WFT Actors: Grace Brakeman in Shrek the Musical

"I have always loved coming to see shows at Wheelock Family Theatre since I was a little girl. But when I started taking summer classes and was cast in Ramona Quimby the next year, WFT became my second home. My relationships and experiences at Wheelock over the past ten years have allowed me to become friends with people of all backgrounds and views.
Wheelock is the only place I know of that is committed to excellent productions as well as inclusion and accessibility. In addition to presenting important stories in an engaging way, WFT is special to me because it fosters a nurturing, loving, and accepting atmosphere. I love getting to work together with a team of creative people with distinct perspectives. Just like the fairytale creatures in Shrek encourage each other to 'let their freak flags fly' and embrace their individuality, WFT celebrates people's differences and unique qualities that make them special.
Yet WFT does more than create a supportive environment: It has a progressive policy of non-traditional casting. Wheelock's dedication to color and ability blind casting has cultivated teams of incredibly talented and diverse people. Each child in the audience can be inspired by an actor that they personally identify with.
After closing Shrek (my tenth show at WFT) and moving to Chicago to study in the theatre major at Northwestern University next year, I will dearly miss my WFT 'cast families'. I am forever grateful for the opportunities and coaching at WFT and for Jane Staab, Sue Kosoff and all the wonderful people I have been lucky enough to know here."

NEW PLAYS 2014

Emerging Playwrights Program

New Play Staged Readings: Sunday December 14 at 7:00pm

Free and Open to the Public

Wheelock Family Theatre’s 34th season of high-quality theatre not only entertains young people but also challenges students to examine themselves, their relationships with others, and the world in which they live. WFT producer, Wendy Lement, teaches the Emerging Playwrights Program, a dynamic and exciting drama curriculum that develops playwriting skills, encourages dialogue, and promotes collaboration.

 

 

The Man Who Dreamed of Being God, by Max Wheeler (directed by Daniel Bolton) with Sam Lathrop and Christopher Spencer.

SISTERhood, by Joseph Rowland– (directed by Korinne T. Ritchey) with Alisha Jansky* and  Susan Lombardi-Verticelli*.

Mistakes, by Dinia Clairveaux  (directed by M. Lynda Robinson) with  Kimetra Thompson and Sonya Raye*.

Boots With The Fur, by Anastasia Lamothe (directed by Donna Sorbello) with Poornima Kirby and Alexandra Nader*.

THE BEST OF THEM, by Channtel Ravenell (directed by Fran Weinberg) with Anthony M. Mullin and Melissa Healey*.

We Don’t Like You, by Reid Merzbacher (directed by Adam Sanders) with Grace Trapnell and Simon Kiser.

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association

 

• Box Office: 617-879-2300; tickets@wheelock.edu
• Date and Time: Sunday December 14 at 7:00pm
• Tickets: Free!
• Website: www.WheelockFamilyTheatre.org
• Location: 180 The Riverway on the campus of Wheelock College in Boston’s Fenway district
• Parking: MASCO garage at 375 Longwood Avenue
• MBTA: Fenway or Longwood on Green Riverside Line (D train); CT busses to Beth Israel

Performance Intensives at WFT

Under the direction of producer, Wendy Lement, the Wheelock Family Theatre is poised to become the summer haven for teen artists, craftsmen, and performers. The Advanced Performance Intensive is an audition based class led by teaching artists Fran Weinberg and M. Lynda Robinson for youth between the ages of 14-17. Within two weeks, the students will audition and be cast in scenes, work extensively with the directors and guest teachers, and present their scenes at a public showcase on the WFT mainstage on Friday August 16 at 8:00pm.