GRIMMZ Fairy Tales playbill

On Demand

January 2021 - March 2021 DEVELOPED BY CHRISTOPHER PARKS, RAHSHEEM SHABAZZ, AND RON LEE MCGILL

#CelebrateTheArts

Pictured above: Providence Day Middle Schoolers performed the musical ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ in February.

A Lot of Livin’ To Do Providence Day is home to an award-winning performing arts program where students are free to unleash their creativity and self-expression.

ProvidenceDay.org/CelebrateTheArts

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 >

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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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Photos by John Merrick

DEVELOPERS’ NOTE

CAST BIOS

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CREATIVE TEAM/CAST/STAFF

EDUCATION INFORMATION

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Grimmz Fairy Tales Developed By Christopher Parks, Rahsheem Shabazz, and Ron Lee McGill Composed By Kofi Osei Williams and Charles Vincent Burwell Run time 70 minutes Director Christopher Parks Music Director Kofi Osei Williams Choreographer Rahsheem Shabazz Stage Manager Steven James Scenic Designer Tom Burch Costume Designer Magda Guichard Lighting Designer Robyn Warfield Sound Designer Jason Romney

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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 - Christopher Parks Music Director - Kofi Osei Williams Choreographer - Rahsheem Shabazz Stage Manager - Steven James Scenic Designer - Tom Burch Costume Designer - Magda Guichard Lighting Designer - Robyn Warfield Sound Designer - Jason Romney CAST Rahsheem Shabazz - Jay Grimmz Ron Lee McGill - Will Grimmz Octavia Nicole - Player 1 Renee Welsh-Noel - Player 2 Isabel Gonzalez - Player 3

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FOR THIS PRODUCTION Deck Chief – Joshua Lucero Electricians - Brandy Brogden, Marc Suits, Jordan Garon, Daniel DelRio Sound Mixer - Tyler Knowles Light Board Operator - Robyn Warfield First Hand - Mary Hunting Wardrobe Supervisor – Chelsea Retalic Stitchers – Alyssa Whiting Wig Supervisor - Chelsea Raitor Crafts Specialist – Katy Sigmon

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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MASKS The six masks were made using existing latex masks as rough bases. They were coated and altered with fabric and sculptor-coat (a heavier duty, stage version of modge podge) then repainted, hair applied, and sealed with clear enamel. Some were attached to baseball hats and others were attached to dowel today that were acting as handles in the back.

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 It took approximately two weeks and four people to create Diva La’ Queen’s show-stopping coat. The team in the Costume Shop put in time patterning a mock-up, fitting, cutting, building, painting, and applying rhinestones by hand to create the final design seen below.

LIGHTING DESIGN Lighting is an integral part of any show. In GRIMMZ Fairy Tales light cues are used to designate a scene change or set a certain mood during the show. In the scene above colored lights are used to give the feel of being at a concert.

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A NOTE FROM THE DEVELOPERS The world can sometimes be a cruel or unreasonable place, and the challenges we face ask us to decide how we will respond. “What choo ‘gon do?” This is the anthem of our play. “Step up and deliver or stand there and shiver? Be a taker or a giver, a watcher or a liver?” It’s easy to decide what others should do, but when it comes our time and opportunity to speak up for someone or stand beside someone, how will we act? Each of the stories/songs we have chosen to bring to life for you today is a twist on a familiar classic set in a time and place just as relevant as any other. In today’s modern times and with some of today’s music known for rhymes and storytelling and raw, intense content, our Will and Jay Grimmz want to get this stage hoppin’ and all of you stompin’ to a whole new world of fairy tales.

Let the lyric poetry of hip hop celebrate the oneness we all hope for in our community, a place where we can come together to face the challenges so many of us face every day, especially in our urban landscapes. Let the life lessons of these stories be the start of a conversation we have with to find the people we can trust to be with us in times of difficulty and help us to believe in ourselves.

