My Wonderful Birthday Suit playbill

BY GLORIA BOND CLUNIE

On Demand

February 2021 - March 2021

2020 Photo; “Peter Pan”

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From the r o t c e r i D Artistic

What an extraordinary year! While there is no way to downplay the impact this year has had on our community, there is much to be grateful for as we look to the future. This past year has been an opportunity for reflection for our community as well as our organization. The opening words of our new production, GRIMMZ Fairy Tales, are:

again work with playwright and director Gloria Bond Clunie on her production of My Wonderful Birthday Suit. It is an exploration of how very young children tackle very big ideas. The young people in this story begin with a simple observation that Oobladah makes about Shebopshebe:

“What choo’ gon’ do, When the time comes for you?

Step up and deliver, Or stand there and shiver?”

And our season opens with a brand-new adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit. This play asks questions about sickness and healing, love and loss, and finally asks, what is real. Thank you for supporting us during this extraordinary year and for joining us on this journey.

I can’t think of a more apropos charge to our young audiences and, really, to ourselves. The Kindness Project continues this season with our world premiere of Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. For our youngest audiences, we are happy to once

“Your skin is brown.”

Adam Burke

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WATCH THE :30 TRAILER > Photos by John Merrick, Alex Aguilar and Cindy Taylor

Contents 6

TITLE PAGE

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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SEASON INFORMATION

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BEHIND THE SCENES

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CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

DONORS & SUPPORTERS

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PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE

CAST BIOS

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CREATIVE TEAM/CAST/STAFF

EDUCATION INFORMATION

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

My Wonderful Birthday Suit!

-A Play For Young Audiences Exploring The Rainbow We All Arewritten and directed by Gloria Bond Clunie Director Gloria Bond Clunie Stage Manager Brenna Skinnon Scenic Designer Sydney Lynne Thomas Costume Designer Kahei Shum McRae (Ketti) Lighting Designer Robyn Warfield Composer/Sound Designer G. Clausen Puppet Designer Magda Guichard Vocal melodies composed by G. Clausen, Courtney Reasoner, Rasheeda Moore & Will Burton-Edwards Vocal arrangements by Danielle Rhea “My Wonderful Birthday Suit” was commissioned by and received its World Premiere Production at Chicago Children’s Theatre, January 2018 Jacqueline Russell, Artistic Director

Run time 60 minutes

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Links FACEBOOK.COM/CTCHARLOTTE INSTAGRAM.COM/CTCHARLOTTENC TWITTER.COM/CTCHARLOTTE YOUTUBE.COM/CTCHARLOTTE

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Celebrating Our Virtual Season Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is proud to partner with Broadway On Demand as the curtain rises virtually on a season of stories centered in community and kindness.

Buy On Demand

The Velveteen Rabbit December 2020 For all ages

GRIMMZ Fairy Tales January 2021 For ages 7+

My Wonderful Birthday Suit February 2021 For ages 4+

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba March 2021 For ages 8+ 9

CREATIVE TEAM Director - Gloria Bond Clunie Stage Manager - Brenna Skinnon Scenic Designer - Sydney Lynne Thomas Costume Designer - Kahei Shum McRae (Ketti) Lighting Designer - Robyn Warfield Composer/Sound Designer - G. Clausen Puppet Designer - Magda Guichard CAST Courtney Reasoner - Oobladee Will Burton-Edwards - Oobladah Rasheeda Moore - Shebopshebe Jordan Garon - Puppeteer UNDERSTUDIES Lily Mannon Kayla Ferguson

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SPECIAL GUESTS Luke McCammon Nyah Luna Rebecca Kamenick FOR THIS PRODUCTION Deck Chief - Jordan Garon Electrician - Jordan Garon Sound Mixer - Tyler Knowles Light Board Operator - Troy Morelli Carpenter - Greg Lilley Stitcher & Crafts Specialist - Chelsea Retalic Prop Artisans - Jordan Garon, Allison Collins, Chelsea Retalic, Katy Sigmon SPECIAL THANKS Lindsey Curcio

STAFF OF THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE Artistic Director – Adam Burke Managing Director - Nao Tsurumaki Administration Finance Director - Tracy Chandler Staff Accountant - Nancy Deel Human Resources Manager - Carolyn Lugo-Allred ImaginOn Partnership Coordinator - Maryann O’Keeffe ImaginOn Administrative Support - Casey Kaufmann Community Initiatives Leader - Arlethia Hailstock Production Director of Production - Steven Levine Interim Costume Shop Manager - Magda Guichard Cutter/Draper - Colette Adatto Properties Manager - Cassie Ward Technical Director - Andrew Gibbon Master Carpenter - John Slechta Charge Scenic Artist - Tim Parati Resident Sound Designer/A-V Supervisor - Tyler Knowles Master Electrician - Robyn Warfield Education Director of Education - Michelle Long Early Childhood & SOTT Manager - Adam Montague Administrative Assistant - Stephanie Hurtado-Hoyos Resident Teaching Artist - Karen Steele Advancement Director of Advancement – Spencer Clair Associate Director of Advancement - Scott Tynes-Miller Development Coordinator - Olivia Horton Marketing and Communications Director of Marketing and Communications - Cindy Taylor Associate Director of Marketing - Rob Odum Box Office Sales Manager - Jayke Watson Social Media Maven – Alex Aguilar Sales and Marketing Analyst - Nick Taylor Touring Performance Coordinator - Margot Parrott IT Manager - Claire Whitworth-Helm Audience Service Coordinator - Louise Lawson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair - Ashley Joseph Past Chair - Tim Rogers Treasurer - Stacia Neugent Secretary - Angela Scholl Sallie Beason Kristin Black Mary Alice Boyd Maddie Myers Julio Colmenares Ryan Hutcheson William Jefferson Mitchell Kelling Shirley Lamm Catherine Malone Lisa Miller Brian Murdock Mallory Navin Kerbie Neal Kristen Sario Chris Socha Bradley Vineyard Nichelle Weintraub Judith Whelan Thomas Whitlock Members Emeritus Robin Branstrom Carla DuPuy Cynthia Lank Linda Lockman-Brooks

