants to avoid the butcher; Fern, a girl who understands what animals say to each other; Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed; the Zuckerman family; the Arables; and, most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be "a true friend and a good writer." Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign with the "miracle" of her web in which she writes, "Some pig." It's the beginning of a victorious campaign which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte. This is a beautiful, knowing play about friendship. Casting: 7m, 9w, flexible ensemble group  This powerful adaptation, supported by a lyrical score, focuses the humor, warmth and emotional intensity of Katherine Paterson's Newbery Award winning novel. Jesse, alienated from the pragmatism of his family and rural Virginia culture, draws and dreams of becoming something special. Leslie, the new girl from the city and the ultimate outsider, opens a world of imagination, art and literature for him. Together they create Terabithia, a fantasy kingdom where they are safe from those who don't understand them. Their friendship grows as Jesse's world expands. When tragedy strikes, the strength gained in Terabithia takes Jesse forward on his own and lets him share the magic of his dreams. Casting: 3m, 6f, extras  (in development)
Mowgli the humanchild grows up in the Jungal, raised by wolves under the guidance of Baloo the bear. The tiger Sherakhan killed the parents and wants the boy's flesh, but Bagheera the lone panther protects him. Mowgli grows up wild and unconcerned, believing he's a wolf; but the Tiger works long and hard to poison the wolfpack against him. With rope stolen from the human village, Mowgli meets and destroys Sherakhan; but his use of "manthing" has broken Jungal Law. Mowgli must choose whether to defy the Law or leave the Jungal forever. This dramatization places the jungle of India on a children's playground. The unit set is a jungle-gym; the animals are costumed as playground characters. The dialogue and action refer to the jungle, but the play draws color and style from a child's intense world of playfulness, loyalty, adventure, and betrayal. Casting: 15 roles, gender various Teen Triple Threat CompetitionWhere: TBA
When: winter break 2008-09 or 2009-10 Partner Organization: open A week long training for teens who sing, dance, and act. The expereince culminates with a live show, much like "american Idol" in which the young performers demonstrate both ensemble and solo talents. Awards are given to the superior students in each category as well as the top award for all around "Top Triple Threat."
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