Saturday, February 11, 2012
The Real Dates...
I apologize for a mistake in the earlier post. 2012 Summer Workshop Dates are Monday through Friday, July 30th through August 17th.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Mark Your Calendar
The 2012 EYT Summer Show will be Beauty and the Beast Jr., and we anticipate a huge interest in participation. Mark your calendars now and plan your summer schedule to include our incredible youth theatre workshop program!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
In Review
The Utah Theater Bloggers critics attended on opening night and had GREAT things to say!
MAGNA — Willy Wonka Jr., directed by Glen Carpenter, is based on Roald Dahl’s classic tale. Charlie Bucket (Travis Hymas) lives a humble life in poverty until he finds one of five golden tickets that grants him an exclusive tour through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Willy Wonka (Luke Johnson) and his servants, the Oompa Loompas, teach us a moral as each of the children give in to delicious temptations.
I admit that I had low expectations as I sat in my seat. Maybe that’s because children’s theater is meant to entertain children – not adults. Thankfully, the first five minutes of the show were enough to change my mind. The large chorus of children sang beautifully throughout the whole show, and danced much better than expected. Actually, they were stronger dancers and more in sync than I’ve seen from several older casts. I can’t help but thank music director/choreographer Andrea Fife for an impressive job.
In the opening song, Willy Wonka invites the audience to enter a world of imagination. I can’t think of a more appropriate way to engage kids in theater. The production kept that theme strong throughout the show. It was very fun to see kids acting as adults – especially the kids playing Charlie’s grandparents. They brought hilarious personality to their roles that made me think twice about how adults act.
The set was bright, colorful, and fun, with a couple ladders leading up to the platform up above. My favorite set piece was the pink candy boat, which looked fantastic. The magic of the show really happened when I found myself imagining exactly what the performers intended. The actors engaged the audience’s imagination so well that to me, Charlie and Grandpa Joe (Zachary Linnet) really flew, and Violet (Samantha Arsuffi) actually turned into a blueberry!
I don’t mean to give a sugar-coated review. There were a few things that really bothered me. My number one complaint has to do with the sound. I’m not sure what system limitations the theater has concerning sound, but it was the most distracting part of the show. I was close to the stage and still found myself straining to hear most of the show. Also, the show’s energy level seemed to drop early on, and it unfortunately didn’t recover. There were only a few characters who didn’t seem to be on auto-pilot at one point or another – hopefully the performers improve on this before the end of the run.
The principle actors each did a good job at portraying their characters’ personalities. Travis Hymans fit the part of Charlie beautifully. I wished Willy Wonka’s voice was a little less tenor and a little more bass. It was hard to hear his great voice when he was reaching for the lower notes. Some of the best acting came from Mike Teavee (Warren Tharp) and the Beauregardes (Arsuffi, K’Lynn Keddington). They told their characters’ stories well, and were consistent throughout the show. Also, their energy was both refreshing and appropriate. My favorite performance, though, was from Reeve Sikalis as Veruca Salt. She projected her voice and could be heard clearly, despite my earlier complaints about sound. She also pulled off the emotional dynamic of her character very well.
Call me nostalgic, but I’m glad the production showcased all the familiar songs from one of my favorite childhood movies. This is definitely a great show to bring your children to, especially if they are familiar with the 1971 movie version of this story. The production quality wasn’t the best, but it was certainly better than I ever would have expected from a group of kids. Who knows? You may find the same world of pure imagination I did.
MAGNA — Willy Wonka Jr., directed by Glen Carpenter, is based on Roald Dahl’s classic tale. Charlie Bucket (Travis Hymas) lives a humble life in poverty until he finds one of five golden tickets that grants him an exclusive tour through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Willy Wonka (Luke Johnson) and his servants, the Oompa Loompas, teach us a moral as each of the children give in to delicious temptations.