Let’s be the flowers that grow from the concrete. Let’s find joy where people don’t expect it to be.

Let’s transform like the caterpillar, who just when he thought it was the end, became the butterfly.

Hip hop is for everyone. Theater is for everyone. Let’s celebrate that together!

Christopher Parks, Rahsheem Shabazz, and Ron Lee McGill

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Jay “Come to this place rappin’ stories and things, dance on the floor, beat box, and sing.”

Will “Stories for ev’ry she, they, or him. Talking ‘bout stories by the Brothers Grimmz.”

LISTEN TO “CHOPPED RHYMES” > 15

Cast Rahsheem Shabazz (Jay) is thrilled to hit the Stage at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte in this world premiere. His previous roles include (Jace’s Dad) Liars, (Dr. Bird) Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds and (King Julian) Madagascar: A Musical Adventure. He has appeared on CBS’s Under The Dome, as well as many productions at the Actors Theatre of Charlotte. This talented young man is also a Charlotte Hornets Hip hop dancer with the Hive Hip Hop Crew. He would like to give a special shout out, much love and thanks to all cast and crew at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for all the love and support in the development and creation of this special piece. Thank you, LET’S ROCK!!!

Ron Lee McGill (Will) is beyond grateful to be apart of this production with the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. He previously performed in Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt, Last Stop on Market Street, and The Snowy Day and Other Stories. Ron can also be seen in the national advertisement for Meals on Wheels. He would like to thank cast and crew for their trust in bringing this world to life.

Octavia Hall (Player 1) is excited to be returning back to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s stage in rejoining the cast of the GRIMMZ Fairy Tales. Octavia is a native of Anderson, SC and a graduate of Anderson University where she received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC and is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina Charlotte, where she received her graduate certification in Special Education. She is currently re-enrolled at UNCC to pursue her Master’s in Special Education. Octavia has toured internationally performing with her college and the Glory Gospel Singers. Octavia had the opportunity of performing in the 2016 Spoleto Festival as an ensemble member in Porgy and Bess. She recently performed with the Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble and played the role of Sophia, in their stage performance of The Color Purple. Octavia will also be making her debut with Opera Carolina soon, in the amazing show of I Dream by Douglas Tappin.

Octavia loves being on stage, and the remarkable joy of being able to share her voice and passion on stage with her audience.

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Cast Renee Welsh-Noel (Player 2) is a performer and choreographer based in Charlotte, NC. With a BA in Dance from UNC Charlotte, she teaches ballet and Broadway dance styles with the School of Theatre Training at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and is the choreographer for the theatre department at East Mecklenburg High School. Most recently she choreographed their production of Rent. This year, she made her Central Piedmont Community College Summer Theatre debut in Show Boat and Jekyll and Hyde and her Children’s Theatre of Charlotte debut in their production of Peter Pan (Peter Pan). Renee has also made appearances on the Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte stage in American Idiot (Libby), Stick Fly (Cheryl), Passing Strange (Edwina/ Mariana/Sudabey) and The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical (Linoleum). She is thrilled to be returning to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte stage for GRIMMZ.

Isabel Gonzalez (Player 3) is a recent graduate from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is delighted to be back for her second show here at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte! Her first show at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte was The Invisible Boy (Sophie) this past fall. Other recent credits come from Actors Theatre of Charlotte, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Piedmont Players, and Old Courthouse Theatre. A memorable role for her was in Hairspray (Jail Matron) which earned her a 2014 Blumey Nomination for Best Featured Performer. She would like to thank everyone for supporting her journey thus far! Her next adventure you ask?! Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba here at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.

