Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba playbill

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba

BY CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE

On Demand

March 2021 - May 2021

BY MARGARITA ENGLE | ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY LM FELDMAN

2020 Photo; “Peter Pan”

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From the r o t c e r i D Artistic

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Your skin is brown.”

Adam Burke

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WATCH THE :30 TRAILER >

Photos by John Merrick and Cindy Taylor

Contents 6

TITLE PAGE

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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

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THE KINDNESS PROJECT

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CREATIVE TEAM/CAST/STAFF

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BEHIND THE SCENES

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DIRECTOR’S NOTE

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ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

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CAST BIOS

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CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

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DONORS & SUPPORTERS

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EDUCATION INFORMATION

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ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba

By Margarita Engle Adapted for the stage by LM Feldman Adapted from TROPICAL SECRETS. Copyright © 2009 by Margarita Engle.

Performed by arrangement with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers.

All rights reserved.

Director David Winitsky Stage Manager Brenna Skinnon Scenic Designer Anita J. Tripathi Costume Designer Magda Guichard Lighting Designer Robyn Warfield Composer Raphael Torn Sound Designer Tyler Knowles Dramaturg Carmen Pelaez Dramaturg Wendy Bable A very special thanks to Dorlisa, Peter and Arella Flur for their generous support of Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba as part of The Kindness Project.

Special thanks to: • The Leon Levine Foundation – Sandra and Leon Levine • Larry and Dale Polsky • Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center Cultural Arts Department This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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

CTCHARLOTTE.ORG 7

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one small gesture can change the world

The Kindness Project is an initiative from Children’s Theatre of Charlotte to develop and commission original plays for young audiences that are grounded in actively displaying kindness toward others. Since it’s inception, four world-premiere plays including Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba have been produced.

Read more at ctcharlotte.org/kindness

Last Stop on Market Street

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

The Invisible Boy

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba

We’ve invested in this project because we recognize the power simple acts of kindness hold. And we did this for one simple reason: to spread kindness wherever we can and to encourage children to act kindly toward others.

Share your story #CTCKindnessProject

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CREATIVE TEAM Director – David Winitsky Stage Manager – Brenna Skinnon Scenic Designer – Anita J. Tripathi Costume Designer – Magda Guichard Lighting Designer - Robyn Warfield Composer – Raphael Torn Sound Designer – Tyler Knowles Dramaturg – Carmen Pelaez Dramaturg – Wendy Bable CAST Daniel – Adrian Thornburg Paloma – Isabel Gonzalez David – Tom Scott Papa – Frank Dominguez Marta – Margaret Dalton Miriam – Paula Baldwin Child – Zoe Mila Aiken Percussionist – Raphael Torn Pianist – Charlene Thomas

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UNDERSTUDIES Thomas Costello Kayla Ferguson Rasheeda Moore FOR THIS PRODUCTION Deck Chief – Jordan Garon Monitor Mixer – Brandy Brogden Light Board Operator – Troy Morelli Carpenter – Greg Lilley Wardrobe Supervisor, Stitcher & Crafts Artisan – Chelsea Retalic Props Artisans – Allison Collins, Katy Sigmon SPECIAL THANKS Stacy Schiller, Claire Hilton, Leslie Niessner, Susan Cherin, Penina Polsky, Charlotte Christian School Music Department

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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COSTUME DESIGN

Paloma’s costume for the carnival scene consisted of a cape and hat. The hat was made from scratch with a buckram base covered with blue peachskin then white organza “feather” fabric, and white ostrich feathers up the back. An elastic was added to keep it on her head.

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.

The masks (and the head on the pole) were made using a 3D paper pattern, printed on to paper that was adhered to cardstock and taped together. Gaffer’s tape was used as an adhesive fabric and was coated in spray-on plasti-dip before being painted in the style of Carnival masks and costumes from the 1930s and 1940s.

LIGHTING DESIGN

Lighting is an integral part of any show. 99 light cues are used on in Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba to designate a scene change or set a certain mood during the show.

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Note From the Director When Adam [artistic director] first contacted me about this project, I had two immediate thoughts: a) this is going to be awesome because the Kindness Project is genius, and b) how can we tell a different kind of Holocaust story?

Because I’m going to say something a bit controversial here: I don’t believe that the goal of Holocaust education - particularly for young people - should be “Never Forget”. If every child in the U.S. had every date and event in the horrendous history of this pivotal 20th Century moment implanted in their brain, that would only solve half of the equation. Knowledge of the past is critical to preventing its recurrence. However, I believe that the goal of Holocaust education is to inspire action in today’s world.

