Dear Parents and Friends,
Welcome! Today marked the end of our WFT 2010 Summer Youth Intensive, but tonight marks the beginning of A Year with Frog and Toad. We invite you to enjoy this journey as our characters learn how to navigate ponds, hills, baking, and most of all, friendship.
This piece is dear to my heart. Not only have I worked on the full-length production of A Year with Frog and Toad – twice! – but these books were also a huge part of my childhood library and now, a part of my children’s library. Arnold Lobel has created for us a world where amphibians, birds, and other creatures teach us how to take risks, enjoy life, and the true meaning of friendship – much like the world we try to create each day at WFT.
There are many people to thank for the creation of this evening’s production. Sue Kosoff, Jane Staab and John Bay for their leadership. Kay Elliot and Charles Baldwin for their incredible support. Brian Masters for his technical capabilities and Marge Lusignan for her magnificent costumes and props. Thank you to all the teachers at WFT this summer for their friendship and support and to my husband and kids for their patience.
A special thank you to Sophie Rich, our assistant who has really come into her own as a teacher this summer. We could not have accomplished this without your skill, talent, and enthusiasm. And of course, to my partner-in-crime, John O’Neil. John has been a staple in this program for three years now and has kindly and patiently showed me the ropes this summer. John is a magnificent teacher and musical director and I am lucky to have had the honor to work with him.
Finally, thanks to you, the parents, family, and friends who have come to support our wonderful cast this evening. We could not be prouder of these students than if they were our own children.
Enjoy the show!
Ilyse Robbins
Director and Choreographer
Friday, August 13, 2010
Free Performances Friday August 13!
“Prize Winning Plays and Performances: A Mirror Up To Madness”
Director’s Note
The teens in Wheelock Family Theatre’s 2010 Advanced Performance Intensive program have plunged head first with incredible passion, intelligence and enthusiasm into their exploration of very challenging roles in some of the finest drama and comedy to premiere on both the American and British theatre stages.
These aspiring artists have both a rare opportunity and a daunting challenge as they follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest actors that have won crtitical acclaim for their work in these plays. You will see woven throughout the scenes in this tapestry of plays our exploration of the theme of madness and sanity. It is clear that our behavior and self-image is quickly altered by the circumstances around us and is deeply affected by others perceptions of us.
Each member of our ensemble has been challenged to stretch themselves both physically, vocally and emotionally and encouraged to take new risks each day of this demanding two week training program. Thank you all for joining us here tonight to add the final piece to our ensemble’s exploration. You are the ultimate heartbeat and pulse of the actor’s work—our audience.
We hope it makes you think, feel and hang onto someone close to you.
Fran Weinberg, Director
Teen Advanced Performance Intensive
Director’s Note
The teens in Wheelock Family Theatre’s 2010 Advanced Performance Intensive program have plunged head first with incredible passion, intelligence and enthusiasm into their exploration of very challenging roles in some of the finest drama and comedy to premiere on both the American and British theatre stages.
These aspiring artists have both a rare opportunity and a daunting challenge as they follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest actors that have won crtitical acclaim for their work in these plays. You will see woven throughout the scenes in this tapestry of plays our exploration of the theme of madness and sanity. It is clear that our behavior and self-image is quickly altered by the circumstances around us and is deeply affected by others perceptions of us.
Each member of our ensemble has been challenged to stretch themselves both physically, vocally and emotionally and encouraged to take new risks each day of this demanding two week training program. Thank you all for joining us here tonight to add the final piece to our ensemble’s exploration. You are the ultimate heartbeat and pulse of the actor’s work—our audience.
We hope it makes you think, feel and hang onto someone close to you.
Fran Weinberg, Director
Teen Advanced Performance Intensive
Thursday, August 12, 2010
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