2021-22 season The Velveteen Rabbit

The Velveteen Rabbit

BY CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE

McColl Family Theatre December 4 - 19, 2021

ADAPTED BY MICHELLE HOPPE-LONG I FROM THE STORY BY MARGERY WILLIAMS

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 and Cindy Taylor

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

Contents 3

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S NOTE

6

TITLE PAGE

9

THE 2021-22 SEASON

11

THE KINDNESS PROJECT

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CREATIVE TEAM/CAST/STAFF

14

BEHIND THE SCENES

16

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

17

CAST BIOS

18

CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

20

DONOR INFORMATION

22

OUR SUPPORTERS

28

ENCORE! VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY

34

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

36

ACTIVITIES

The Velveteen Rabbit Adapted for the stage by Michelle Hoppe-Long From the story by Margery Williams

Director Melissa Ohlman-Roberge Scenic Designer Andrew Gibbon Costume/Puppet Designer Magda Guichard Lighting Designer Robyn Warfield Composer David M. Greenberg Sound Designer Tyler Knowles

Run time 60 minutes. Note - fog and haze are used in the show.

Videotaping, photography and other recording of this production is prohibited.

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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 by:

Rob and Caryn Craige Mr. & Mrs. Greg Gonzalez Mitchell Kelling Reemprise Fund* SPX Corporation Thrive Fund for the Arts Triad Foundation

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is supported, in part, by the Infusion Fund and its generous donors, The National Endowment for the Arts, 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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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 – Melissa Ohlman-Roberge Scenic Designer – Andrew Gibbon Costume/Puppet Designer – Magda Guichard Lighting Designer - Robyn Warfield Composer – David M. Greenberg Sound Designer – Tyler Knowles CAST Nana/Rabbit - Margaret Dalton The Boy - Lexie Wolfe Mother/Fairy - Reneé Welsh-Noel UNDERSTUDIES Meade Morrison Iesha Nyree Katy Shepherd FOR THIS PRODUCTION Stage Manager – Steven James Deck Chief – Josh Lucero Props/Crafts Artisan - Chelsea Retalic Wardrobe Supervisor - Loren Moody

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Stitchers - Allison Collins, Chelsea Retalic, Loren Moody Electricians - Josh Lucero, Jordan Garon, Brandy Brogden Run Crew - Jamaas Britton Soundboard Operator - Brandy Brogden Lightboard Operator - Robyn Warfield Stunt Rabbit - Brambles SPECIAL THANKS Carrie Cranford

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 Production Stage Manager - Laura Beth Lee Resident Stage Manager - Steven James 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.

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

SHADOW PUPPETS It took a week to create the shadow puppets seen here. The process involved research to first understand how rabbits moved followed by the creation of a mock-up of the rabbit figure. Nine versions later, the final puppets were ready to make their debut. Then, the cast rehearsed to make sure they were comfortable working with the puppets while providing their voices to tell the story.

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 come together to create something remarkable.

COSTUME DESIGN

The Costume Shop designed the pieces for each character as well as the fairy mask and five stuffed rabbits that are seen in the show.

LIGHTING DESIGN Lighting is an integral part of any show. In The Velveteen Rabbit there are 133 light cues which means the light changes that many times to indicate a scene change or create a certain mood during the show.

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Note From the Director MELISSA OHLMAN-ROBERGE

Transformation. Reincarnation. Perception. Reality. And the Power of Love to affect it all.

Heady themes for a children’s story and yet Margery Williams gives us all these and more through the eyes of the simplest of toys: a plump stuffed rabbit with soft pink ears and a huge heart. Layer on all that 2020 has brought, and it’s not surprising that the creation of this reimagined version of The Velveteen Rabbit offered multiple learning opportunities for all involved.

As a company, we faced many of the same challenges as the Velveteen Rabbit: In the age of bells and whistles, how do we give POWER to a text from 1922, rich with simple values of times-gone-by? What is REAL? Given often conflicting information, how do we create a safe space in which to work?

How do we TRANSFORM the artform we LOVE – a living, breathing artform meant to be experienced live and in the moment – into a compelling story for the small screen? Will this REINCARNATED form of theatre be PERCEIVED with the same immediacy as the live version? We conceived and produced the entire piece – from design to curtain call – as if there would be an audience.

Will the “theatre magic” translate?

