Now, you may be thinking, “What could those incredibly cool people possibly be writing about? The professional season doesn’t start until June!” And you would be correct. But! Before you close out of this tab and continue your Google searching, Netflix watching, YouTube cat video enjoying, let us have a second of your time to tell you about the upcoming Youth and Family Series production of Aesop’s Fables.
The Youth and Family Series is a year-round group of productions that allow area youth the opportunity to perform and work with top-quality, professional talent. Arts Education Coordinator Seth Kaltwasser describes it perfectly, “When it comes to our Youth & Family Series, our team at Festival Theatre is always looking toward classic children's literature for inspiration. If we can take iconic stories and characters and breathe new life into the tales by supplying a fresh adaptation, exciting visual fare, dynamic staging, and enthusiastic performances from the valley's young artists, we are sure to create something that will be a treat for theatre audiences young and old,” And that’s right! We are kicking off our year by telling a brand new version of the most classic youth tales ever told. Think: tortoise meets hare, combined with a devious fox, hens with quite a bit of cluck, and all woven together by a playwright you may remember from last season’s success, This Untoward Generation, Seth Kaltwasser. I’m sold.
Kaltwasser, along with production coordinator, Jaclyn June Johnson, and I, the director, Andrew Bradford Benson, have been working very hard over the past few weeks to produce a new script for these classic tales. If a good script does not form the foundation from which the show is built, the production will be stuck in neutral. With that in mind, Seth and I have been working together to shape script that will launch this show into rehearsals. Personally, this is really exciting as the director of a production rarely has a hand in the formation of the script. This collaboration is truly something that makes Festival a special place to work!
Well, there you have it folks, this is a show you simply will not want to miss! Please look to our website, Facebook, and your email for our upcoming announcements on performance dates (which will be in March) and also audition dates if you know any youth with the performance bug. The Spring production always needs a large cast and is a great time for performers of all experience levels to get on stage!
See you there!
Andrew