2021-22 season My Wonderful Birthday Suit

BY GLORIA BOND CLUNIE McColl Family Theatre September 25 - October 10, 2021

IN-PERSON PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS

VIRTUAL

CHARLOTTE YOUTH CHOIR

VISUAL ART

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

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Formerly Community School of the Arts

From the Artistic Director Welcome back to the theatre and to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s 74th season! We’ve got an exciting season in store. Our fall is an homage to our pandemic season. Last year we produced and recorded four shows and shared them digitally with schools across North and South Carolina and are now overjoyed to be able to share them, live and in person, with you.

We open with the imaginative world of My Wonderful Birthday Suit written by Gloria Bond Clunie. Then we highlight a piece from The Kindness Project, Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. This is an incredible look at a young boy’s journey as he flees Germany and tries to find refuge in a new country where he doesn’t speak the language. We end our fall with the gentle and beautiful The Velveteen Rabbit. In the spring we are excited to share the story of Tomás Rivera, the child of migrant workers who eventually becomes the first Mexican American chancellor of the University of California, Riverside, in Tomás and the Library Lady. We then return to the wacky and fun world of Dragon’s Love Tacos. We are honored to present Mike Wiley’s One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom and have been working on a brand-new clown piece for our youngest audiences called Pigs is Pigs. However, as we seek to honor the differences in all people, our final show, Shrek the Musical, captures that celebration like none other. I will leave you with the words of Gingy…but these could be the words of any young person today who, deep down, just wants to let their freak flag fly…

“We spend our whole lives wishing We weren’t so freakin’ strange.

They made us feel that way, But it’s they who need to change.

It’s time to stop the hiding.

It’s time to stand up tall.

Say “Hey world, I’m different.

And here I am!

Splinters and all Splinters and all.”

Adam Burke

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Links

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

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

Contents 6

TITLE PAGE

8 9

SHOW SUPPORTERS SEASON INFORMATION

10 12

BEHIND THE SCENES

14 15

CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

DONORS & SUPPORTERS

34 36

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE

CAST BIOS

16 20

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 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, Renee Welsh-Noel & 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 Videotaping, photography and other recording of this production is prohibited.

This show includes a strobe light effect.

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Celebrating All of Life’s Stages Wherever your charitable interest lies, you have the power to create a better community. From establishing your first charitable fund to planning your estate – and every generous act in between – FFTC helps you make a lasting impact.

Inspiring the Art of Philanthropy

www.fftc.org | 704.998.6412 | philanthropy@fftc.org

2021-22 Season

Today’s celebration is brought to life through the generosity of these partners:

Continental Tire the Americas

Cornwell Foundation

Deloitte & Touche LLP

The Shubert Foundation Jennifer Madara

Ken & Lisa Miller*

The Sario Family

Brad & Whitney Vineyard* Children’s Theatre of Charlotte receives

support from the Infusion Fund, a partner ship between the City of Charlotte,

Foundation for The Carolinas and generous

donors to support the arts and cultural sector.

This project was supported in part by and

the North Carolina Arts Council, a division

of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

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

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Welcome Home We’re excited to welcome audiences back in person for an amazing lineup of shows full of love, laughter, and lessons. Thanks to our family of donors for bringing this season to life.

GET DETAILS

My Wonderful Birthday Suit Sept 25 - Oct 10, 2021 For ages 4 and up

Tomás and the Library Lady Jan 29 - Feb 13, 2022 For ages 6 and up

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba Nov 6 - 14, 2021 For ages 9 and up

Dragons Love Tacos Feb 11 - Mar 6, 2022 For ages 4 and up

Shrek the Musical Apr 8 - May 1, 2022 For all ages

The Velveteen Rabbit Dec 4 - 19, 2021 For all ages

One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom Mar 26 - Apr 2, 2022 For ages 9 and up

Pigs is Pigs May 31 - June 12, 2022 For PreK Supported by PNC Foundation

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CREATIVE TEAM Director - Gloria Bond Clunie 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 Renee Welsh-Noel - Shebopshebe Josh Lucero - Puppeteer UNDERSTUDIES Rasheeda Moore Meade Morrison Lexie Wolfe