I am so lucky that Adam, the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and my great collaborator, playwright LM Feldman, were brave enough to take that leap towards action, and to embark on a journey to find a new story. We read dozens of great pieces of Holocaust literature for youth until we came upon Margarita Engel’s fascinating and unexpected Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba.

This story pulls no punches, and it never takes a child’s intelligence or experience for granted. It recognizes that, as one of our protagonists says “Bad things happen to children. And Bad things happen to the people children love.” In this story, parents leave and families are pulled apart at the border. Loved ones are killed and relationships are torn asunder across the ocean. As hard as they are, we believe that kids can see and grapple with these things. They see them in the world around them every day.

What is so remarkable about our heroes, Daniel and Paloma, is that even as they feel the full weight of these events in their lives, they go ahead and do something better. They respond to each other’s needs with kindness, they respond to the people in need around them with strong action, and they respond to the needs of strangers at risk with bravery and big dreams. These actions - these deeds of kindness - are at the heart of this story.

It is my great hope that all the educators who encounter this play talk about this with their students, and all the parents talk about it with their children. Please, tell them about the history of the Holocaust. Tell them about the darkness and the pain. But then talk about these two young people, and how they responded. Talk to your kids about how they are capable of the same.

This is what we need from Holocaust education: generations of kids who know in their bones that the key to preventing future anti-Semitism - or racism, or misogyny or xenophobia or any other kind of unfounded hatred - is acts of kindness and bravery in the present.

Thank you for watching our show. I hope it inspires you to kindness.

David Winitsky 14

About the Playwright L M Feldman is a queer, feminist playwright and deviser. She loves theater that is brave, physical, honest, and slightly impossible. Her plays include THRIVE, OR WHAT YOU WILL (American Shakespeare Center, Kitchen Dog New Works Festival, New Georges Audrey Residency, Page 73 Residency, InterAct Core Playwrights); ANOTHER KIND OF SILENCE (Colorado New Play Festival, FEWW Prize Honorable Mention, Magic Theatre Play Festival, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, PlayPenn Conference, Playwrights Realm Fellowship); AMANUENSIS, OR THE MILTONS (Emerson Stage, Georgetown University, Northwoods Ramah Theatre commission); THE EGG-LAYERS (Jane Chambers Honorable Mention, New Georges/Barnard College co-commission); GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING (Denver Center, Brown Paper Box Co., Art House Productions, Nice People Theatre, ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award Nomination, Barrymore Nomination); and A PEOPLE (Orbiter 3, YiddishFest, Jewish Plays Project); as well as several ensemble-devised works, including GUMSHOE (New Paradise Labs + the Free Library of Philadelphia + the Rosenbach Museum), WAR OF THE WORLDS: PHILADELPHIA (Swim Pony + Drexel University), AND IF YOU LOSE YOUR WAY, OR A FOOD ODYSSEY (The Invisible Dog, New York Innovative Theatre Award Nomination), LADY M (Philadelphia Live Arts Festival), and the full-length circus-theater show TINDER & ASH (SummerStage NYC, Orchard Project Residency, TOHU Residency).

She has been nominated for the Wendy Wasserstein Prize, Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award, the Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award, and twice for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. An alumna of the Yale School of Drama and the New England Center for Circus Arts, L is also a contemporary circus artist. She has performed works of circus-theater internationally, and she works as an artistic coach/dramaturg for circus artists around the country. She loves theater that moves, and circus that tells stories. L has lived in seven cities and is now based in Philadelphia – where she is a proud member of Orbiter 3, a New Georges Affiliated Artist, and a teacher and coach of playwriting and contemporary circus. TROPICAL SECRETS: HOLOCAUST REFUGEES IN CUBA is her newest play. These days she’s working on an EST/Sloan commission about the Mercury 13 (13 female astronaut candidates who fought for the right to go to space). www.laurenfeldman.com

Photo by Joanna Eldredge Morrissey

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Cast Adrian Thornburg (Daniel) is so happy to be working with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte again, especially to help tell such an impactful and timely story.

His previous roles include Brian in the world premiere production of The Invisible Boy, Stink in Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt, and Jimmy Biddle in Pete the Cat. He has also appeared in Central Piedmont Community College productions as Steve Baker in Show Boat, and ensemble in both Jekyll & Hyde and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. He also got to play Feste in a Zoom production of Twelfth Night that he and some of his friends threw together, which was not professional but very fun and fulfilling.

Isabel Gonzalez (Paloma) is a graduate from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is ecstatic to be back at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba! You may have previously seen her on our stages in The Invisible Boy (Sophie) and most recently in the filmed and stage versions of GRIMMZ Fairy Tales (Actress 3)! She would like to thank everyone for supporting her journey thus far and is excited to see what the future has in hold for her since 2016.

