Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
One week, two performances, an experience of a lifetime
 |
| Mary Bailey and Kristi McCarson in “The Princess and the Pea.” |
Children’s Stage Adventures, Inc.
33 Centre Street, P.O. Box 211, Sullivan 03445; 847-3428
www.childrensstageadventures.org
Executive directors: Rob and Lorrie Gray; board president: Kathryn Bush
Founded: 1999
Service area: Entire Monadnock Region, and 10 states including New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Annually serves 12,000 children.
Annual budget: $140,000, of which five percent from contributions
Staff: 5 full-time; 200 volunteers
To provide children with the opportunity to learn about theater arts, themselves and their abilities through the group participation involved in a live performance experience.
Making a Difference: Nonprofits and people in the Monadnock Region
Tomorrow, about 50 children from the region will gather in Keene for a week-long theater day camp offered by Children’s Stage Adventures, Inc. Now in its third year, the five-day summer program, which is held at Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center, offers youngsters age 5-16 practical experience in performing arts.
The children will begin preparing for a performance of the classic fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea.” During the week, they’ll learn lines, dances and songs for two public performances August 15.
“Our goal is always to have the children do the most professional production,” said Lorrie Gray, executive co-director of Children’s Stage Adventures. “It’s not like a school play. It’s not acting class. It’s more like a performance activity. They also participate in other activities, like music and dance. They learn the play and enjoy other arts activities.”
Much needs to be accomplished in a short time. With the help of theater professionals, children quickly learn to perform on stage.
“We’re very hands-on. We get up and do,” said Gray. “We don’t talk about the idea of what ladies-in-waiting do (in “The Princess and the Pea”). We do what ladies-in-waiting do.”
Among this season’s campers are members of the Cordell family of West Chesterfield. Ayla, 11, and Gigi, 12, participated in the program for the past two years, and have returned once more. Joining them this summer is sister Alize, 16, and brother Deniz, 22, the piano accompanist for the production.
“All four of my kids are involved this time,” said mother Ege Cordell. “They give children opportunities to perform on stage and to make friendships. It’s a different style of children’s theater. It’s very integrated. Everyone’s on stage. Everyone’s working together.”
She added, “It’s only a week. It’s a really quick process, but the kids have time to get to know each other. It’s a ‘no fear’ kind of concept. My daughters had fun every time.”
Camp expenses are underwritten, in part, by a grant from the Agnes Lindsay Trust, a Manchester-based charity. Campers pay $75 tuition for the week.
During the year the nonprofit, which was founded nearly a decade ago by theatre professionals Rob and Lorrie Gray, who live in Sullivan, also conducts week-long onsite theater experiences directly to youth in grades K-12 in schools, performance centers and community organizations throughout the country.
Those residency programs are led by actors and youth theater arts educators. The nonprofit provides the script, professionally designed costumes and sets. The client supplies the children, rehearsal and performance space, piano accompanist and temporary housing for the two staff members.
Participating youngsters audition for 50-60 roles in an original musical or comedy based on traditional children’s stories. Also included are theater arts enrichment workshops on topics such as puppetry, mime and improvisation. Five days later, rehearsals culminate in a live, public performance.
In 2007, the group facilitated 65 week long in-house theater programs for schools and organizations throughout the country. About 9,000 children engaged in theater workshops, while more than 3,000 youngsters appeared on stage in musical productions before live audiences.
Local participating schools and communities included Marlborough, Nelson, Westmoreland, Hillsboro and the Claremont Opera House, among others. The nonprofit, which appears on the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts’ roster of approved artists and touring artists in education, also worked last year in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“We go to a wide range of communities,” said Gray. “Most of our schools are very rural. We give an under-served population the opportunity to participate in theater arts.”
“We go to so many places where kids don’t even go to the movies,” she said. “To be in a large performance is a big deal. It’s an accessible and affordable opportunity for schools and communities to have their kids participate in live theater.”
Besides gaining performance skills, children form friendships and grow in self-confidence.
“There’s a sense of community, of camaraderie,” said board member P.J. Cooke. “Kids’ favorite part is that they love working with their friends for a week.”
“We give kids who may not be good at sports or other things opportunities to be successful,” she said.
“It gives kids the drive and confidence to try new things at school,” said Cooke. “Someone’s a discipline problem in the classroom, and suddenly, here they are successful. It changes people’s self-perceptions and others’ perceptions of them.”