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FOR THIS PRODUCTION Stage Manager - Steven James Deck Chief - Josh Lucero Electrician - Jordan Garon, Brandy Brogden Sound Mixer - Tyler Knowles Light Board Operator - Kaitlin Davis Carpenter - Greg Lilley Stitcher & Crafts Specialist - Chelsea Retalic Prop Artisans - Jordan Garon, Allison Collins, Chelsea Retalic, 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 Production Director of Production - Steven Levine Interim Costume Shop Manager - Magda Guichard Cutter/Draper - Colette Adatto Resident Stage Manager - Steven James Production Stage Manager - Laura Beth Lee Production Assistant - Alison Wieder Properties Manager - Cassie Ward Technical Director - Andrew Gibbon Master Carpenter - John Slechta Charge Scenic Artist - Tim Parati Resident Sound Designer/AV Supervisor - Tyler Knowles Resident Lighting Designer/Master Electrician - Robyn Warfield Education Director of Education - Michelle Long Early Childhood & SOTT Manager - Adam Montague Camps & Community Programs Manager - Mary Katherine Smith Administrative Assistant - Cat Koski Resident Teaching Artists - Karen Steele & Kaitlin Gentry Development Director of Development – Spencer Clair Associate Director of Development - Scott Tynes-Miller Operations & Special Events Manager - Lauren Taylor Individual Giving Manager- Olivia Horton Marketing and Communications Director of Marketing & Communications - Cindy Taylor Associate Director of Marketing - Rob Odum Customer Experience Manager - Ashley Hughes Social Media Maven – Alex Aguilar Sales & Marketing Analyst - Nick Taylor School Performance Coordinator/Staff EDI Lead - Arlethia Hailstock 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 Sallie Beason Kristin Black Mary Alice Boyd Julio Colmenares Leigh Hickman Ben Hume Stephanie Isham William Jefferson Mitchell Kelling Shirley Lamm Rebecca Lindahl Salem McMullan Jennifer Madara Catherine Malone Scott Manning Lisa Miller Maddie Myers Mallory Navin Kerbie Neal Stacia Neugent Kristen Sario Chris Socha Nichelle Weintraub Judith Whelan April Whitlock Honorary Lifetime Members Robin Branstrom Carla DuPuy Peter Flur Cynthia Lank Linda Lockman-Brooks

Advisory Board Robin Branstrom Tom Eiselt Jami Farris Peter Flur Gina Lawrence ENCORE! President Caryn Craige

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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 moonshaped 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. 150 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 simply delighted to return to My Wonderful Birthday Suit with old friends and new. Courtney has a BA in Music and has performed as a soprano soloist in the Columbia, SC area in addition to teaching voice and music directing. Courtney was a member of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s 2019-20 Touring Company, performing the roles of Julia in The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and Hilda Meisberg in Accidental Friends. She also appeared in last year’s virtual season as the Boy in The Velveteen Rabbit and Oobladee in My Wonderful Birthday Suit.

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

could not wait to begin performing in front of live audiences again as he worked to reprise his role in this wonderful play. A graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, he has performed with the Resident Touring Company (Rapunzel, Spelling 2-5-5, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Accidental Friends), and has appeared in a number of short films. When not working onstage, Will builds and maintains pipe organs. He also enjoys reading in his spare time, and caring for his beloved house plants.

RENEÉ WELSH-NOEL (Shebopshebe)

is a teacher, choreographer, and performer based in Charlotte, NC. With a BA in Dance from UNC Charlotte, she teaches dance and musical theatre 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. She also recently choreographed Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte’s production of Rock of Ages. She has made appearances on stage at Central Piedmont Community College Summer Theatre in Show Boat and Jekyll and Hyde (ensemble), Children’s Theatre of Charlotte in Peter Pan (Peter Pan) and GRIMMZ Fairy Tales (Rapunzel/Snow White) and Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte in American Idiot (Libby), Stick Fly (Cheryl), and The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical (Linoleum). She is thrilled to be returning to the Children’s Theatre stage as Shebopshebe in My Wonderful Birthday Suit.

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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.

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 The-

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atre), 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.

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 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.

Robyn Warfield (Lighting Designer) is excited to be working with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for her fourth season. She graduated with her MFA in Design from the University of North Caro-

Creative Team cont’d lina 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

Matilda’s library desk and Snoopy’s doghouse, or flying children in Peter Pan. When not on these stages, he can be found loading in/out at venues all over town for IA 322 and Wink Lights. As with all his work in the arts, he does so in loving memory of his little brother, Ben.

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 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.

Josh Lucero (Puppeteer) is excited to return for his 66th production with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. In this adventure, he works double duty as deck chief and puppeteer for Bobo. In the past, he could be found hiding inside such scenery as

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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 y making a gift to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, B 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 WAYS TO GIVE

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Birthdays

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

September A.J. Harriss Samantha Anne Star Chandler Head Josie Duda Nicolas Wiggins-Moore

October Chase Arning Ava Leblanc Alex Echevarria Bentley Dawson Daniel DeLucia Grayson Olzinski Allison Martin Charles McBroom Charlie Olzinski Mary Caldwell Amelia Gregg

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

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.