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Tom Scott (David) is very honored and excited with his debut at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. He has been a stage actor for a very long time, with progressively older and older roles. Some of his favorites, some of which you may have heard of, include C.K. Dexter Haven in The Philadelphia Story, Edgar Cayce in The Freak, Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Harold in Orphans, Rembrandt in Rembrandt’s Gift, and Ray in Yankee Tavern. Noteworthy is that fact that Tom has never missed a performance, not one, ever. He is a retired Industrial Hygienist and spends some of his waking hours serving the Cumberland County Schools in Tennessee trying to teach kids how to be great.

Frank Dominguez (Papa) Since 1994, Frank has been a familiar voice to classical music listeners on WDAV, and is currently General Manager as well as host of the Night Music weeknights at 9 and Concerto Sunday evenings at 6. Because of his work on Concerto Frank earned nominations for the Personality of the Year and Programmer of the Year awards at the 2012 Hispanic Radio Conference in San Diego. In addition, he has worked extensively in local theater as an actor and director, including productions for Three Bone Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, CAST, Theatre Charlotte and Opera Carolina. He holds a BFA in Theater from Adelphi University as well as MA and MFA degrees from the University of New Orleans.

Cast Margaret Dalton (Marta) is delighted to be returning to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. Past credits here include: Older Wendy in Peter Pan, Blue Dog in Go! Dog! Go!, Mrs. Barrington in Grace for President, The Woman in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Ella Cinders in Ella’s Big Chance, Sally in The Cat in the Hat, and a season with the resident touring company. Other select professional credits include: five tours with the National Theatre for Children, a national tour of The Taffetas (Cheryl), a regional tour of Miss Nelson is Missing! (Miss Nelson/Viola Swamp), Evil Dead: The Musical (Linda), Hatfields & McCoys (Nancy McCoy), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene), and High School Musical (Gabriella). Ms. Dalton received her Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Elon University. www.margaretdalton.com Paula Baldwin (Miriam) is an award-winning actor, director and retired theatre educator.

Although this show marks her debut with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Paula is no stranger to local audiences having performed with Three Bone Theatre, Central Piedmont Community College Summer Theatre, Matthews Playhouse, Carolina Actors Studio Theatre and Theatre Charlotte. Some of her favorite roles include: Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Annie in Foxfire, Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Barbara in August: Osage County, Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Big Edie in Grey Gardens and Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! She holds a Master of Fine

Arts degree in Acting/ Directing from University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Catawba College where she was recently inducted into the Blue Masque Hall of Fame.

Zoe Mila Aiken (Child) is nine years old and has been studying Drama with Children’s Theater of Charlotte since the age of three. Zoe is involved and has performed in numerous plays at the Theatre and has participated in the summer programs every year. She is now in the SOTT program at Children’s Theatre and has performed in their OnStage program. Zoe has also performed in all Little Rock AME Zion Church’s activities, and was the first Little Miss Sunday School at Church, which she takes great pride in. Zoe has written and copyrighted several of her own poems and is working on a book. She also a very good anime artist. Zoe is an Honor Roll student at Parkside Elementary, where she also participates in the Drama and Chess Clubs. She is a avid golf player, basketball, swimmer and loves her violin. But theater is her first love and nothing gives her more joy then being on the stage.

MEET THE CAST >

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Creative Team David Winitsky (Director) is the Interim Producing Artistic Director at the Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca, NY and founder of the Jewish Plays Project, a new play incubator in New York City. Directing and Assisting: Broadway, off-Broadway, and regionally at Papermill Playhouse and Steppenwolf Theater.

NYC: Displaced Wedding (New Worlds Theatre Project). A Wonderful Flat Thing (14th St Y), Brooke Berman’s Until We Find Each Other (Best of Festival, MITF). Regional: The Assignment by Camillo Almonacid, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Our Dad is in Atlantis by Javier Malpica and The Fantasticks. With the JPP, David has developed 50 plays, 30 of which have gone on to production and further development in New York, London, Canada, Tel Aviv and around the U.S. He is a Fellow of UJA’s Institute for Jewish Executive Leadership at Columbia Business School, a Storahtelling/LabShul Maven, a 2014-17 UpStart National Fellow, a 2013 LABA Artist Fellow, and a 2011 PresenTense New York City Fellow. Previous leadership roles include Playwrights Theater (Producing Director), What Exit? Comedy Theater (Co-Artistic Director), and the Obie Award-winning HERE Arts Center (General Manager). MFA in Directing (Northwestern); BA in Mathematics (Cornell). Proud husband of Elizabeth Samet, and thankful father of Ezekiel (20) and Alexander (17).