HEAR FROM THE CAST > 17

Creative Team Christopher Parks (Director) is delighted to return to Children's Theatre of Charlotte. Past productions here include Director/Playwright for Journey to Oz, Director for Last Stop on Market Street, Book Writer and Lyricist for The Invisible Boy, and Director/Playwright for Sunjata Kamalenya, presented here in 2014. Other theater for young audiences work he has written and/or directed has been seen at Trike Theatre (Bear State of Mind, The Odyssey Experience, Escaramuza Eréndra: A Cinderella Rodeo), McCarter Theatre Center (The Odyssey Experience; Sunjata Kamalenya; Arabian Nights; Romeo and Juliet; The Adventures of Perseus; The Tempest, a Puppet Play; Lucky Girl), Garden State Children's Theater Company (Healthily Ever After, Aesop's Fables), Rose Bruford London (On Us, The Odyssey Experience), Long Island Children's Museum (Journey to Oz, A Christmas Carol), Florida Repertory Theatre (Dream Within a Dream: The Spirit of Poe), Hangar Theater (Playing at Peter Pan), Cleveland Playhouse (Ms. ViVi's Class: Together), and The John F. Kennedy Center: New Visions, New Voices (Our Sunjata). Christopher is the Producing Artistic Director of the Experiential Theater Company who, together with Children's Theater of Charlotte co-produced the national tour of Journey to Oz, which was also an official selection at the International Performing Arts for Youth Festival in 2017. The Experiential Theater Company was the first-ever American theater company to be invited to perform at the prestigious Babaró International Children’s Theater Festival in Galway. www. exptheater.org Kofi Osei Williams (Music Director) As Chief Executive Officer of Asase Yaa Entertainment Group, LLC, Kofi Osei Williams has ascended to a position of tremendous influence on Af-rican Dance, Music and Culture in Brooklyn, New York where he also oversees the creative and business direction of the affiliated Asase Yaa African-American Dance Theater, Asase Yaa School of the Arts, Asase Yaa Children’s Arts Camp and the non-profit Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation. Beginning as a drummer, Williams scaled the ranks as a student, historian, touring performer, educator, administrator and company co-founder. He has worked with artists ranging from jazz greats Pharaoh Sanders and Dianne Reeves , new age guru Paul Winters to

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Djembe Drum innovator M’Bemba Bangoura , soul chanteuse Erykah Badu and conscious hip hop star Talib Kweli. Detailing his role as CEO with Asase Yaa, Williams states, “I develop our programs, curriculum and run most of our dayto-day operations. I also remain a musician for the dance theater and the summer camp. One of our ongoing core missions has been to bring people from Broadway and professional companies into the neighborhood to teach at affordable prices so kids can benefit and flourish in the arts.” This year, Kofi wrote the play ‘The HBCU Show’ for their Summer Camp, which teaches the value of historical black colleges and the culture behind them. Asase Yaa’s primary goal in producing the various theater productions is to create richly impactful learning experiences beyond books that their students can contribute to and share first hand.

Charles Vincent Burwell (Composer) a Congressional Scholar in Leadership, holds a B.S. in Vocal Music Education from Florida A&M University with emphasis in theater, dance, voice, and ethnomusicology and an MFA in Musical Theatre writing from the Tisch School of the Arts (NYU).

He has worked for dance companies and arts organization such as the Lincoln Center Institute, New York’s City Center Theater, the Katherine Dunham Institute, Trenton Education Dance Institute (TEDI), National Dance Institute, Urban Bush Women, Festival del Caribe (Santiago de Cuba, Cuba), Ile Aiye (Brazil), Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and Bates Dance Festival. He has composed music for the Cairo Opera House Ballet (Cairo, Egypt), National Dance Institute under the Artistic Direction of Jacques d’Amboise (Shanghai, China) as well as the accompanying HBO documentary Jacques D’Amboise in China – THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. Mr. Burwell has sung at New York’s Carnegie Hall and maintains a private studio for vocal instruction while continuing his career as a singer, dancer, actor, and composer.