I admit that I had low expectations as I sat in my seat. Maybe that’s because children’s theater is meant to entertain children – not adults. Thankfully, the first five minutes of the show were enough to change my mind. The large chorus of children sang beautifully throughout the whole show, and danced much better than expected. Actually, they were stronger dancers and more in sync than I’ve seen from several older casts. I can’t help but thank music director/choreographer Andrea Fife for an impressive job.
In the opening song, Willy Wonka invites the audience to enter a world of imagination. I can’t think of a more appropriate way to engage kids in theater. The production kept that theme strong throughout the show. It was very fun to see kids acting as adults – especially the kids playing Charlie’s grandparents. They brought hilarious personality to their roles that made me think twice about how adults act.
The set was bright, colorful, and fun, with a couple ladders leading up to the platform up above. My favorite set piece was the pink candy boat, which looked fantastic. The magic of the show really happened when I found myself imagining exactly what the performers intended. The actors engaged the audience’s imagination so well that to me, Charlie and Grandpa Joe (Zachary Linnet) really flew, and Violet (Samantha Arsuffi) actually turned into a blueberry!
I don’t mean to give a sugar-coated review. There were a few things that really bothered me. My number one complaint has to do with the sound. I’m not sure what system limitations the theater has concerning sound, but it was the most distracting part of the show. I was close to the stage and still found myself straining to hear most of the show. Also, the show’s energy level seemed to drop early on, and it unfortunately didn’t recover. There were only a few characters who didn’t seem to be on auto-pilot at one point or another – hopefully the performers improve on this before the end of the run.
The principle actors each did a good job at portraying their characters’ personalities. Travis Hymans fit the part of Charlie beautifully. I wished Willy Wonka’s voice was a little less tenor and a little more bass. It was hard to hear his great voice when he was reaching for the lower notes. Some of the best acting came from Mike Teavee (Warren Tharp) and the Beauregardes (Arsuffi, K’Lynn Keddington). They told their characters’ stories well, and were consistent throughout the show. Also, their energy was both refreshing and appropriate. My favorite performance, though, was from Reeve Sikalis as Veruca Salt. She projected her voice and could be heard clearly, despite my earlier complaints about sound. She also pulled off the emotional dynamic of her character very well.
Call me nostalgic, but I’m glad the production showcased all the familiar songs from one of my favorite childhood movies. This is definitely a great show to bring your children to, especially if they are familiar with the 1971 movie version of this story. The production quality wasn’t the best, but it was certainly better than I ever would have expected from a group of kids. Who knows? You may find the same world of pure imagination I did.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Day 14 and 15
The hardest part of the rehearsal process is undeniably tech rehearsals, but these EYT kids couldn't have been more professional. During our cue-to-cue rehearsal (a typically frustrating venture) the kids were silent backstage and allowed Lee to set the lighting cues to make the show look fantastic.
We finished our workshop series with some advice on auditioning. Glen and I hope we've prepared each student to go out into the wide world of theatre with a few more tools in their tool belt and the confidence to succeed. We also announced next year's EYT production: Beauty and the Beast Junior. Stay tuned for more details!
And if you think I took any pictures at the final rehearsal, you must not have seen me in my sweats and tennis shoes running around the theatre as if it was a track!
Thanks for a great experience, and BREAK A LEG!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Day 12 and 13
We've hit the last leg of this crazy race, and I'm getting reluctant to cross the finish line. I can tell it is almost time, though, because I am running out of nit-picky notes to give as the cast just keeps getting better and better!
Yesterday's workshop was taught by Shawn Maxfield, the Artistic Director at the Empress Theatre. Technically, the workshop was about theatre etiquette and about superstitions. But I think both of those boil down to simple respect. We talked about "The Scottish Play" and "break a leg," two of the most important superstitions in theatre but also touched on the more bizarre, like always leaving the dressing room with the left foot.
Today, our technical director, Lee, came in and showed us the inner workings of the technical aspects of a show. We learned how to care for the microphones as well as the importance of the sound and lighting cues in a show. My favorite quote of the day: "It was only a minor stabbing..."