I’ll be honest, it wasn’t always an easy process. We stumbled often. We disagreed. We brainstormed. We regrouped. In the end, we strove to be patient with one another and tried hard to keep it real. I held onto the words of the wise old Rocking Horse as he counsels the newbie Velveteen Rabbit: “Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit. “Sometimes, but when you are Real, you don’t mind being hurt,” said the Horse.

“Does it happen all at once?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Horse. “ You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes dropout and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

Thank you for tuning in. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for your grace as we launch this most unusual season. I hope you enjoy the show!

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Cast MARGARET DALTON (Nana/Rabbit)

delighted to be returning to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for The Velveteen Rabbit. 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: A Jazz Age Cinderella, 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.

LEXIE WOLFE (The Boy)

is beyond thrilled to be returning to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte after almost 10 years! She was most recently seen in Disney’s Finding Nemo the Musical (Nemo). Select regional credits: Hello, Dolly! (Minnie Fay), Winter Wonderettes (Suzy), Little Women (Meg), and Cabaret (Fraulein Kost). Lexie holds a degree in B.F.A. in Musical Theater from East Carolina University. “All my love and gratitude to the people who held my hand while I anxiously awaited the chance to perform again. You know who you are!”

RENEÉ WELSH-NOEL (Mother/Fairy)

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 Mother/Fairy in The Velveteen Rabbit.

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Creative Team Melissa Ohlman-Roberge (Director) has worked professionally in the arts as a director, performer, mentor, and educator for 35+ years. She is thrilled to be returning to Children’s Theatre, having directed A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt and the touring productions of Rapunzel and True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Originally from Connecticut, Melissa began the North Carolina chapter of her directing career with Theatre Charlotte’s 1991 production of Annie. With more than 90 directorial credits for her name, Melissa has created a wide variety of productions from large-scale musicals (Ragtime, Carrie, Big Fish, Tuck Everlasting, Brightstar, Catch Me If You Can) to drama/comedies (Wit, Red, The Effect of Gamma Rays, Peter and The Starcatcher); and small, intimate musicals (Title of Show, Next to Normal, Dogfight) to children’s theatre (House at Pooh Corner, Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss ‘n’ Boots). Melissa earned her Master of Fine Arts in directing from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Arts in theatre from Southern Connecticut University. She has opened three theatre spaces and two theatre companies, has developed curricula for pre-kindergarten through college and is a six-time recipient of the Metrolina Theatre Association Award for Outstanding Regional Director. Melissa lives in Huntersville with her husband, Kevin. They have three daughters, all of whom are active in the arts.

Andrew Gibbon (Scenic Designer) started scenic design at West Charlotte High School and then went to study at North Carolina School of the Arts and the Atlanta College of Art. As well as serving as Children’s Theatre’s Technical Director, Andrew has designed several Mainstage shows for Children’s Theatre including Holes, Cat in the Hat, Secret Life of Girls, and co-designed with Tim Parati, Petite Rouge and Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse. Andrew also has had the great joy of designing over fifty shows for 18

our Education department’s OnStage program.

Magda Guichard (Costume/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.

Robyn Warfield (Lighting Designer) is excited to to be working with the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for her third season. Some noticeable work from Children’s Theatre of Charlotte includes, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, The Invisible Boy, and most recent, GRIMMZ Fairy Tales. 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. She graduated with her MFA in Design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. www.rkwdesign.com David M. Greenberg (Composer) is a regional sound designer and composer currently working in Kearney, Nebraska. There he serves as the Audio Director for the College

Creative Team cont’d of Arts and Sciences, Sound Production Coordinator for the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, and Director of the Sound Recording Technology Minor at the University of Nebraska Kearney. David hails from Plantation, Florida by way of Knoxville, Tennessee. He received his BA in Theatre from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and his MFA in Theatre: Sound Design and Technology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His recent works include Macbeth, Comedy of Errors, and Guys & Dolls (Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre; Conway, AR), Comedy of Errors, King Lear (Optimist Theatre; Milwaukee, WI), Hit the Wall (Illinois Theatre; Urbana, IL), La Bohéme, and She Kills Monsters (University Theatre at Kearney; Kearney, NE).

of Education at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, was a past recipient of the K-12 Theatre Educator of the Year award from the North Carolina Theatre Conference, and has served on the Board of Directors for NCTC and CITA. She has been an administrative judge for the Blumey’s from 2012-2019, has adjudicated for the Virginia Theatre Association and the Mississippi Theatre Association in theatre and playwriting, and been a part of new work development at CTC. Some of Michelle’s directing projects at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte include The Secret Garden, Tarzan the Musical, Grace for President, and Madagascar: A Musical Adventure for the Mainstage.