Steven James (Stage Manager) having just returned home to Charlotte after a time spent in New York City, is thrilled to return to Children’s Theatre Charlotte. Steven has previously been

Creative Team cont’d seen onstage in Last Stop on Market Street and Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. He also toured the Carolinas through their resident touring company in Mr. Popper’s Penguins and The Imaginators. Offstage Steven spent several summers teaching the tiny humans of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Summer Camps to dance and was privileged to choreograph two teen summer musicals as well: Les Miserables and Sweeney Todd and two musicals for the education OnStage program: Bye, Bye Birdie and Urinetown.

Tom Burch (Scenic Designer) Previous credits at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte include: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical; Journey to Oz; Bud, Not Buddy; Coraline, Jackie & Me, and Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. He’s also designed for TYA at Childsplay (Arizona) and Stage One (Louisville), Chicago TYA and Chicago Children’s Theatre. Regionally for adults his work has been seen off Broadway, as well as Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Actors Theatre Louisville, American Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company and others. He began his career in Chicago where he designs regularly for The Hypocrites, Northlight Theatre, and has designed for Chicago Shakespeare, The Goodman, Court, and many others. He’s received 4 nominations (1 win) for Chicago’s Jeff Award. Upcoming projects include shows at Skirball Center (NYC), Pasadena Playhouse (LA), Olney Theatre Center (DC), and the upcoming Aristophanesathon for The Hypocrites (Chicago).

He teaches scenic design at UNCC. Magda Guichard (Costume Designer) has been working with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for eight years, designing costumes for such shows as 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 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 Jason Romney (Sound Designer) is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate once again with the team at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. A few of his favorite projects at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte include Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, Cat in the Hat, The Secret Garden, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical.

He has also designed sound for productions at Triad Stage, Alliance Theatre, Piedmont Opera, Florida Studio Theatre, Imagination Stage, No Rules Theatre, Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy, Playmakers Repertory, Weston Playhouse, Lyric Repertory Company, Ravinia Festival, Utah Festival Opera, Unicorn Pillow Theatre, Elon University, and others. He is a Professor of Sound Design and Assistant Dean of Design and Production at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem North Carolina. He is a proud member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association, and serves as a Vice Commissioner for Sound Design and Technology at the United States Institute for Theatre Technology.

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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 JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Ruby Mangan Seth Burke Journey Dixon Harry Duda Lilly Murchison Brandon Williams Garrett Murchison Fiona Stout Ainslee Kuykendal Ela Cokljat Penelope Long Coby Martin

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

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 EXECUTIVE PRODUCING PARTNERS ($50,000 and more) 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. CENTER STAGE PARTNERS ($3,000 to $4,999) The Daniel, Edward, Cora &

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

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Our Supporters cont’d Laurel & Christopher Socha Susan & Al Stafford* 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 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

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Lucy Bush 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

Our Supporters cont’d Peggy & Steven Burke 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

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Our Supporters cont’d 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 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 Nov. 19, 2020.

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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

s p m a C d n Classes a

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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l a i n o m i t Tes

“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 i v Acti Kids

Brothers put a spin on classic fairy tales in this hip-hop revelation for the younger generation.

Jay and Will Grimmz, the hip-hop fable story dance-pop sensation, have come back home to the city where they grew up to give a concert. The brothers put a modern spin on valuable life lessons in Snow White and the Seven Shawties, Down with Rapunzel, Hanzel & Gretel: Lost in the Streets, and their brand new release Cinderella Remix.

Visit the Pinterest page

Top 4

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHOW

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1. The stories told through hip-hop music in the show are based on classic fairy tales. What is your favorite fairy tale and why?

2. If you could choose a fairy tale to re-tell in today’s times what would it be? How would you change it to fit the year 2021?

3. Hip-hop music is used in this story. What other types of music could you use to tell these stories? Which is your favorite? How would that change the stories?

Rec om

m

ne d

a d e i n R g d e Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters

by John Steptoe

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti

by Gerald McDermott Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist

by Jane Yolen Ninja Red Riding Hood

by Corey Rosen Schwartz

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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