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Our Supporters CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS PRESENTING SEASON SPONSOR Bank of America Foundation

LEADING ROLE PARTNER ($1,000 to $2,999)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCING PARTNERS ($50,000 and more)

Ally Financial, Inc. The Britton Foundation Lancaster County Community Foundation Moore & Van Allen PLLC Morgan Stanley Wealth Management New Day Wellness Center PLLC True Homes Foundation

Arts & Science Council North Carolina Arts Council PNC Foundation The Leon Levine Foundation Sandra & Leon Levine The Shubert Foundation The Women’s Impact Fund Thrive Fund for the Arts The Infusion Fund PRODUCING PARTNERS ($25,000 to $49,999) National Endowment for the Arts Triad Foundation DIRECTING PARTNERS ($10,000 to $24,999) BlackArch Partners C.D. Spangler Foundation, Inc. Continental Tire the Americas, LLC. Daniel, Ratliff & Company SPX Corporation STANDING OVATION PARTNERS ($5,000 to $9,999) Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Cornwell Foundation Edifice, Inc. K&L Gates LLP Publix Super Markets Charities The Dickson Foundation, Inc. CENTER STAGE PARTNERS ($3,000 to $4,999) Deloitte & Touche LLP The Daniel, Edward, Cora & Strickland Foundation

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LEADING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($25,000 & up)

Our Supporters cont’d INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS We recognize and thank our generous donors who gave July 1, 2020 to September 20, 2021.

Our annual donors are recognized at the most current giving level.

LEADING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($25,000 and more) Rob & Kate Buckfelder ($10,000 - $24,999) Dorlisa & Peter Flur Arrington & Burch Mixon Carson & Andrew Tate Tammy Stringer & Richard Viola ($5,000 - $9,999) Omid & Julie Ahdieh Robin & Bill Branstrom* Dr. Daniel Donner Reemprise Fund* Mr. & Mrs. Greg Gonzalez Travis & Lise Hain* Matthew & Ashley Joseph* Mitchell Kelling Bruce & Anita LaRowe Howard & Julie Levine Jennifer & Eric Madara Ann & Scott Manning Pat Burgess & Joan Martin* Brian & Laura Murdock* Jennifer & Jack Ross The Sario Family ($3,000 - $4,999) Herb & Gina Clegg* Rob & Caryn Craige The Hensley Family* Ryan & Danielle Hutcheson* Ken & Lisa Miller* Maddie & Brian Myers* Stacia and Charlie Neugent* Linda Reynolds* Angela & Josh Scholl* Brad & Whitney Vineyard* Nichelle & Sasha Weintraub* Judith & Matthew Whelan* April & Thomas Whitlock*

($1,000 - $2,999) Stephen & Carolyn Allred Allyson & Scott Mr. & Mrs. Richard R. Babcock Kristin Black* Crandall Bowles* Mary Alice Boyd Andrea Brown* Tamara Budz Danielle & Adam Burke Julie & Stoke Caldwell* John & Tracy Chandler Spencer Clair & Chris Loyd Amy & Alfred Dawson Jessica & Craig DeLucia Sidney & Andres Echevarria Tom & Julie Eiselt* Christi & Will Farr Beth & Gaston Gage* Magda Guichard Watts & Carol Hamrick Brad & Karen Harris David & Marti Head* Scott & Claire Helm Leigh Hickman Ben & Christy Hume Stephanie & Ryan Isham LaKeisha & William Jefferson Tammy & Greg Jones Shirley Lamm Cynthia & Dave Lank* Jeff & Deborah Long, In Honor of Miss Penelope Long Bruce & Michelle Long Allison Malloy Michele & Steve Mangan* Michael & Leslie Marsicano Heather & Scott McAllister Seah & Robert McCammon Valecia McDowell Salem & Sean McMullan Jenny & Bill Merlo* Teri Miller David Miller, In Honor of Auctus Advisors Clients Mallory Navin & Joe Shreve