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.

Michelle Hoppe-Long (Playwright) is an accomplished director, writer, actress and educator who has worked in theatre, television and film for the past three decades, earning awards throughout her career for both stage and screen. Her plays and musicals have been produced across the US and garnered recognition from the North Carolina Theatre Conference and the Southeastern Theatre Conference. She currently serves as the Director 19

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Our Supporters 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 Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP First Horizon Bank 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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Our Supporters cont’d INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS

We recognize and thank our generous donors who gave July 1, 2020 to November 10, 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 Brian & Laura Murdock* Jennifer & Jack Ross The Sario Family ($3,000 - $4,999) Herb & Gina Clegg* Rob & Caryn Craige John & Nancy Dickson The Hensley Family* Ryan & Danielle Hutcheson* Pat Burgess & Joan Martin* Maddie & Brian Myers* Stacia and Charlie Neugent* Angela & Josh Scholl* Brad & Whitney Vineyard* Nichelle & Sasha Weintraub* Judith & Matthew Whelan* April & Thomas Whitlock*

($1,000 - $2,999) Stephen & Carolyn Allred Allyson & Scott Andeson Mr. & Mrs. Richard R. Babcock Kristin Black* Crandall Bowles* Mary Alice Boyd Andrea Brown* Tamara Budz Mike and Katie Burgess Danielle & Adam Burke Julie & Stoke Caldwell* John & Tracy Chandler Spencer Clair & Chris Loyd Veruska & Julio Colmenares 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*

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Our Supporters cont’d David Miller, In Honor of Auctus Advisors Clients Ken & Lisa Miller Teri Miller Mallory Navin & Joe Shreve Kerbie & Brandon Neal* Anna & Tom Nelson John & Suzy Nurkin John & Ann Porter The Porter Family Linda Reynolds 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*

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Jennifer Plyler & Bert Wray Mem Zolak 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 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 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* Robin Cochran Arlie Crumbliss

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Our Supporters cont’d Blair Donald* 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 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 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

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

$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

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ENCORE! Our Volunteer Community JOIN US

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

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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

Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds

Make Your Mark!

The Fletcher School empowers students with learning differences to achieve bright futures by offering an individualized, multisensory, college preparatory curriculum that prepares them to reach their full potential.

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

The Lion and the Little Red Bird

(704) 365-4658 | @fletcherfalcons

The Velveteen Rabbit

When I grow up I want to be...

Ready. For. Anything.

Ready to explore. Ready to create.

Ready for whatever life has in store for me. Country Day Ready.

Call or Come Visit: (704) 943-4530

charlottecountryday.org/Admissions

Bring this with you on your visit. We would love to see your masterpiece.

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Celebrate THE HOLIDAY

SEASON!

Lower School Theater Workshop performs excerpts from The Lion King, KIDS

Gift certificates on sale now.

Details at ctcharlotte.org

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

The Velveteen Rabbit

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Classes and Camps

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

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

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

- Sarah Provencal, Teaching Artist

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r o f s e i t A ctivi s Kid

A child’s love of his favorite toy literally brings this story to life.

A little boy awakens Christmas morning to discover a Velveteen Rabbit among his gifts. Adored at first, then cast to the toy box, the Rabbit is snubbed by the other toys for being old-fashioned. Over time, a friendship blossoms. The Velveteen Rabbit learns what it means to be truly loved by the Boy - and the smiles and tears that come from being “real”. Adapted from the classic book, this poignant story has charmed generations of families and continues to be cherished by audiences today.

Visit the Pinterest page for more activities

Top 4

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHOW

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1. The boy and his toy rabbit form a special bond/friendship in the play. Have you had or do you have a toy or stuffed animal that was special to you? Why was/is that toy important?

2. What does it mean to be real? The Velveteen Rabbit asks the Rocking Horse if real is when “things buzz inside you and have a stick out handle”. Why does he think that?

How does the Velveteen Rabbit know when he is real?

3. The other rabbits tell the Velveteen Rabbit that he isn’t real, but the boy said he is.

Were the rabbits wrong? Was the little boy wrong?

4. Why do the grownups in the play seem to understand the world differently than the little boy?

Reco m

me

d n

d a ing e R ed

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes

by Du Bose Heyward The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

by Kate DiCamillo The Steadfast Tin Soldier

by Hans Christian Anderson The Toys Go Out

by Emily Jenkins Winnie-the-Pooh

by A. A. Milne Charlotte’s Web

by E.B. White The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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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