Our MITE-Y Past
2022-2023 Season:
We changed rehearsal venues and added new performance places! "A World to Shake", performed in May at the Woodlawn library and Dartmouth's gorgeous Sanctuary Arts Centre, raised hundreds of dollars for various organizations!
We were also thrilled to be invited to perform Pete Seeger's Abiyoyo and
The Hammer Song in support of the Helen Creighton Folklore Society in October!
2021-2022 Season:
Back doing live performances and reaching out to help our community, PLUS recording in the studio AND virtually, we had the best of both worlds this season!
Presented in partnership with Halifax Public Libraries,
the cast of So, You Think You Can Sync?
performed 2 shows to joyful and grateful audiences on June 25th,
collecting over 130 kgs of food and $140 for Feed Nova Scotia!
2020-2021 Season:
Really?! We were still virtual?!! YEP!
We valued our old friendships and made new ones,
honing our improv, music, puppetry, acting and teamwork skills
while creating our biggest season yet with 7 shows!!
2019-2020 Season:
Even during quarantine, our MITE Spotlight groups were busy making videos!
MITE Spotlight 1 "Freely Imagined" lots of amazing adventures
without even leaving their rooms,
Spotlight 2 created the Stuff at Six Newscast (and more) with Kitty and Kris,
and the Spotlight 4 group shared 50 Ways to Help Your Neighbour on the
Ultimate Online Nova Scotia Kitchen Party!
And, before seniors' residences were closed to visitors,
We were In the Mood to Sing, Sing, Sing with seniors at 3 different places
with our Old Time Radio Show!
2018-2019 Season:
June 28th and 29th, a cast of 25 youth played A Midsummer Extreme to standing room only crowds at the Woodlawn Library auditorium. 57 kgs of food and $40 raised for Feed Nova Scotia, and 2 standing ovations!
December, 2018
MITE brought the stories of Peter and the Wolf and
How the Grinch Stole Christmas to life!
In partnership with the Second Chances Community Band and Dartmouth Players!
Also in December...
A MITE-Y Seasonal Showcase!
7:00 p.m., December 10th, 2018 at the Sawmill Playhouse
Over 45 MITE participants performed songs, scenes, theatre games, and more!
2017-2018 Season:
Oh, BOOK-LOVERS, did we have a SHOW for YOU!
Stakes were HIGH as some of literature's most BELOVED characters RACED for
the chance to write their OWN stories!
Which unlikely TEAM DEFIED detours, speed bumps and U-tunes (Unintended musical numbers)
to arrive FIRST at the finish line?!
WHO delivered the final QUOTE and WON their FREEDOM as we Watched Our Words?!
2016-2017 Season:
A MITE-Y spARC: An Evening of Social Justice Songs
MITE and project ARC youth came together with friends to sing in support of social justice for all.
June 13th, 2017
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
A Seasonal Singalong In the Circle
with our Friends at Parkland By the Lakes
Seasonal songs, old and new, with lemonade and a cookie or two!
Thursday, December 1, 2016 2:00 p.m.
Devised Theatre Workshops
Local actor, Kat McCormack, presented Devised Theatre workshops for MITE-Y Creative
and Brush Up Your Shakespeare (and Improv) groups on Monday, November 28th.
Workshops presented with the support of Theatre Nova Scotia's PERFORM program.
Our 2015-2016 season:
A Swingin' Season: our Christmas offering for the residents of Parkland By the Lakes,
MITE'S Pretty Annual Variety Show in April, and...
The Virtualian Venture!
Our 2014-2015 season:
1 Christmas Concert, 1 Variety Show, & 4 performances of Shakespeare's Scattered Jewels at
Woodlawn Library, Saint Mary's University and Parkland At the Lakes!
Post-Show Fun after our Film Noir-Inspired Shakespeare Mash-Up Show in June...
Our 2013-2014 Season:
June 6th and 7th, 2014,
Woodlawn Public Library
and...
June 19th and 20th, 2014,
Maritime Conservatory
of Performing Arts
Our 2012-2013 Season:
MITE would like to thank the Nova Scotia Home Education Association for providing unsolicited funding for script printing, photo board creation and costumes for
World Wide Open!
Thanks also to Sobeys Panavista for providing free rehearsal space all year!
June 21st and 22nd, 2013, Woodlawn Public Library
Our MITE-Y Merry Musical Evening in December
Fun rehearsing for Hot, Hot, Hot dance performed for
Dartmouth All-City Bands Pops Night - March 2013
Our 2011-2012 Season:
June 23rd, 2012, Woodlawn Public Library
and, in March 2012, we began our tour of project ARC, which would run for 8 years, raising tens of thousands of dollars for various organizations.
Our 2010-2011 Season:
Featuring the youth of MITE-Y Action - June 2011
Home School Musical 2: Special Science Edition
Our MITE-Y Meeting!