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Our Supporters cont’d Kerbie & Brandon Neal* Anna & Tom Nelson John & Suzy Nurkin John & Ann Porter The Porter Family Tim & Michelle Rogers* Krysta & Russ Cearley Janet & Joshua Smith Laurel & Christopher Socha Stephen & Stephanie Sorenson* Susan & Al Stafford* Scott & Robin Tynes-Miller Sandy & Greg Vlahos ($500 - $999) Zack Budzichowski Elizabeth & Anthony Cassano Dallas & Kathy Craven Ina DeRochi Melissa Dorsch Kurtis Douge Patrick & Doreen English Vickie & Tom Gabbard Mohan Giridharadas John & Mara Gose Sally & Drew Harriss Steve & Mary Hunting John Curry Louise & Jerry Lawson The Viola Alexander Lyles Foundation David & Laurie Martin Rasheeda Moore Ruthann Granito Kirsten & Michael Phalen Margie & Francisco Pinto-Leite* Stephen Redmond Candace & Michael Salamone The Marc and Mattye Silverman Family Foundation* Cindy & Rob Taylor* Patrick & Elizabeth Vaughn Amy Vitner Brian & Laura Walger* Jennifer Plyler & Bert Wray Mem Zolak

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SUPPORTING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($250 - $499) Mary-Stuart Parker Alderman Fund Sylvia Allen Elizabeth & Benjamin Allison Emily & Lawrence Andress Anonymous Donor Linda & Jim Ashford+ Kimberly Augenbraun Anna & Matthew Brothers Laura & Doug Caldwell Dawn Connell Barry & Nancy Deel Susanne Doring The Duda Family Katharine Dullaghan Rachel & Rob Ellis* John Gibbon* Courtney Guin Mr. Frank Hruby & Mrs. Tatyana Rector Josh & Liana Humphrey Mia, Drew, Mari & Andy Jones Katie and Drew Williams Laura Kendrick Kathi & John Knier Charles & Brenda LaBorde* Wil Brooks & Linda Lockman-Brooks* Franklin McClelland Andy & Shelley Misiaveg Alicia Prescott Caroline Olzinski Jerry & Cookie Parnell Catherine Philpott Rich & Woods Potts The Qasim Family Andy & Emily Reynolds* Angela Shane Molly Shaw & David Webb Carol Smitherman Carrie & J.T. Teixeira Kathleen Valenti Amy Vavra The Waller Family LeeAnne & Bill Whitley* Louise & Dick Woods*

Our Supporters cont’d ($100 - $249) Natalie Alston Karen Aman, Dave, Matthew, & Joshua Edwards* Mike & Kellye Arning Mary & Clint Barlow David Barnaba Megan Bates Taylor & Lauren Batten* Sallie & Gary Beason* Dina Beelaert Mr. & Mrs. Alan Blumenthal Mike & Jane Bufkin Mike & Jane Bufkin Lucy Bush Laura Cameron Matt Caragher Nancy & Kern Carlton* Amy Chandler Kakie & Colin Cheek Nancy Clair Mike & Katharine Cowan* Mary Ann Cross Shelley Davis Dennis Delamar* Bill & Janny DeLoache* Kendra Dodds Heather & Greg Feldman The Campos & Flansburg Family Elsie Flowers Anne Marie Forbes* Justin & Kate Garton Cynthia & Henry Gass Andrew Gibbon Bill & Pam Giono* Gary & Pushpa Gross Nachette Hadden Margaret & Gary Hemric Margaret Hemric Kara Hernandez Steve & Christie Hinshaw Martha Hirsch Olivia & Andrew Horton Stephanie Hurtado-Hoyos Don & Laurie Hutchins Lois Kilkka* Ann Kimbro & Mark Smith Anonymous

Tanisha LaShun Tony & Sarah Lathrop* Ava & Jake Leblanc Sandra & Leon Levine Steven Levine & Shawnna Pledger Jennie & Louis Loyd John & Robin Maxwell Mary Ellen & Chuck McElroy Linda Miller, In Memory of Sarah Peacock Lee & Beth Neale* Christine Noah* Anna Patel Daniel Peterson Kirk & Stephanie Phipps* Emily Porges Mr. & Mrs. Jason Rhymer* Melissa Robertson Jennifer Schaperjohn Whitney Seeburg Howard Sendrovitz & David Sinclair Julie Sheffer Laura Shwedo John Slechta Robert Squibb Joe & Rosalind Taylor Hank West Marsha E. Wiggins Dr. Gabrielle Williams ($50 - $99) Aurora Achong Ana Acosta Alex Aguilar Michael & Catherine Aldridge Matthew Amrit Anonymous Donor Lizzy Bakhaus Sekiya Billman Donna Bise & Greg Ring* Mary Budd Ms. Shirley Butterworth Flannery Clair Kelly Clair Annie Clarke Roger & Ginny Cobb* Arlie Crumbliss Blair Donald*

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Our Supporters cont’d Corey Easterday Cheryl Endy Kate Fletcher Curt Flood & Kay James & Berri Flood Emily Forfar Jordan Gougeon Natasha Grant-Dean Ms. Mary Hackenberg Tim Hager* Browning Hemric Kristina & Thomas Hoops Jinna Kim Louis Leone Bill Martin & Jennifer Davis-Martin Patricia Massey Hoke Ariel & Brad Gritter Emily Mills Adam Montague Will Moody Michael Murphy Tracie Northan Ashley & Daniel Norton