Advisory Board Robin Branstrom Tom Eiselt Jami Farris Peter Flur Gina Lawrence ENCORE! President April Whitlock

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BEHIND THE SCENES All of the elements of the show from set design to costume design, lighting, props and sound, are all created at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte by a talented team of artists.

Together, we bring stories like this one to life through the magic of theatre.

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THE THINKING TREE The 18 foot tall Thinking Tree was constructed using 2x4s and plywood. Then, each section was covered with chicken wire and wrapped in a single layer of dark brown fabric. Finally, the entire tree was covered with 30 foot long sewn tubes of different colored fabrics that were stuffed with Kraft paper.

SET DESIGN Did you know that creating a 3D model is one of the first steps to our set design process? From here, the world of the stage and the story comes together to create something remarkable.

COSTUME DESIGN Oobladee’s eyecatching rainbow striped pants were designed by the Theatre’s own Magda Guichard and then custom printed. Subtle details like Shebopshebe’s crescent moon- shaped gold necklace (opposite page) add a little special flair to the show’s bright and bold looks.

LIGHTING DESIGN Lighting is an integral part of any show. 144 light cues are used on in My Wonderful Birthday Suit! to designate a scene change or set a certain mood during the show.

Lighting in the scene above uses all the colors of the rainbow to create a fun-filled birthday party.

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Note From the Playwright

“Your presence is the best present ever! Shall I top you with a bow!” ~Oobladee, My Wonderful Birthday Suit! by Gloria Bond Clunie One of my favorite books as a child was The Dream Keeper by the renowned African-American poet Langston Hughes. When my daughter was born, it was the first book I bought for her! At a time when the world struggled, as it does today, with appreciating racial diversity—I remember my parents reading the poems to me and feeling warm and hopeful inside. I especially loved My People!

The night is beautiful, So the faces of my people.

The stars are beautiful, So the eyes of my people.

Beautiful, also, is the sun.

Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.

(My People by Langston Hughes from The Dream Keeper) As My Wonderful Birthday Suit! gently confronts issues of race, skin color and friendship, I hope this magical story encourages all of us to gather our children, then climb up in our Thinking Trees and ponder important questions about the world we wish to create for the future. I hope this play sparks conversations that lead to a greater understanding, acceptance and celebration of how beautiful – how wonderful – we all are! With the battle of racism won – our lives become a whole new adventure!

~

Many thanks to Michael Tyler whose picture book The Skin You Live In ignited a powerful conversation about race and diversity! Many thanks to Chicago Children’s Theatre for boldly shepherding that conversation into My Wonderful Birthday Suit! Many thanks to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for creatively continuing this important dialogue.

Peace! Joy! Rainbows!

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Gloria Bond Clunie

Cast COURTNEY RE ASONE R (Oobladee)

is excited to be back with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for her second season after performing last year as a member of their resident touring company, where she brought to life Julia (The True Story of the Three Little Pigs) and Hilda Meisberg (Accidental Friends). Other theatre credits include: James and the Giant Peach (Spider); Miss Nelson is Missing (Allison); Little Women (Beth March); You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Sally); The Little Mermaid (Ariel); and Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Courtney worked as a soprano soloist and vocalist at Church of the Apostles in Columbia, SC since 2016 before moving to Charlotte. She has her BA in Music with a concentration in vocal performance.

W I L L B U R T O N - E D WA R D S (Oobladah)

is delighted to make his mainstage debut at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte as Oobladah in Gloria Bond Clunie’s brilliant work My Wonderful Birthday Suit! Will previously spent two seasons in the cast of the resident touring company having played Jake in Spelling 2-5-5, Musician in Rapunzel, Willie in Accidental Friends, and A. T. Wolf in The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.

Will completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Sewanee: The University of the South, along with a Certificate in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and he sincerely hopes you enjoy the show!

R A S H E E DA M O O R E (Shebopshebe)

is excited to work with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s resident touring company for a third year. While touring she’s enjoyed such roles as Diane in Spelling 2-5-5, Nan in Rapunzel, Gate Keeper in The Littlest Angel, and Violet in Beauty and the Beast.

