Children's Theatre of Charlotte OnStage Playbill

School of Theatre Training

ONSTAGE 2021

CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE

A Festival of Plays by Award-Winning TYA Playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer

ONSTAGE 2021

This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing

The Snow

Where Words Once Were

McColl Family Theatre May 20 - 23, 2021

Note From the Education Director

It is May, 2021, and I know we are all exhausted by the word pandemic. But while this season has had challenges beyond our wildest imaginations, it has also marked the resiliency of our art form and the students who have dedicated themselves to it. When the world went into lockdown in March of 2020, Children’s Theatre had just begun the OnStage process and we quickly shifted auditions, rehearsals, and even performances online before virtual theatre was a thing. We were navigating Zoom rooms and green screens, and shifting shows to new works so we could procure the rights to live-stream performances, desperate to make sure that one more activity wasn’t taken from our young people who were experiencing so much loss as proms, graduations, and even schools were canceled. With some ingenuity and the amazing dedication of our staff and teaching artists we made it happen. It is an experience none of us will forget.

Therefore, it is fitting then that our first in-person performances as we find our way back to the stage at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte would be our OnStage shows. These students navigated 20 weeks in our School of Theatre classes under the most unusual of circumstances.

Attending in masks, with health checks and adjusted carpool protocols, learning theatre skills while adding the barrier of social distancing, acting through song text without being able to sing, and dancing on Zoom when needing to pivot online. To now be on stage, doing theatre together is worth the wait. Join us in our celebration. We will not take the privilege of being on stage or in the audience for granted ever again. We’ve waited too long. We are thrilled that you are here to share this moment with us. A standing ovation for making it this far, for showing up, for knowing why this experience is important, and for encouraging your children to participate. Being in person makes a difference. After this year, more than ever, we understand how the power of live theatre heals the soul.

Michelle Long, Director of Education 2

Show Schedule Thursday, May 20

7 PM This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing

Friday, May 21

7 PM The Snow

Saturday, May 22

1 PM Where Words Once Were 4 PM This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing

7 PM The Snow Sunday, May 23

2 PM Where Words Once Were

Show Descriptions This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing Triplet sisters are left in the forest by their woodcutter father. From this fairytale beginning, three resolutions are made – one sister will walk one way, one the other, and the third will stay right where she is. Twenty years later, having circumnavigated the globe, and fought vikings, and crossed oceans, and tamed wilds, and achieved greatness, the three meet again, as women.

The Snow When an epic snowfall imprisons the residents of the tiny village of Kishka, young Theodore Sutton proposes the villagers build a catapult to fling him and six of the village’s bravest and strongest out in search of a solution. The catapult hastily assembled, Theodore and the heroes are launched over the snow and into the grandest of adventures. Whimsical and humorous, dark and mysterious, heartfelt and sincere, this play weaves a fantastical Grimmsian tale for the entire family.

Where Words Once Were Set in a dystopian time where language is rationed, a sentence can get you sentenced and the silent are rising, our young hero Orhan discovers that a word can change the world.

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About the Playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer has had 97 commissioned plays performed on six continents and translated into eight languages. He has received 37 awards (at least one each year since 2002) including the 2017 Mickey Miners Lifetime Achievement Award for services to international theatre for young audiences, the 2015 David Williamson Award for Excellence in Australian Playwrighting, and an inaugural Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship.

In 2021, 29 seasons of 18 plays (including four world premieres) will be presented globally, in eight countries and five languages. In Germany, he is represented by Rowohlt Agency.

To date, Finegan’s plays have had seasons in: 200 international festivals; all Australian states/territories; eight US national tours; five UK national tours; and at the Sydney Opera House (six works), Scotland’s Imaginate Festival (four works), New York’s Lincoln Center for the Arts (three works), DC’s Kennedy Center for the Arts (three works), Ireland’s Abbey Theatre (two works) and Shanghai’s Malan Flower Theatre (two works).

As well as the Mickey Miners and David Williamson Awards and Sidney Myer Fellowship, Finegan and his work have received seven Australian Writers Guild (AWGIE) Awards, an honorary Tasmanian Theatre Award for Exceptional Writing, 2012 Helpmann Award for Children’s Theatre, 2010 Rodney Seaborn Award, 2009 Mystate Young Tasmanian Artist Award, 2006 Jill Blewett Playwrights Award, and 2002 Colin Thiele Scholarship.

Finegan has been a keynote speaker at the Ubud Writer’s Festival (Indonesia), the Edinburgh International Children’s Theatre Festival (Scotland), TYA USA National Conference, and the ITYARN Conference (Argentina), among others. He has delivered papers or sat on panels at conferences/festivals in nine countries, with papers published.

He was one of 21 selected worldwide for the ASSITEJ Next Generation (young leaders in children’s theatre), and has sat on numerous arts boards including the Australian Script Centre and Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board, Arts Tasmania’s Assistance to Individuals, Tas Literary Awards and Artsbridge panels, and the Story Island Project board (promoting youth literacy and empowerment through storytelling with marginalised young people).

Finegan was born in Ireland and moved halfway around the world to Adelaide, Australia aged eight. After 15 years, he and his wife Essie left for the island state of Tasmania. And after 15 more, with their son Moe, they returned. He is committed to making strong and respectful work for children, which acknowledges them as astute audience members outside the play, and worthy subjects within.