Tomorrow is a whole new ballgame, though, as we add props, costumes, and tech into this crazy mix. I can't wait!
Yesterday's workshop was taught by Shawn Maxfield, the Artistic Director at the Empress Theatre. Technically, the workshop was about theatre etiquette and about superstitions. But I think both of those boil down to simple respect. We talked about "The Scottish Play" and "break a leg," two of the most important superstitions in theatre but also touched on the more bizarre, like always leaving the dressing room with the left foot.
Today, our technical director, Lee, came in and showed us the inner workings of the technical aspects of a show. We learned how to care for the microphones as well as the importance of the sound and lighting cues in a show. My favorite quote of the day: "It was only a minor stabbing..."
Tomorrow is a whole new ballgame, though, as we add props, costumes, and tech into this crazy mix. I can't wait!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Day 11
To get our tired Thursday selves up and going, we started off by getting the half-day kids in on some "Parlez Vous Francias." Congrats to Jared and Kierstin for making the top 15!
After a complete run through and a lot of "cleaning," we're ready to enter our last week of rehearsals where we'll start adding props, costumes, and more technical aspects each day. If you're just dying for a preview, you can check out this rehearsal of "In This Room Here."
We concluded week 3 with a vocal workshop on harmony, taught by Jackie Casdorph. She taught the kids about the different forms of harmony including rounds, partner songs, ostinatoes, countermelodies, chords, as well as your everyday, garden-variety harmony.
After a complete run through and a lot of "cleaning," we're ready to enter our last week of rehearsals where we'll start adding props, costumes, and more technical aspects each day. If you're just dying for a preview, you can check out this rehearsal of "In This Room Here."
We concluded week 3 with a vocal workshop on harmony, taught by Jackie Casdorph. She taught the kids about the different forms of harmony including rounds, partner songs, ostinatoes, countermelodies, chords, as well as your everyday, garden-variety harmony.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Day 10
Two-thirds done. Crazy!
Our first run-through of Act II was a bit scary, but after spending some time fixing and cleaning, we ran it again, and I couldn't believe the improvement. We have a show, folks, and it is going to be great!
Jeremy Heaps, a standard fixture at the Empress Theatre, came to teach a workshop on partner dancing. I got to stick around as his partner, and it was fun to be in a half-day workshop! Those kids are definitely not lacking when it comes to energy. In addition to talking about trust and the importance of working as a team on the dance floor, Jeremy taught about listening and about matching the time, space, and energy of the other dancers. He also helped the kids get over the "ew, yuck!" factor of sometimes needing to dance with a partner.
One of my favorite moments, though, may have been watching the full-day kids cheer each other on as they tried to master new skills.
The afternoon was full of new choreography, and we got to use many of the skills from the workshop including trust, since the choreography was... well, you'll see! Again I just felt lucky to get to work with these talented kids. Everything I asked for, they did, and did well.
Tomorrow will be our first full run through, and I can't wait.
Our first run-through of Act II was a bit scary, but after spending some time fixing and cleaning, we ran it again, and I couldn't believe the improvement. We have a show, folks, and it is going to be great!
Jeremy Heaps, a standard fixture at the Empress Theatre, came to teach a workshop on partner dancing. I got to stick around as his partner, and it was fun to be in a half-day workshop! Those kids are definitely not lacking when it comes to energy. In addition to talking about trust and the importance of working as a team on the dance floor, Jeremy taught about listening and about matching the time, space, and energy of the other dancers. He also helped the kids get over the "ew, yuck!" factor of sometimes needing to dance with a partner.
One of my favorite moments, though, may have been watching the full-day kids cheer each other on as they tried to master new skills.
The afternoon was full of new choreography, and we got to use many of the skills from the workshop including trust, since the choreography was... well, you'll see! Again I just felt lucky to get to work with these talented kids. Everything I asked for, they did, and did well.
Tomorrow will be our first full run through, and I can't wait.
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