Rasheeda also enjoys working with Queen City Comedy on their various sketch comedy, and improvisation projects. She earned her BA from Greensboro College, and her MFA from The University of Southern Mississippi.

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Creative Team Gloria Bond Clunie (Director) is an award-winning playwright, director and educator. She is a founding member of the Playwriting Ensemble at Chicago’s Regional Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theater where her plays North Star, Living Green and Shoes premiered and the founding Artistic Director of Evanston’s Fleetwood- Jourdain Theatre. Other works by this Northwestern University graduate (B.A. Theater, MFA- Directing) include Sweet Water Taste, Smoke, Blu, Quark, Buck Naked, Bankruptcy, and A Shot#Lovestories Inspried

By Black Lives Matter. Theaters presenting her work include The Goodman, Horizon Theatre Company, Triad Stage, American Blues Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theater, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Dallas Children’s Theatre and Orlando Shakespeare. This Dramatist Guild Fellow has numerous awards including a Chicago Jeff, Theodore Ward African-American Playwriting Prizes, NEA and Illinois Arts Council Fellowships, a Children’s Theatre Foundation of America Medallion, a YWCA YWomen Leadership Award and the Evanston Mayor’s Award for the Arts. Currently, she is working on a musical adaptation of Giraffe’s Can’t Dance cocommissioned by Bay Area Children’s Theatre and The Rose Theater in Omaha, and inspired by her love of rollercoasters, developing the new TYA play Tall Enough for the Cunningham Commission at The Theatre School of DePaul University. Born in Henderson, North Carolina, she is thrilled to return to the warmth of her home state and the amazing theater family at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte where her adaptation of Last Stop on Market Street premiered in 2018 then went on to productions at Bay Area Children’s Theatre and Dallas Children’s Theatre.

stage management intern for Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles LOVE and Making Wishes Grow an annual variety show for a Make a Wish she does every year. Special thanks goes out her family and friends.

Brenna Skinnon (Stage Manager) is a Charlotte native who grew up watching Children’s Theatre of Charlotte productions. She holds a BFA from University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Other Children’s Theatre of Charlotte of credits include stage managing Pete the Cat, The Velveteen Rabbit, and ASM/Student Supervisor for Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Some of her favorite credits include

Kahei Shum McRae (Ketti) (Costume Designer) is delighted to meet you in this side of the Rainbow! Originally from Hong Kong, Kahei received her BA in Theatre from UW-Madison, her BFA in Production Design and MFA in Costume Design from UNC-School of the Arts. Some of her recent CTC credits include The Invisible Boy, Pete the Cat, Judy Moody & Stink, Last Stop on Market Street, The Snowy Day and Other Stories, The

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Sydney Lynne Thomas (Scenic Designer) (she/ hers) is grateful to join Children’s Theatre of Charlotte in the telling of My Wonderful Birthday Suit!

Sydney Lynne is a Chicago-based scenic designer and civic artist from Dallas, TX. Her breadth of work includes scenic design and visual arts/installations, creating and collaborating on over 50 world-building experiences. Her recently recognized collaborations include Sheepdog (Shattered Globe Theatre), Hoodoo Love (Raven Theatre), and His Shadow (16th St Theater). Other collaborations include: Chicago Children’s Theater, Wilmette Children’s Theatre, Seesaw Theater, Cabinet of Curiosities, Longwharf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Congo Square Theater, and UC Riverside DTFP. An ongoing focus of her work is to continue her artistic explorations through curating/creating safe, accessible, and engaging spaces to uplift womxn, Black/brown/ native people, expression-fluid/non-gendered folks, bodies with ranges of ability, under -privileged/-resourced communities, displaced / misplaced / mistreated bodies (-incarcerated and -immigrated), and so many others, deserving even more space. Sydney Lynne was nominated in 2020 for a Jeff Award in Scenic Design and won a 2020 3Arts Award for distinction in Theatre.

She is a graduate of Northwestern University, studying theatrical design/production. ~To those who got me here, thank you.

Creative Team cont’d Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and Grace for President. She also loved designing Cabaret with Davidson College, award nominated La Cage Aux Folles with Theatre Charlotte, and Shrek with CPCC. Her other costume design work has been seen at Triad Stage, UNC Charlotte, The Barter Players, Peppercorn Children’s Theatre, Raleigh Little Theatre, Wake Forest University and Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Special thanks to UNCSA, her husband and her son Bobo.

Cove and Coraline as well as the designing and creating of Dragon in The Reluctant Dragon.

Magda earned her Master of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design in production design with a costume design focus. Magda is thrilled to call Children’s Theatre of Charlotte home and thanks her friends and, above all, her parents for their love and supporting her artistic journey.