We were honoured to present the amazing Dr. Jane Goodall with a copy of our MITE-Y Folk CD, together with the first 2 pages of MITE-Y Fun's June musical Home School Musical 2: Special Science Edition, in which Dr. Jane is a character. Dr. Jane was in Halifax to promote her Roots and Shoots program - a program that encourages youth to help humans, animals and the environment.
Dr. Goodall is truly one voice that has made a world of difference!
Our MITE-Y attempt!
On February 1oth, 2011, 39 participants and many helpers gathered between MITE classes to help Recreation Nova Scotia and over 15,000 other Nova Scotians break the
World Record for Snow Angels!
Fun Times!
A MITE-Y Merry Musical Afternoon at Woodlawn Public Library!
The MITE-Y Action and MITE-Y Fun groups performed to a standing-room-only crowd at Woodlawn library this December! Traditional carols and poems, together with a chance for families to add their voices to the fun during the seasonal singalong blended into a musical, merry afternoon before Christmas. The audience was treated to beautiful instrumental pieces, a tap dance, humorous sketches, poetic recitations, original compositions, engaging big-screen visuals and an adventure in the North Pole, complete with Santa Claus and elves
- all offered by youth aged 8 to 19.
Our 2009-2010 Season:
Love Scenes: The Musical
(performed in June 2010)
and the...
MITE-Y Folk CD Launch Celebration
MITE (Meaningful, Intelligent, Theatrical Entertainment) for Families held a CD launch celebration at Alderney Gate Public Library. The talented group of young people, led by Janice Cruddas, put on a wonderful showcase of musical theatre. Proceeds from the CD will be used to support Hope for Wildlife. The organization's Director, Hope Swinimer, was on hand to thank the group and to introduce a few of her charges from the wildlife rehabilitation centre.
Congratulations to MITE-Y Folk on the launch of this great CD.
(from Snap Dartmouth, April 2010)
Our 2008-2009 Season:
J-Tel Presents...Canadian Folk Songs Super-Hits Sound Explosion!
Young theatre group to perform family folk music show at fringe festival
Halifax News Net
By Kate Watson – The Weekly News
Kenny Rogers may not know it, but he has been instrumental in bringing a play to this year’s Atlantic Fringe Festival.
Janice Cruddas, the creator of J-Tel Presents ... Canadian Folk Songs Super-Hits Sound Explosion, was searching for an idea for a show that would be suitable for the 22 young performers from MITE (which stands for Meaningful, Intelligent Theatrical Education) — the theatre group she runs for home-educated youth — when she turned on the television.
“One night, I couldn’t sleep and there was this country hits collection infomercial on TV with Kenny Rogers hosting and — voila!”
The idea led to the creation of a musical show that has various Canadian folk music icons shilling a 30 CD collection. It’s a satirical look at infomercials and the “raise-a-perfect-child” craze with the special added bonus of traditional and original Canadian folk songs sprinkled throughout.
“Last year, MITE did a timeline of Canadian history from the First Peoples to the Vikings to Lester Pearson and the Maple Leaf flag, and I incorporated all that we’d explored that year into a musical: Home School Musical: Special Canadian History Edition,” explains Cruddas, adding that she’s definitely got a “thing” for long titles.
"So this year, I wanted to still put Canadian history front and center, but needed a different angle. My husband’s uncle had sent me this great CD of Canadian folk music last year and I’d never heard some of the songs before, so I thought ‘This is what we’ll do!’”
Cruddas says that while the group is a mix of experienced and first-time performers, the spirit of growth, support and teamwork that is the backbone of MITE has allowed the newer actors to blossom.
Fifteen-year-old Emily Stuart has only been a member of MITE for a year, but will be front and centre in the show as folk singer “Stuffy Bait Marie.”
“We’re like a really big family, so rehearsals for this show have been really fun, but I’m pretty nervous about opening night,” she says.
She describes the show as having some pretty funny parts, and as something people of all ages will like.
“It’s a real family show, and it can be really hard to find something you can take kids to. But this will make them laugh, and it’s shorter, so they’ll sit through it.
“I tell everyone they should come!”
IF YOU GO
J-Tel Presents … plays at the Neptune Studio Theatre on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m., Friday, Sept. 11 at 5:50 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 at the door.
Our 2007-2008 Season:
HOME SCHOOL MUSICAL
Special Canadian History Edition
performed for family and friends in June, 2008
It was an honour for some members of MITE to sing at the dedication of Nova Scotia's first peace pole in Seaforth at the Hope for Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in September 2008. The Peace Pole displays the phrase "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in six different languages. For more info, click here.
Playing for the Right to Play
More than 60 young performers take part in benefit concert
By ANDREA NEMETZ Entertainment Reporter
Fri. Nov 21 - 4:46 AM
Though this is her third year raising money for the world’s most vulnerable children through the Kids Play for Kids Right to Play concert, Adrienne Richey can’t hide her admiration for Craig Kielburger, the founder and chair of Free The Children.
"He lectured on child labour at the Rebecca Cohn and it got my mind going," says the 16-year-old Dartmouth girl.