Brenna Skinnon (Stage Manager) is a Charlotte native who grew up watching Children’s Theatre of Charlotte productions. She holds a BFA from University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Other Children’s Theatre of Charlotte of credits include stage managing Pete the Cat, The Velveteen Rabbit, and ASM/Student Supervisor for Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Some of her favorite credits include stage management intern for Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles LOVE and Making Wishes Grow an annual variety show for a Make a Wish she does every year. Special thanks goes out her family and friends.

Anita J. Tripathi (Scenic Designer) is the Assistant Professor of Design and Technology at Davidson

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College and is super excited to be working on the world premiere of Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. Her professional design credits include Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Playmakers Repertory Summer Youth Conservatory, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (LORT B), Greenbrier Valley Theatre and The Virginia Stage Company (LORT D, resident scene designer). She has also worked regionally as both a properties master and scenic charge and has assisted Tony Award-winning designer David Gallo on a number of productions. In 2013, the World Stage Design Exhibition featured her work as a finalist, and she received a United States Institute for Theatre Technology Fellowship to support her research in India. Anita earned a Master of Fine Arts in scene design from the University of South Carolina, and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.

View more of her design work at anitajtripathi. com.

Magda Guichard (Costume 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.

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,

Creative Team cont’d 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 Raphael Torn (Composer) is a percussionist and composer based in New York City. He was featured as a percussionist in the hit musical Disney’s The Lion King in Las Vegas, Shanghai and New York City. Raphael also toured the world for 2 years with Cirque du Soleil. Other major credits include performances with Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra and the multiple grammy award winning Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. Raphael is a proud member of the musicians union Local 802, and holds a BA from NYU (’02) and an MFA from NJCU (’20).

Tyler Knowles (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be returning to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for his third season and working on The Velveteen Rabbit! Tyler received his BFA and MFA in Sound Design and Technology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Tyler has recently worked on Akeelah and the Bee, The Invisible Boy, Accidental Friends, Pete the Cat, Last Stop on Market Street, and The Lion and the Little Red Bird here at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. He has also worked at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre on shows such as Schoolhouse Rock Live, Go Dog. Go!, and Cat in the Hat. He is also an early career member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association.

Wendy Bable (Dramaturg) is a freelance director, dramaturg, and writer who creates theatrical encounters for both young audiences and adults, and specializes in the development of new work. Her artistic practice explores the intersection between theatre-making, neurodiversity, and the cognitive-emotional benefits of play. She was nominated for Best Director by the Austin Critic’s Table for her work on Seussical, the Musical and Still Life with Iris, was selected for ASSITEJ International Directing Seminar cohort in Cologne, Germany, and has been named a Winifred Ward Scholar by the American Alliance for Theater and Education. Wendy’s direction of The Transition of Doodle Pequeño was featured at the Kennedy Center’s New Visions/New Voices festival, and she was a member of the devising artistic team that created [SHIFT] with the National Theatre of Scotland. She is currently collaborating with director David Shiner and playwright Juliette Dunn on The Puzzle, is a writer for TYA/USA, and is the President of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY.)

Carmen Pelaez (Dramaturg) is an award-winning actor and writer and filmmaker and is honored to work on Tropical Secrets with such a wonderful and caring team. Previous work includes Rum & Coke (Off-Broadway), Fake (Miami New Drama), The Acting Lesson (HBO Latino) and Mango Season (Festival Circuit). She has also written for the New York Times, NBC Latino, Huffpo and Marie Claire. She just completed a 3 month run of 7 Deadly Sins and is currently she is working on her play The Cuban Vote for Miami New Drama and developing the series Tropical Beasts. You can follow her exploits on insta @carmenmpelaez or twitter @carmenpelaez

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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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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 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. Publix Super Markets Charities SteelFab,Inc.

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CENTER STAGE PARTNERS ($3,000 to $4,999) The Daniel, Edward, Cora & Strickland Foundation The Britton Foundation LEADING ROLE PARTNER ($1,000 to $2,999) Ally Financial Charlotte Roller Derby ECM Solutions Lancaster County Community Foundation Morgan Stanley Wealth Management New Day Wellness Center PLLC True Homes Foundation Union County Community Foundation