Robyn Warfield (Lighting Designer) is excited to be working with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for her second season. She graduated with her MFA in Design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Professionally, she has worked for companies like Paper Lantern Theatre Company in Winston-Salem NC, the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith NH, First Maria LLC in NYC, Classics in Color in NYC, The Ark Theatre Company in Egremont MA, Shakespeare and Company in Lenox MA, and Berkshire Dance Theatre in Adams MA. www.rkwdesign.com G. Clausen (Composer/Sound Designer) has designed for Playmakers Repertory, Studio Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Triad Stage, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Pyramid Theatre Company, Paper Lantern, Guilford College, and Rites and Reason Theatre. His most recent album project is as producer of O Henry by Demeanor and is currently composing and designing a short film, The Last Supper, by Jonathan Norton, directed by Ken-Matt Martin. He holds a BS in History Iowa State University with a Minor in African American Studies and a MFA in Sound Design from UNC School of the Arts.

He has taught at Wake Forest University, Guilford College, and has been teaching at UNC School of the Arts since 2016.

Magda Guichard (Puppet Designer) has been working with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for eight years, designing costumes for such shows as The Velveteen Rabbit, GRIMMZ Fairy Tales, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical, The Cat in the Hat, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, The Ghost of Splinter

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r u O s r e t r o p p u S Corporate and foundation partners help Children’s Theatre of Charlotte extend programming to more than 250,000 young people an families throughout the region. Our family of donors and their generous support enables us to hire the best artists, designers and directors, bring new stories to life and support access initiatives like sensory-friendly performances and programs for families who receive public assistance.

We thank all of our supporters for their kindness and for helping us fuel our mission to inspire generations to explore the wonder of their world.

MAKE A GIFT By making a gift to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, you are linking arms with families who believe in the power, relevance and positive impact of exceptional theatre experiences. Your gift will support the development of dreams, the connection of family, the transfer of hope, the experience of joy and the fulfillment of wonder.

Donate Now Learn More About Donor Benefits

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s y a d h t r i B FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

Knox Hutcheson Sully Rhymer Teddy Kelling Bryce Walger Cailin Whitlock Andrew Waller Connor Cheek Hartley Cheek Adam Murdock Gabriel Qasim Charlie DeLucia Andrew Smith Leo Shreve

Caitlin Barlow Andrew Ahdieh Dexter Wray Daniel Dimitrov Jacob Haines Kensington Beachum Anna Gray Beason Brayden Elford Andrew Williams Elizabeth Buckfelder Daphne Lichtenberg Charlie Niessner Mark Williams Harper Beachum

Clara Murchison Hazel Kuykendal Imad Cokljat Taylor Allison Roan Snyder Ella Ross Frances Grace Mangan Luke Choiniere William Choiniere Abigail Amboyer Nova McBroom

Donors can wish their child a happy birthday in our playbill.

Find out how you can participate by clicking here or by calling our Development office at 704-973-2804.

Our Supporters CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS

CENTER STAGE PARTNERS ($3,000 to $4,999)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCING PARTNERS ($50,000 and more)

The Daniel, Edward, Cora & Strickland Foundation The Britton Foundation

Arts & Science Council The Leon Levine Foundation Sandra and Leon Levine Charlotte-Mecklenberg COVID-19 Response Fund, a partnership between United Way of Central Carolinas and Foundation For The Carolinas North Carolina Arts Council The Shubert Foundation THRIVE Fund Women’s Impact Fund PRODUCING PARTNERS ($25,000 to $49,999) Bank of America Foundation Triad Foundation Vanguard DIRECTING PARTNERS ($10,000 to $24,999) BlackArch Partners The Cam Newton Foundation C.D. Spangler Foundation, Inc. Continental Tire the Americas, LLC Daniel, Ratliff & Company PNC STANDING OVATION PARTNERS ($5,000 to $9,999) Carolina Panthers Charities Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Cornwell Foundation The Dickson Foundation, Inc. Edifice, Inc. SteelFab,Inc.

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LEADING ROLE PARTNER ($1,000 to $2,999) Ally Financial Charlotte Roller Derby ECM Solutions Lancaster County Community Foundation Morgan Stanley Wealth Management New Day Wellness Center PLLC True Homes Foundation Union County Community Foundation

Our Supporters cont’d INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS LEADING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($25,000 & up) Rob & Kate Buckfelder Dorlisa & Peter Flur* ($10,000 - $24,999) Travis & Lise Hain* Arrington & Burch Mixon* Jennifer & Jack Ross The Sario Family Tammy Stringer & Richard Viola ($5,000 - $9,999) Robin & Bill Branstrom Danielle & Adam Burke Dr. Daniel Donner Bryan & Jami Farris The Hensley Family* Mr. & Mrs. Greg Gonzalez Mitchell Kelling* Edward & Florence Kim Bruce & Anita LaRowe* Howard & Julie Levine Brian & Laura Murdock* Lisa & Glenn Sherrill Angela & Josh Scholl* Stephanie & Stephen Sorenson* Quanteer Williams ($3,000 - $4,999) Dr. Kristin Black* Joan Martin & Patrick Burgess* Herb & Gina Clegg* John & Nancy Dickson Ryan & Danielle Hutcheson* LaKeisha & William Jefferson Ashley & Matthew Joseph* Sarah & Mike Kaminski Catherine & Jerry Malone Lisa & Ken Miller Maddie & Brian Myers Michelle & Tim Rogers* Mallory Navin & Joe Shreve* Charlie & Stacia Neugent* Michelle & Tim Rogers*