"I became really aware that children should have the opportunity to be kids, not child soldiers or kids who work in sweatshops. They should have a chance at life and it’s something I should support."
Home-educated Richey, who plays flute in the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and also plays piano and viola, is one of more than 60 young performers who will be taking part in the concert on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall, 6199 Chebucto Rd. in Halifax.
Hosted by CBC’s Olga Milosevich and organized by MITE (Meaningful, Intelligent, Theatrical Entertainment) for Families, proceeds from this year’s concert will go to Right to Play and to purchase books for toddlers of tenants of Supportive Housing for Young Mothers in Dartmouth.
Also performing are: vocalists Tia Andriani and Tringa Rexhepi, Arielle Legere, Smooth Ease and the Trebled Youth Choir; flutists Amelia Bruce and Madison Bruce; cellist Maia Bruce; pianists Andrew Coll, Emily Coll and Josh Cruddas; guitar player Michael Robson; Brenden and Taryn Krochko on pipes and drums; dancers Hannah Mae Cruddas and Danielle Keating as well as dancers from the Leica Hardy School of Dance and the Russian Souvenir Dancers from Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and theatrical entertainment from MITE for Families.
Heather Sliming, 14, will be demonstrating theatre games, showing ways kids can play.
"It’s really special to me, because I’m a kid. Kids do want the right to play. It’s really cool that I can help," says the Grade 9 student at Sir Robert Borden Junior High School in Dartmouth.
Josh Cruddas, 17, notes he’s had the luxury of being able to play piano, do professional theatre and play soccer, things many kids halfway across the world could never dream of.
At the concert, Cruddas, who’s also starring in Dartmouth Players’ Crazy For You, on till Nov. 29, will be playing piano. "We’ve got music from a lot of different genres. Smooth Ease will sing Mr. Sandman and Bridge Over Troubled Water and Trebled Youth will sing I’ll Be Seeing You. There’s a song from the musical Ragtime and at the end of the show, I’ll do the song that was written for the play Do The Right Thing. I did the music and my mum (Janice Cruddas) did the lyrics.
"I’m a bit more apprehensive doing something I’ve written, but it will be great to perform something no one has heard before," says the part-time Dalhousie student.
Adrienne will duet on flute with Michael Robson on guitar playing Theme and Variation by Chopin. "There will be a little bit of nerves, but once it’s done it will be a relief and I’ll hang out backstage — it gets really loud backstage."
She says it’s important for kids to support organized charities.
"You become less selfish, more aware of the world around you. I love the fact it’s kids helping kids with a little adult help."
Tickets for the two-hour show (including intermission) that is followed by a reception are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. To reserve, call 433-0887.
Our 2006-2007 Season:
Our 2007 Kids Play for Kids' Right To Play Concert:
LILIAN PIERCEY CONCERT HALL: Right to Play, hosted by CBC's Olga Milosevich, some of metro's most talented youth perform in support of Kids Play for Kids Right To Play and the School of Dance of MCPA. Tickets are $10, $12 at the door. Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. 6199 Chebucto Rd.
Our wonderful performers (see list below) received a five-minute standing ovation!
PERFORMERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
MITE for Families
SAINTS ALIVE! Improv Saints
Adrienne Richey
Tia Andriani and Drew O'Hara
Dominic LaCombe
Lauren AuCoin, Becky Regan, Andrew MacDonald
Leica Hardy School of Dance
Andrew Coll
Geordie Brown
Chris O'Hara and Graeme Stewart
Russian Souvenir Dancers
MCPA School of Dance
Emily Coll
Michael Robson
Trebled Youth
Heather Sliming
Josh Cruddas
Our 2005-2006 Season:
A poster from our first concert in support of Right To Play, produced in association with KidPower Roots&Shoots. The debut 2006 concert was a great success, so we did two more!
Thanks to funding from the Imperial Oil Foundation, the members of MITE for Families (Meaningful, Intelligent, Theatrical Entertainment) will perform their “Wacky,Wonderful World of Words” program at all branches. The group is made up of Janice Cruddas and three of her children, 16-year-old Josh, 11-year-old Emma and 8-year-old Amelia.
“Everything we do in this program is related to literacy and generating a love of reading,” says Janice. “Words are the centre of our program and we try to involve our audience as much as possible.” Audience members can expect a lively performance featuring singing, dancing, puppets, fables and lots of laughter.
“Literacy, reading and words are all really fun, and we don’t want parents or children to lose sight of that,” says Josh. “Literacy is about so much more than just pulling out a book,” adds Janice. “It’s about playing with language and having fun with the world of words.”
Our 2004-2005 Season:
Our 2003 - 2004 Season:
2004's A Wee Drop of Aesop was our 2nd Atlantic Fringe Festival Show and the first show MITE Theatre produced!
Below is part of an article that appeared in the Halifax Chronicle Herald in 2003.
This performance spawned the creation of MITE for Familes, which later became MITE Theatre.
