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Hey Kids! Tell us which shows to do!
Hey Kids! We’re planning our summer workshop schedule and want to hear from you! Tell us which shows you’d most like us to do. Here’s a list of shows we’re considering to get this party started: Xanadu, Emmet Otter, Shrek, Into the Woods, Pirates of Penzance, Music Man, Bugsy Malone. If there’s anything else you’d like to suggest, please sing out Louise! To make sure your voice is heard, simply add a comment!
December 11th, 2010 more comments blog DetailsThe single most memorable event from JTF 2011
The 2011 Junior Theater Festival has come to a close. I’m giddy to report it was our best yet. Despite unbelievable weather challenges only one group cancelled. A special shout out must go to Booth Bay who made it to the festival despite double digit snow fall, having to split their group onto different flights, and leaving from different airports in different cities. Despite this travel madness their directors, parents and kids went out of their way to tell us it was all worth it. Festival highlights for me include seeing many different productions of FLAT STANLEY JR. during adjudications, Jeanine Tesori’s main stage presentation in which she got all 2,200 people singing in an on-the-spot created counterpoint that featured a pop tune, the ever popular “na-na-na-na naaaa-na” and the Hallelujah chorus, and Tom Schumacher’s keynote. It was what happened in the question and answer session after Tom’s keynote that is the most memorable event of the festival. A young man roughly 12 years old joined Tom on the stage. He asked if Tom had ever been made fun of because he was a boy who did theater. Tom’s answer was brilliant. Tom told the boy that bullies accomplish nothing. Bullies
January 19th, 2011 more comments blog DetailsFALL 2011 ALL STARS IN SESSION
Fall is harvest time at iTheatrics. Check out how you can make your fall a thriller!
October 16th, 2011 one comments blog DetailsVandercook Lake Middle School/High School: Jackson, MI
“NBC’s ‘SMASH’: MAKE A MUSICAL” Vandercook Lake Middle School/High School Jackson, MI Reported by: Cynthia Ripley, iTheatrics Senior Education Associate, Resident Master Teacher September 28, 2012 I love watching students articulate their feelings about artistic experiences. After our “NBC’s ‘Smash’: Make a Musical” workshop at Vandercook Lake Middle School/High School in Jackson, Michigan, I had the pleasure of listening to student interviews, led by a reporter from news station WILX, the local NBC affiliate. When a student named Tricia was asked what being involved in musical theater meant to her, Tricia replied, “I love it because it is a place where you can just be yourself. It’s a group that will love you and take care of you.” Meanwhile, another Vandercook student named Chad told the reporter that through theater, “I have become more open to people. It is much easier to be friendly and nice.” I marvel at the honesty kids are able to reveal with a microphone and a stranger. Finally, another student named Nate summed up the importance of the arts by adding, “When the school day is tough and I need to escape, I go to rehearsal with this big family and my day is immediately 100 times
October 22nd, 2012 zero comments NBC's SMASH Make A Musical, Uncategorized, blog DetailsBeaver Falls Area Middle School: Pittsburgh, PA
“NBC’s ‘Smash’: Make A Musical” Beaver Falls Area Middle School Pittsburgh, PA Reported by: Cynthia Ripley, iTheatrics Senior Education Associate, Resident Master Teacher September 26, 2012 It’s a given. Football is big in western PA, and Beaver Falls is no exception. With Joe Namath as their hometown hero, the folks in Beaver Falls can lay claim to their own NFL legend. My initial meeting with this enthusiastic team from Beaver Falls Area Middle School, composed of Yvonne Sterrett, Len Cersosimo and Terri Hunkler, overlooked a new, state-of-the-art athletic field. This dedicated team hopes for the “NBC’s ‘Smash’: Make a Musical” opportunity to change the lives of their students. Arts programs have been drastically cut with no musical theater performance opportunities until high school. I immediately thought of the discussion Freddie Gershon had with his friend Stephen Sondheim when they first formulated the concept of Broadway Junior in the mid-1990s. If quality musical theater as an American art form is to survive in this country, it has to be accessible to school-age children. These teachers are dedicating their lives to make it happen in Beaver Falls; they are dedicated to helping the community and administration understand that ALL teams can win in
October 4th, 2012 zero comments NBC's SMASH Make A Musical, Uncategorized, blog DetailsDesert Wind Elementary School: El Paso, TX
“NBC’s ‘Smash’: Make A Musical” Desert Wind Elementary School El Paso, Texas Reported by: Cynthia Ripley, iTheatrics Senior Education Associate, Resident Master Teacher September 21, 2012 Wow. It took one long trip to get to the Desert Wind School in the desert of El Paso, Texas. This community is just a stone’s throw to New Mexico and Juarez, Mexico. Desert Wind is one of the 10 schools that America voted to win our fall 2012 “NBC’s ‘Smash’: Make a Musical” project. As the young, dynamic project leader, Krystal Mata drove me to the school, which seems to rise out of the scorched earth. It was quite obvious that her excitement would radiate to her team and kids. Remote as Desert Wind School was, there was nothing but the most beautiful feeling of vibrancy as I walked past the life size Blue Colt mascot and entered the front door. The students greeted me with such enthusiasm, “Hello, Miss. Can we start, Miss? Are you from New York, Miss? What’s a musical, Miss?” Led by Krystal, the team was comprised of Gabriella Zamora, Matthew Nava, Jessica Ramirez, Sherri Redou and Cody Ritchey. They were eager, gracious, proud and ready to take on whatever it
October 1st, 2012 zero comments NBC's SMASH Make A Musical, Uncategorized, blog DetailsiTheatrics | 628 West 52nd Street Suite 1F | New York | NY 10019