Mallory Navin & Joe Shreve* Linda Reynolds Kathleen & Anthony Sciacca Brad & Whitney Vineyard* Nichelle & Sasha Weintraub* ($1,000 - $2,999) Omid & Julie Ahdieh Stephen & Carolyn Allred Allyson Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Richard R. Babcock Sallie & Gary Beason* Will Burton-Edwards Stoke & Julie Caldwell* John & Tracy Chandler Kathy & Dallas Craven Lisa & Jonathan Crotty Amy & Alfred Dawson Ryan Deal & John Leonard Jessica & Craig DeLucia Sidney & Andres Echevarria Christi & Will Farr Jami & Matt Fischer Beth & Gaston Gage* Wes Garber Watts & Carol Hamrick Brad & Karen Harris David & Marti Head* Scott & Claire Helm Laura & Jeff Hughes Steve & Mary Hunting Cynthia & Dave Lank* Bruce & Michelle Long Barbara & Doug Marken Leslie & Michael Marsicano Heather & Scott McAllister Seah & Robert McCammon Jenny & Bill Merlo* Teri Miller In Memory of Jesse Millis by her family Meredith & John Murchison Kerbie & Brandon Neal* Anna & Tom Nelson John & Suzy Nurkin Carla & Ed Rose Kelly & Mike Shook Janet & Joshua Smith Matt & Sherese Smith Laurel & Christopher Socha Susan & Al Stafford*

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Our Supporters cont’d Patrick & Elizabeth Vaughn Greg & Sandra Vlahos Judith & Matthew Whelan* April & Thomas Whitlock* Jennifer Plyler & Bert Wray ($500 - $999) Anonymous Donor Sylvia & Randy Allen Mary Alice Boyd* Anonymous Donor Stephanie Castles Debra & Keith Clark Veruska & Julio Colmenares Elizabeth Corcoran Rob & Caryn Craige Susan Anfin & Jim Doyle Tessa Dyer Patrick & Doreen English Marcie & Robert Gaines Shanna & Vance Hodges Kazuo & Miwa Ideshita Gina & George Jurch Jonathan & Anika Kim Mayor Viola Alexander Lyles Chelsea Rhodes Candace & Michael Salamone Julie Sheffer Silverman Foundation* Whitney Seeburg Tricia & George Sistrunk Cindy & Rob Taylor* Amy Vitner SUPPORTING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($250 - $499) Aerotek Staff - in Honor of Greg & Tammy Jones Mary-Stuart Parker Alderman Fund* Elizabeth & Benjamin Allison Kellye & Mike Arning Kimberly Augenbraun Meredith & Scott Barnette Dina Beelaert Anna & Matthew Brothers Ashley Bunn Lucy Bush

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Laura & Doug Caldwell Cherise Clark Stephanie & Russ Daniel Barry & Nancy Deel Melissa Dorsch The Duda Family Steve Dunn Heather & Greg Feldman Anna Lauren Fresk John & Doreen Gibbon Pam & Bill Giono* John & Mara Gose Sally & Drew Harriss Heather Henry Mr. Frank Hruby & Mrs. Tatyana Rector Tammy & Greg Jones Loretta Mendes Andy & Shelley Misiaveg Caroline Olzinski Jerry & Cookie Parnell Margot & Steve Parrott Catherine Philpott Rich & Woods Potts The Qasim Family Eric Rinehardt Rebecca & Benjamin Schultz Howard Sendrovitz & David Sinclair Carol Smitherman Colby Snyder Shandra Stout Rosalind & Joe Taylor Carrie & J.T. Teixeira Robin & Scott Tynes-Miller Elizabeth Waller Katherine Williams Louise & Dick Woods* ($100 - $249) Jane Agee Karen Aman, Dave, Matthew, & Joshua Edwards* Mary & Clint Barlow The Dale Beachum Family Bina Bieker Mr. & Mrs. Alan Blumenthal Jane & Mike Bufkin Peggy & Steven Burke

Our Supporters cont’d The Campos & Flansburg Family Matt Caragher Kakie & Colin Cheek LaTarah Coney Katharine & Mike Cowan Jan & Bill Sims, in Honor of Katharine Cowan Cynthia Curry Mary Eleanor Dean Dennis Delamar * Bill & Janny DeLoache* Blair Donald* Mary Katherine Dubose Cheryl Endy Roberta Fox Andrew & Natalie Gibbon* Natasha Grant-Dean Magda Guichard Nachette Hadden Arlethia Hailstock Stuart Hair Richard Hamilton Kara Hernandez Martha Hirsch Olivia & Andrew Horton Stephanie Hurtado-Hoyos Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Johnson William & Karen Kasper Ann Kimbro & Mark Smith* Kathi & John Knier Joye & Ron Lamberth Louise & Jerry Lawson Jake Leblanc Trudy Ludwig Michele & Stephen Mangan* Robin & John Maxwell Elliott & Jennifer McCabe Julie McDowell Mary Ellen & Chuck McElroy Dorothy McMillan Daniel Merlin Shearra Miller Nancy Morris, in Honor of Kelly Carder Morris Beth Murray Samantha Mwangi Tim & Kim Parati Jena & Joe Pedroli Steven Levine & Shawnna Pledger