Catherine & Rob Odum* Catherine Ogburn Kelly Parks Yogini Parmar Stephanie Poliakoff Elizabeth Ponder Ellen Rankin Shannon & Rob Reichley Stanley Ruppe Carrie Schwanter Brandon Scott Aubree Slaven Matt & Sherese Smith Kathy & Bill Southerland* Kristin Tart Lindsey Trueman Judson Vann Sarah Verardo Cassie Ward Jayke Watson James Weng David & Tracy Whittington

+ Indicates deceased * 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 Andrea Brown 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

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

We appreciate your support. If we have misspelled or omitted your name, please call our Development Office at 704-973-2804.

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• Appreciation of a child’s

individuality • Lively, joyful learning • Real world experiences • A legacy of consistent

educational excellence

980-355-0900 2830 Dorchester Pl, Charlotte, NC 28209

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Our Supporters cont’d Children’s Theatre of Charlotte receives support from the Infusion Fund, a partnership between the City of Charlotte, Foundation for The Carolinas and generous donors to support the arts and cultural sector. Contributors to the fund include: Multimillion Dollar Commitment City of Charlotte $1.5 million and above Bank of America C.D. Spangler Foundation / National Gypsum Company John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Trane Technologies $600,000 - $1 million Albemarle Foundation Atrium Health Barings Duke Energy Honeywell JELD-WEN, Inc. LendingTree Foundation Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Novant Health Red Ventures Truist $300,000-$600,000 Ally Financial The Centene Charitable Foundation Childress Klein Properties Coca-Cola Consolidated Deloitte EY The Gambrell Foundation Moore & Van Allen PwC Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Rodgers Builders

Wells Fargo 28

Up to $300,000 Fifth Third Bank Foundation For The Carolinas Deidre and Clay Grubb Leslie and Michael Marsicano Jane and Hugh McColl Nucor Corporation PNC Bank Premier, Inc. Jane and Nelson Schwab

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Join us for an Admissions Open House Visit www.thefletcherschool.org to sign up now!

(704) 365-4658 | @fletcherfalcons

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Caryn Craige, ENCORE! President April Whitlock, Marketing Committee Chair Mitzi Lynch, Production Committee Co-Chair Sally Vlahos, Production Committee Co-Chair Teri Miller, Education Committee Co-Chair Melissa Dorsch, Education Committee Co-Chair Emily Agnew Mary Barlow Vicki Beachum Kate Buckfelder Julie Caldwell Nancy Carlton Leesa Clardy Gina Clegg 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 Sally Harriss Marti Head Catherine Hensley Tammy Herrmann Kathi Knier Cynthia Lank Michele Managan

Tammy Jones, Outreach Committee Co-Chair Kerbie Neal, Outreach Committee Co-Chair Sallie Beason, Fall Event Chair Nichelle Weintraub, The Winter Wonderland Shop Chair Laura Walger, Celebrate! Chair Jennifer Martin Claire Marston Diana Jones Laurie Hutchins Mary-Margaret Kantor Heather McAllister Mary Ellen McElroy Mallory Miller Catherine Monroe Josie Morris Laura Murdock Beth Neale Suzy Nurkin Cookie Parnell Elizabeth Ponder

Mary Margaret Porter Kerri Porter Woods Potts Jennifer Plyler Sarah Ryan Ginger Seabrook Karen Shane Sherese Smith Susan Stafford Marsha Thrasher Brittany Vanderlinden Liz Waller Marsha Wiggins Katie Williams

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A scene from The Velveteen Rabbit

When is the last time you experienced or shared kindness?

The Kindness Project is an initiative Children’s Theatre of Charlotte launched in 2017 to develop and commission original plays for young audiences that are grounded in actively displaying kindness toward others.

LEARN ABOUT THE PLAYS SUPPORT THE PROJECT

A scene from Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba A part of The Kindness Project

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Tickets to Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba on sale now

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Classes and Camps

AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS Children’s Theatre of Charlotte offers a wide variety of 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 Oobladah 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

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ne d

a d e i n R g d e

The Skin You Live In

by Michael Tyler

Shades of People

by Shelley Rotner

Skin Again

by Bell Hooks

Side by Side

by Rachel Bright

It’s Okay to Be Different

by Todd Parr

Neither

by Airlie Anderson

The Colors of Us

by Karen Katz

Ribbit!

by Rodrigo Folguiera 37