Our Supporters cont’d INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS LEADING PLAYERS SOCIETY ($25,000 & up) Rob & Kate Buckfelder Dorlisa & Peter Flur* ($10,000 - $24,999) Travis & Lise Hain* Arrington & Burch Mixon* Jennifer & Jack Ross The Sario Family Tammy Stringer & Richard Viola ($5,000 - $9,999) Robin & Bill Branstrom Danielle & Adam Burke Dr. Daniel Donner Bryan & Jami Farris The Hensley Family* Mr. & Mrs. Greg Gonzalez Mitchell Kelling* Edward & Florence Kim Bruce & Anita LaRowe* Howard & Julie Levine Brian & Laura Murdock* Lisa & Glenn Sherrill Angela & Josh Scholl* Stephanie & Stephen Sorenson* Quanteer Williams ($3,000 - $4,999) Dr. Kristin Black* Joan Martin & Patrick Burgess* Herb & Gina Clegg* John & Nancy Dickson Ryan & Danielle Hutcheson* LaKeisha & William Jefferson Ashley & Matthew Joseph* Sarah & Mike Kaminski Catherine & Jerry Malone Lisa & Ken Miller Maddie & Brian Myers* 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 Allison & Mike Malloy Barbara & Doug Marken Leslie & Michael Marsicano Heather & Scott McAllister Seah & Robert McCammon Valecia McDowell 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* Zack Budzichowski Stephanie Castles Debra & Keith Clark Veruska & Julio Colmenares Elizabeth Corcoran Rob & Caryn Craige Ina Whitley DeRochi Kurtis Douge Susan Anfin & Jim Doyle Tessa Dyer Patrick & Doreen English Marcie & Robert Gaines Shanna & Vance Hodges Kazuo & Miwa Ideshita Gina & George Jurch Jonathan & Anika Kim Mayor Viola Alexander Lyles Kirsten & Michael Phalen 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

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Meredith & Scott Barnette Dina Beelaert Anna & Matthew Brothers Ashley Bunn 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 Andy & Mari Jones Tammy & Greg Jones Franklin McClelland 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

Our Supporters cont’d Karen Aman, Dave, Matthew, & Joshua Edwards* Mary & Clint Barlow The Dale Beachum Family Bina Bieker Mr. & Mrs. Alan Blumenthal Jane & Mike Bufkin Peggy & Steven Burke 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 Jennifer Madara 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 Daniel Peterson Steven Levine & Shawnna Pledger Emily Porges Melissa Robertson Jennifer Schaperjohn 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 Shirley Butterworth Laura Cameron Elizabeth Cassano Tim Clark Ann Crehore Robin & James Cochran Lorraine Decker

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Our Supporters cont’d

Melina Dixon Dr. Shamieka Dixon Dave & Eileen Dunlap Corey Easterday Meeghan Farley Kate Fletcher Dr. Curtis Flood Emily Forfar Stacy Freed Phyllis Gadsden Jo Galbraith Cynthia & Henry Gass Jennifer Greer Caris Gross Deidre Grubb Abigail & Nathan Hackenberg Emma Hanson Nicolette Harris Micah Hein Annie Clarke 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 Debra Mein Nicole Mims Miranda Miller Emily Mills Lori Molitor Velda Molitor Adam Montague Will Moody Ashley & Daniel Norton Catherine & Rob Odum * Catherine Ogburn Jeannie Osborne 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 Sarah Verardo 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

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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

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 March 9, 2021.

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

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

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

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

9502 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28277

CharlotteLatin.org | 704.846.7207

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

thefletcherschool.org | 704-365-4658

Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz Age Cinderella

Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds

Peter Pan The Lion and the Little Red Bird

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

Classes and Camps

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

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

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

- Sarah Provencal, Teaching Artist

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r o f s e i t A ctivi s Kid Kindness casts a welcomed light against the dark shadow of the Holocaust.

11-year-old Daniel has escaped Nazi Germany and finds himself alone on the shores of Havana, Cuba. He meets spirited 10-year-old Paloma who has some painful secrets of her own. Through their unlikely bond, she introduces Daniel to the language, music and history of Cuban culture. However, once Cuba enters the war these two young friends are faced with some dangerous choices that will ultimately test their friendship. This production is part of The Kindness Project.

Visit the Pinterest page for more activities

Top 3

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHOW

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1. What is a refugee? Why do people become refugees?

What situations may lead to their circumstances?

2. Daniel struggles at the beginning of the story with language. How might it feel to have to live in a new country where you don’t speak the language? What are some things in daily life that may be difficult if you are unable to communicate or understand what others around you are saying?

3. Music plays a key role in the story. What are some of the times that music is important and how does it help the characters?

Rec om

m

ne d

a d e i n R g d e Inside Out and Back Again

by Thanhha Lai Santiago’s Road Home

by Alexandra Diaz Refugee

by Alan Gratz 90 Miles to Havana

by Enrique Flores-Galbis Other Words for Home byJasmine Warga Until I Find Julian

by Patricia Reilly Giff 35

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