Emily Porges Melissa Robertson Angela Shane Susan Sherrill Dawn Spivey Karen Steele Wes & Claudia Sturges Robert Squibb Claire & John Tate Donna & Alan Thomas Drew Thrasher Chris Warren Jayke Watson Hank West Marsha Wiggins The Wray Family Cara & Jake Yara ($50 - $99) Leah & Jay Abraham Aurora Achong Carol Adler Alex Aguilar Elena Airapetian Jason Asch Karen Atilano Laurie Bell Mr. & Mrs. Alan Boone Julie Bradlow Drew Branham Laura Cameron Elizabeth Cassano Tim Clark Ann Crehore Robin & James Cochran Lorraine Decker Melina Dixon Dr. Shamieka Dixon Dave & Eileen Dunlap Corey Easterday Meeghan Farley Kate Fletcher Dr. Curtis Flood Stacy Freed Phyllis Gadsden Jo Galbraith Cynthia & Henry Gass Jennifer Greer

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Our Supporters cont’d Cynthia & Henry Gass Jennifer Greer Cari Gross Deidre Grubb Angela & Nathan Hackenberg Emma Hanson Nicolette Harris Micah Hein Sisi Hester-Clarke Jennifer Hirsch Kristina & Thomas Hoops Peyton Hostetler Jehana James Chandra Johnson Susan & Rob Johnson Mary Kandell Krishnan Kesavaram Athena Kortesis Sarah & Tony Lathrop* Michael Leith Debbie Lister Nyesha Long Claire Lukens Linn Lunder Mary Lou Maher Bill Martin & Jennifer Davis-Martin

Patricia Massey Hoke Jennifer Matthews Ariel McBryde-Gritter Valecia McDowell Debra Mein Nicole Mims Miranda Miller Emily Mills Lori Molitor Velda Molitor Adam Montague Will Moody Ashley & Daniel Norton Catherine & Rob Odum* Catherine Ogburn Deanna Overby Yogini Parmar Anna Patel Nia Peace Elizabeth Ponder Janelle Powers Emily Pratt Kimberly Proudman Mary Pugh Misbah Rana Ellen Rankin Shannon & Rob Reichley

Elizabeth Ricks Laura Rodriguez Stanley Ruppe Anat Russell Rebecca Schuman Carrie Schwanter Mavis Scully Ginger & John Seabrook Jessica Shaffner Laura Shwedo Aubree Slaven John Slechta Becky Sowell Theckla Sterrett Kristin Tart Matthew Trager Kristi Trangsrud Edward Triebell Ece Turksonmez Tara VanCleave Cassie Ward Linda Wells Laura Williams

* Indicates donations made to The Linda Reynolds Endowment Fund for Kindness and Wonder.

Additional supporters providing gifts to the Fund include: Anonymous (in honor of the Senior Leadership Team at Children’s Theatre) Taylor & Lauren Batten Donna Bise Crandall Bowles Nancy & Dr. Kern Carlton Michele Carney Roger & Ginny Cobb Tom & Julie Eiselt Rachel & Rob Ellis Ann Marie Forbes Vickie & Tom Gabbard Tim Hager David & Marti Head Lois Kilkka Ann & Mark Kimbro

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Charles & Brenda LaBorde David & Laurie Martin Sara Mayse Beth & Lee Neale Christine Noah Kirk & Stephanie Phipps Francisco & Margie Pinto-Leite John & Ann Porter Reemprise Fund Andy & Emily Reynolds Valerie & Jason Rhymer Kathy & Bill Southerland Al & Susan Stafford Donn & Dottie Toney Laura Walger LeeAnne & Bill Whitley