The public is invited to The Princess and The Pea Friday, Aug. 15, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the recital hall of the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College. Tickets are available at the door.
~ Joan Geary
“Making a Difference,” a weekly feature, is a collaborative project of The Keene Sentinel and Giving Monadnock, which seeks to raise public awareness of the role of nonprofit agencies in the Monadnock Region. For more information, e-mail info@givingmonadnock.org or call 357-7171.
The children will begin preparing for a performance of the classic fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea.” During the week, they’ll learn lines, dances and songs for two public performances August 15.
“Our goal is always to have the children do the most professional production,” said Lorrie Gray, executive co-director of Children’s Stage Adventures. “It’s not like a school play. It’s not acting class. It’s more like a performance activity. They also participate in other activities, like music and dance. They learn the play and enjoy other arts activities.”
Much needs to be accomplished in a short time. With the help of theater professionals, children quickly learn to perform on stage.
“We’re very hands-on. We get up and do,” said Gray. “We don’t talk about the idea of what ladies-in-waiting do (in “The Princess and the Pea”). We do what ladies-in-waiting do.”
Among this season’s campers are members of the Cordell family of West Chesterfield. Ayla, 11, and Gigi, 12, participated in the program for the past two years, and have returned once more. Joining them this summer is sister Alize, 16, and brother Deniz, 22, the piano accompanist for the production.
“All four of my kids are involved this time,” said mother Ege Cordell. “They give children opportunities to perform on stage and to make friendships. It’s a different style of children’s theater. It’s very integrated. Everyone’s on stage. Everyone’s working together.”
She added, “It’s only a week. It’s a really quick process, but the kids have time to get to know each other. It’s a ‘no fear’ kind of concept. My daughters had fun every time.”
Camp expenses are underwritten, in part, by a grant from the Agnes Lindsay Trust, a Manchester-based charity. Campers pay $75 tuition for the week.
During the year the nonprofit, which was founded nearly a decade ago by theatre professionals Rob and Lorrie Gray, who live in Sullivan, also conducts week-long onsite theater experiences directly to youth in grades K-12 in schools, performance centers and community organizations throughout the country.
Those residency programs are led by actors and youth theater arts educators. The nonprofit provides the script, professionally designed costumes and sets. The client supplies the children, rehearsal and performance space, piano accompanist and temporary housing for the two staff members.
Participating youngsters audition for 50-60 roles in an original musical or comedy based on traditional children’s stories. Also included are theater arts enrichment workshops on topics such as puppetry, mime and improvisation. Five days later, rehearsals culminate in a live, public performance.
In 2007, the group facilitated 65 week long in-house theater programs for schools and organizations throughout the country. About 9,000 children engaged in theater workshops, while more than 3,000 youngsters appeared on stage in musical productions before live audiences.
Local participating schools and communities included Marlborough, Nelson, Westmoreland, Hillsboro and the Claremont Opera House, among others. The nonprofit, which appears on the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts’ roster of approved artists and touring artists in education, also worked last year in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“We go to a wide range of communities,” said Gray. “Most of our schools are very rural. We give an under-served population the opportunity to participate in theater arts.”
“We go to so many places where kids don’t even go to the movies,” she said. “To be in a large performance is a big deal. It’s an accessible and affordable opportunity for schools and communities to have their kids participate in live theater.”
Besides gaining performance skills, children form friendships and grow in self-confidence.
“There’s a sense of community, of camaraderie,” said board member P.J. Cooke. “Kids’ favorite part is that they love working with their friends for a week.”
“We give kids who may not be good at sports or other things opportunities to be successful,” she said.
“It gives kids the drive and confidence to try new things at school,” said Cooke. “Someone’s a discipline problem in the classroom, and suddenly, here they are successful. It changes people’s self-perceptions and others’ perceptions of them.”
The public is invited to The Princess and The Pea Friday, Aug. 15, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the recital hall of the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College. Tickets are available at the door.
~ Joan Geary
“Making a Difference,” a weekly feature, is a collaborative project of The Keene Sentinel and Giving Monadnock, which seeks to raise public awareness of the role of nonprofit agencies in the Monadnock Region. For more information, e-mail info@givingmonadnock.org or call 357-7171.
Share this Article
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of sentinelsource.com.
