Performing Arts
An Overview of Local Youth Theater
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By Jazmin Kay age 15
Page 24 • www.goodlifeyouthjournal.com
Photo by Brandon Sawhill-Aja
pstate New York is a place highly associated with the Boys and Hello Dolly. Neverland and the Lost Boys was an original muarts. From artists with paint brushes, to artists with sical produced entirely by the collaborative talents of the Woodstock words, the Hudson Valley Day School. The fresh score written by both produces all sorts of creative music teachers at the Woodstock Day School, mediums for people of all ages to express Cassandra Mahoney on lyrics and music by themselves. One of these forms of expresPeter Dougan , was based on the beloved chilsion is through theater. Youth Theater dren’s story of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. The around the Hudson Valley has been buzzensemble of the show consisted of vast youthing with Spring Musicals as the culminafulness, using the kids from 3rd grade to the tion of many agonizing winter rehearsals elders of the school, the seniors. As a part of finally pay off and result in a show case that show, I can say it was full of merriment of eager young talent. I will be discussing and cheer, as we all debuted this project that some of the recent shows that have been began as a few scraps of dialogue and song. performed around the Hudson Valley by New Genesis Production’s The Taming of the Shrew. Coleman Catholic School’s Hello Dolly, adolescents in high school productions. based on the 1955 Thornton Wilder book Pictured here Ihor Shuhan and Jack Warren. In mid-March, Kingston High School put with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, on a breathtaking production of Les Miserables, based on the novel by follows the hilarious and rousing journey of Dolly Levi, an outspoVictor Hugo. Set in the early 19th Century France, it tells the heroic ken young woman who takes a trip to Yonkers, New York to visit the story of Jean Valjean and his struggle to persist among both social almost-millionaire, Horace Vandergelder. Coleman did a boisterous injustices and fledging revolution. The strong cast of Kingston High and enjoyable rendition of this classic. Also in April was The Music School, brought an admirable take to this classic making the produc- Man by Onteora High School and Middle School which I did not get tion very memorable, especially in reference to the recent release of the pleasure to see. the motion picture. Youth theater is a great outlet to express and expand innovative Later in that same month, New Paltz High School put on a produc- minds and I highly encourage all kids, teens, and adults to experience tion of the beloved show, Grease. Grease, the 1971 musical explores the participating in a show or exposing yourself as an audience member intricacy of a group of working class youth, called greasers who were an to the exhilaration of live theater. influential part of social culture in the 1950’s. New Paltz focused on the Youth Theatre groups: Woodstock Youth Theater 845-338-8700 fun of the show, sticking close to its authentic form with little expansion. info bspinfo.net/programs/youth-theater • New Genesis Productions, April brought two other high school shows Neverland and the Lost West Shokan 845-657-5867 newgenesisproductions.org