Our Supporters cont’d We are grateful to our dedicated education families and ticket purchasers who in response to COVID-19 and the cancellation of classes and camps opted to give a gift in lieu of a refund. Thank you to: Kelly Acevedo, Sara Adler, Katie Aittola, Catherine Aldridge, Elizabeth Allison, Brantley Alvey, Carol Ambrose, Amanda Amos, Robert Anders, Lawrence Andress, Renee Anglin, Jennifer Atkinson, Maura Ayres • Kirsten Baldwin Metzger, David Barnaba, Jade Barringer, Emily Battle, Kristen Beach, Blair Beason, Selina Bell, Amanda Bengel, Sarah Beres, Colleen Black, Jennifer Blanton, James Bohmer, Kelly Bolln, Matt Bossert, Victoria Braaten, Kina Brooks, Susan Brown, Amy Brown, Beth Burgess, Hilary Burt, Brooke Busbee • Leah Campbell, Mary Cappleman, Lisa Caraccio, Sergio Cardenas, Maureen Carlomagno, Amy Carr, Ellen Carraro, Jennie Carruth, Elizabeth Cassano, Tara Cawthorne, Heather Chesnutt, Lejla Cokljat, Laura Coleman, Stacy Colwell, LaTarah Coney, Dawn Connell, Kimberly Conroy, Andrea Cook, Michael Coyne, Rhonda Craig, Kristy Crist, Fravelin Cuesta, John Curry, Mitzi Czapla • Gina Damon, Christine Danzer, Melissa Davis, Elise Demeter, Sarah DiFranco, Linda Dinh, Courtney Dixon, Grady Dodge, Daniel Donner, Susanne Doring, Kate Doughty, Kerri Doyle, Jeanne Drexler, Katharine Dullaghan, Karen Dunaway, Lauren Dunaway, Steve Dunn, Yen Duong, Robyn Dussault • Charlie Elberson, Lorraine Elliot, Donna Emerson, Jennifer Engel, Matt Esau, Margarita Espinales • Meeghan Farley, Elizabeth Faulk, Robert Ferguson, Michelle Ferguson, Jami Fischer, Elana Fortino, Bruce Fowler, Elizabeth Frederick, Jean Fuller • Debra Gazzuolo, Jennifer Giannoulis, Kirsten Gimbert, Christina Goldblatt, Anderea Gonzalez, Jeanne Graber, Rosemary Graidage, Lisa Green, Rhea Greene, Susan Griffin, Amanda Guile, Courtney Guin, Cate Gutter • Anne Hamilton, Nicolette Harris, Elizabeth Hayslett, Halsten Heintz, Scott Helm, Carly Hensley, Candace Hester, Jessica Higgins, Ruth Hilton, Jamie Hinchee, Angela Hinton, Martha Hirsch, Trina Holiness- Morris, Frank Hruby, Susan Huber, Deirdre Hurley, Solein Hyatt • Deborah Isley • Sara Johnson, Karen Johnston Desiree Judy • Sabrina Kemp, Laura Kendrick, Katherine H Kent, Julie Key, Jenna King, Pam Kingsley, Jennifer Kipphut, Cynthia Klein, Diane Kluttz, Caroline Kraich, Julie Kramer, Robert Krumbine, Leslee Kuykendal • Lee LaBorde, Lou Ann Lamb, Ashley Lang, Amanda Layne, Lindsay Leitzinger, Elizabeth Leonard, Alicia Lightfoot, Drew Lindsey, Michael Lowder, Christine Lucas • Jennifer Madara, Amber Madrin, Amy Maffucci, Patti Marchionni, Sarah Martin, Jennifer Martyak, Nicholas Mathias, Amanda Mayhew, Joan Mazzu, Susan McClelland, Lewis McCurdy, Stacy McGuffee, Jennie McGuire, Suzette McQueen, Megan Meuse, Megan Midkiff. Renee Miller, Heidi Miller, Nicole Mims, Summer Minchew, Robert Mitchell, Lauri Moore, Nikki Moore, Valerie Moresi, Dawn Morey, Stephen Muise, Morgan Munn, Brian Murdock, Maya Myers, Maddie Myers • Julie Nannini, Kimberly Naro Elisabeth Narodny, Kerbie Neal, Lee Neale, Rebecca Nesbitt • Caroline Olzinski, Rebecca Ortega, Paula Owens • Sweta Patel, Amy Patel-Hill, Trevor Pearce, Ira Penza, Adam Perrow, Silvia Petrova, Meagan Platania, Nicole Prenoveau, JJ Privette, Mary Pugh • Meredith Quinn • Lynn Ralph, Sam Reaves, Allison Reece, Anna Reed, Luke Reinke, Emily Reynolds, Jamie Rimany, Linda Ritter, Cori Rockey • Megan Sacksteder, Kristen Sario, Jason Sasserl, Susan Scanga, Chelsea Schlepp, Alison Schulman, Rebecca Schuman, Christine Sheil, Susan Sherrill, Molly Sims, Kristy Skender, Tamara Smith, Mary Smith, Joshua Smith, Jennifer Snyder, Elizabeth Soja, Heidi Squires, Rajeswari Sriram, Theckla Sterrett, William Stewart, Winifred Stieglitz, Roger Stone, Wendy Strickland, Lisa Strickland, Alyson Strode, Lara Swenson • Annie Tamburello, Mona Taylor, Louise Taylor, Nicolle Thompson, Tammie Thompson, Sylwia Thornton, Laura Tobin, Gwen Tolman, Teresa Treadaway, Alice Trexler, Brittany Tully, Wes Turner • Chiara Underwood, Lindsay Varnado, Lauren Varner, Amy Vavra, Bradley Vineyard, Christa Vinson, Lauren Voorhees, Anna Vordermark • Kate Wagner, Jennifer Walker, Angel Wall, Lauren Walls, Sabrina Walters, Molly Ward, Rachel Ware, Ellen Weekley, Margaret Wilbur, Tamia Williams, Laura Williams, Christina Williams, Lynne Williams, Lindsey Wolfe, Frances Zeoli, Ting Zhang

We appreciate your support. If we have misspelled or omitted your name, please call our Development Office at 704-973-2804. Gifts current as of January 28, 2021.