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Education Team Director of Education............................................................................Michelle Long Early Childhood & SOTT Manager...................................................Adam Montague Camps & Community Programs Manager.............................Mary Katherine Smith Education Administrative Assistant..................................Stephanie Hurtado-Hoyos Resident Teaching Artist..........................................................................Karen Steele Production Team Director of Production............................................................................Steven Levine Interim Costume Shop Manager & Crafts Specialist.....................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

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ONSTAGE 2021 This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing CREATIVE TEAM Director Mary Katherine Smith Assistant Director/Choreographer Kaitlin Gen”Tree” Stage Manager Steven James Scenic Design Andrew Gibbon Lighting Design Robyn Warfield Sound Design Tyler Knowles Costume Design Magda Guichard Cutter/Draper & Wardrobe Collette Adatto Props Design Cassie Ward Deck Chief Josh Lucero Backstage Student Crew Zachary Helm Sound Board Operator Brandy Brogden Light Board Operator Marc Suits

The Snow

Where Words Once Were

Strobe lights are used during this performance.

Run Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes Photography, videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is not allowed.

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CAST Albienne...................................................................................................Eleanor Dean Beatrix........................................................................................................Siri Patterson* Carmen................................................................................................Carson Whitlock Old Lady...............................................................................................Abigail Johnson Peter.......................................................................................................Anthony Tronzo Papa............................................................................................................Max Joseph Mother..................................................................................................Seren Dornsmith Stepmother............................................................................................Jackie Cooper Sad Lady..................................................................................................Becca Hatton Boring Person 1......................................................................................Kerala Johnson Boring Person 2..........................................................................................Tessa Fulcher Little Girl....................................................................................Natalia Grzegorzewska Badger.................................................................................................Austin Redmond Narrators..............................................................................Zoe Aiken, Gabriel Bryant,

Graham Bryant, Tatiana Collins, SJ Ellington,

Geneva Everhart, Lucille George, Karina

Grzegorzewska, Dylan Hakeem, Alexander

Hruby, Sam Lewandowski,Summer Malik,

Kallie Ogletree, Olivia Overby, Broughton Taylor *Denotes senior student

photo by Alex Aguilar 7

The Snow

Where Words Once Were

CREATIVE TEAM Director Sarah Provencal Assistant Director/Choreographer Reneé Welsh-Noel Stage Manager Caris Gross Scenic Design Andrew Gibbon Lighting Design Robyn Warfield Sound Design Tyler Knowles Costume Design Jason Estrada Props Design Cassie Ward Deck Chief Josh Lucero Backstage Student Crew Zachary Helm Sound Board Operator Brandy Brogden Light Board Operator Marc Suits

Strobe lights are used during this performance.

Run Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes Photography, videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is not allowed.

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CAST Narrators...............................................Andy Bentley, Kiearra Gary, Owen Tesch Illustrator.................................................................................................Aashvi Shah Theodore..........................................................................................Andrew Ahdieh Oliver..................................................................................................Jillian Graboski Margareta.......................................................................................Jenna Meaney* Kishkans.....................................................Hanna Atilano, Pearle Kendrick, Annie

Clark, Julian McCoy, Ana Reali, Aneela

Desai, Lexi Carlton, Sophie Belle Henry,

Lillith Wade Rajev of the Grey Beard....................................................................Julian McCoy Roll-Ark, Son of Simon................................................................................Ana Reali Margot the Assassin............................................................................Aneela Desai Connor the Calm...................................................................................Lexi Carlton Rin of the Raven-hearts.............................................................Sophie Belle Henry Ren of the Raven-hearts........................................................................Lillith Wade Mean Birds of the Dark Wood.......................Bailey Carrozzo, Erin Dawson, Luke

McCammon, Ellie Carlevatti Canyon Man.......................................................................................Neriya Brooks Darkness...........................................................Bailey Carrozzo (Dance Captain), Erin Dawson, Luke McCammon, Ellie Carlevatti, Neriya Brooks Guards................................................................Caitlyn Anderson, Ruby Mangan Gretavillians........................................Jaslyn Jordan, Olivia Mason, Mae Jambe,

Aashvi Shah, Hanna Norander, Martina Bonus, Jamey Helm, Caitlyn Anderson, Ruby Mangan *Denotes senior student

photo by Alex Aguilar 9

Where Words Once Were CREATIVE TEAM Director Rasheeda Moore Assistant Director/Choreographer Tammy Fox Stage Manager Mandy Liles Scenic Design Andrew Gibbon Lighting Design Robyn Warfield Sound Design Tyler Knowles Costume Design Magda Guichard Cutter/Draper & Wardrobe Collette Adatto Props Design Cassie Ward Projections Design John Slechta Deck Chief/Projections Operator Josh Lucero Student Projections Operator Zachary Helm Sound Board Operator Brandy Brogden Light Board Operator Marc Suits "The Song of See Leaf Fall” arranged & performed by Sophie Miller

Run Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes Photography, videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is not allowed.

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CAST Alli............................................................................................................Sarah McElroy* Eila...........................................................................................................Maeve Merrick Gus......................................................................................................Donnie Abeshaus Girl.............................................................................................................Gracie Bryant Isaac...............................................................................................Lee Queveon Tate* Kieran........................................................................................................Sammari Tate Orhan..........................................................................................................Adi Chheda Teacher.........................................................................................................Jude Reali* Ensemble/Silenced One.....................Addison Richards, Allie Joseph, Paige Aprill,

Taylor Hughes, Thomas Gordon Ensemble....................................................Anna Dorsch, Chris Nichols, Clara Fuchs,

EC Tate, Ella Hey, Eva Hurley, Iris Turksonmez*, Jaden Beschea-Fache, Jill Gignac,

Leighton Cooper, Mason Porter, Olivia Nasmyth, Sam Scroggins, Sarah Pineno *Denotes senior student

photo by Alex Aguilar 11

photo courtesy of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

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For more information on all our offerings from classes and camps to theatre productions, visit ctcharlotte.org

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