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Our Volunteers (ENCORE!) April Whitlock, ENCORE! President Melissa Dorsch, Education Committee Co-Chair Teri Miller, Education Committee Co-Chair Catherine Hensley, Development Committee Co-Chair Laura Walger, Development Committee Co-Chair Sally Harriss, Outreach Committee Co-Chair Sherese Smith, Outreach Committee Co-Chair Sally Vlahos, Production Committee Chair Emily Agnew Mary Barlow Vicki Beachum Sallie Beason Kate Buckfelder Julie Caldwell Nancy Carlton Leesa Clardy Gina Clegg Caryn Craige Lisa Daniels Janny DeLoache Stowe Demarest Kendra Dodds Rachel Ellis Stacy Ellyson Jennifer Engel Christi Flansburg Amy Franklin Julia Golonka Beth Gage Elizabeth Gregg Gayle Hackney Jill Halverstam Kim Hanson Marti Head Tammy Herrmann Mitzi Lynch Florence Kim Kathi Knier Cynthia Lank Michele Mangan Jennifer Martin Claire Marston Diana Jones Tammy Jones Laurie Hutchins Mary-Margaret Kantor Heather McAllister

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Mary Ellen McElroy Mallory Miller Catherine Monroe Josie Morris Laura Mudrock Beth Neale Suzy Nurkin Cookie Parnell Elizabeth Ponder Kerri Porter Mary Margaret Porter Woods Potts Jenny Plyler Sarah Ryan Ginger Seabrook Tessa Shane Susan Stafford Marsha Thrasher Brittany Vanderlinden Liz Waller Nichelle Weintraub Marsha Wiggins Katie Williams

Charlotte Latin’s Middle School performed Annie JR, Winter 2020

Charlotte Latin School is an independent, non-sectarian, coeducational, college-preparatory day school for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

9502 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28277

CharlotteLatin.org | 704.846.7207

WHERE LEARNING IS SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE, HEAR, & TOUCH. Within our multisensory K-12 curriculum, students with learning differences experience the many ways to make connections with concepts, grow in their unique learning style, and reach their potential.

thefletcherschool.org | 704-365-4658

Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz Age Cinderella

Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds

Peter Pan The Lion and the Little Red Bird

Judy Moody & Stink : The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt

Classes and Camps

AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS Children’s Theatre of Charlotte offers a wide variety of online and in-person classes and camps for your family. Through our education programs, your child will build confidence, develop speaking, leadership and problem-solving skills, appreciate collaborating as a team member and value the feeling of commitment and accomplishment.

Creative Drama (Ages 2 through 10) School of Theatre Training (3rd through 12th Grade) Summer Camps (Ages 3 to 12th Grade) Learn More

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Testimonial “Theatre and music emphasize teamwork, kindness, open-mindedness, imagination, creativity, selfconfidence, self-worth, empathy, and a sense of accomplishment. The classes in our School of Theatre Training allow students to express themselves in creative constructive ways and support the growth of those skills. The curriculum is process rather than product based.”

- Sarah Provencal, Teaching Artist

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r o f s e i t A ctivi s Kid A surprise birthday party gives three children something truly amazing to celebrate - their differences.

Rainbows, moonbeams and a bit of birthday magic make for a super-fun party! But friendships are questioned when judgments and comments about skin color slip out. By sharing experiences, the children learn important lessons about understanding and acceptance that pave the way to forgiveness. This spectacular story told with music, an awesome puppet named Bobo the bird and the wonder of a magical Thinking Tree will give everyone something to ponder. Each of us is a gift “wrapped” in our own unique way but it’s what’s on the inside that truly makes us special. This powerful conversation-starter proves that you’re never too young (or too old) to be kind.

Visit the Pinterest page for a special bow-making activity

Top 3

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHOW

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1. At the birthday party the characters learn that words can hurt. What words hurt the characters in the play and why? Why did Ooblahdah say things about the color of Shebopshebe’s skin?

How do you think that made Shebopshebe feel and why?

2. The Thinking Tree is a key part of this story? What makes the Thinking Tree so important? What are the characters able to do at the Thinking Tree that help them?

3. One of the characters says that they are sorry for the words they said. Why is it important to say you are sorry? What could have happened if the character didn’t say they were sorry?

Rec om

m

ne d

a d e i n R g d e

The Skin You Live In

Shades of People

by Michael Tyler

by Shelley Rotner

Skin Again

Side by Side

by Bell Hooks

by Rachel Bright

It’s Okay to Be Different

Neither

by Todd Parr

by Airlie Anderson

The Colors of Us

Ribbit!

by Karen Katz

by Rodrigo Folguiera

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IN-PERSON PRIVATE LESSONS

CHARLOTTE CHILDREN’S CHOIR

VIRTUAL

HYBRID

VISUAL ART CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Arts education that adds up to something

At Arts+, we know the benefits of arts education add up to more than painting lessons and piano recitals. Arts education has the power to transform lives, helping students tap into their artistic potential plus access the many other irreplaceable benefits of an arts education. Sign up today and start watching the benefits add up.

Register online at artsplus.org

GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY:

Formerly Community School of the Arts

OUTREACH PROGRAMS