SHINING SUMMER SHOWS
OFF OFF BROADWAY, KIDS’ GRASS ROOTS THEATER...
... Weeds and All.
Come early to get a good seat at this year's FYTG production of The Wizard of Oz.
Whose production?
You've never heard of the Fairhaven Youth Theater Group? The past two productions, Grease and Guys and Dolls were performed to an audience of friends and family on a front porch in Fairhaven. This year, the kids will perform on a real stage.
I talked with Eric, Mary, Catherine, Emelia, Sarah, Leslie and Ariel about their group.
How did it all start?
Three years ago, neighborhood friends were looking for something to do in summer.
"Driving home from vacation, we sang songs from the movie Grease. We have always had fun doing skits for our families and friends, so why not a real play? It took two years, but we finally got together with our friends and did our first play, Grease. It was great."
What do you like most about doing plays?
"We love to act, sing and dance, so we've done mostly musicals. We make up our own dances and learn all the songs. Without much money, we're creative with props and scenery. We do a lot of improvisation. It's fun with a bunch of friends."
Catherine Kirk travels all the way from Northern Virginia to join in the fun with her cousin and friends. "I enjoy acting without pressure. It gives me something fun to do that other people can watch and enjoy, too," says Catherine.
Eric's mom, Kathy Gramp, is pleased to see a new show come around each summer, "I think it's great that they have such an opportunity to be creative."
Have you worked out any difficulties?
"We have a small number of actors and many have to play lots of parts. Costume changes are pretty hard. Sometimes learning your lines can be hard because you get distracted from practicing and want to play. Trying to get the role right is a real challenge."
Producer and all-around stage hand Gail Martinez says, "It's the kids' show; that's what makes this theater group different. They decide on which play to do and often times do the casting. They are choreographers, script and song writers when they need to be. I help them keep on a time schedule, working around soccer games, dance and music lessons. It's theirs. They learn a lot and have a great time."
Why do you do it year after year?
"We want to see it get better. We learn from each play and make improvements the next time, and it's really fun!"
Look for the Wizard of Oz Sept. 9 - time and place TBA.
Come early to get a good seat at this year's FYTG production of The Wizard of Oz.
Whose production?
You've never heard of the Fairhaven Youth Theater Group? The past two productions, Grease and Guys and Dolls were performed to an audience of friends and family on a front porch in Fairhaven. This year, the kids will perform on a real stage.
I talked with Eric, Mary, Catherine, Emelia, Sarah, Leslie and Ariel about their group.
How did it all start?
Three years ago, neighborhood friends were looking for something to do in summer.
"Driving home from vacation, we sang songs from the movie Grease. We have always had fun doing skits for our families and friends, so why not a real play? It took two years, but we finally got together with our friends and did our first play, Grease. It was great."
What do you like most about doing plays?
"We love to act, sing and dance, so we've done mostly musicals. We make up our own dances and learn all the songs. Without much money, we're creative with props and scenery. We do a lot of improvisation. It's fun with a bunch of friends."
Catherine Kirk travels all the way from Northern Virginia to join in the fun with her cousin and friends. "I enjoy acting without pressure. It gives me something fun to do that other people can watch and enjoy, too," says Catherine.
Eric's mom, Kathy Gramp, is pleased to see a new show come around each summer, "I think it's great that they have such an opportunity to be creative."
Have you worked out any difficulties?
"We have a small number of actors and many have to play lots of parts. Costume changes are pretty hard. Sometimes learning your lines can be hard because you get distracted from practicing and want to play. Trying to get the role right is a real challenge."
Producer and all-around stage hand Gail Martinez says, "It's the kids' show; that's what makes this theater group different. They decide on which play to do and often times do the casting. They are choreographers, script and song writers when they need to be. I help them keep on a time schedule, working around soccer games, dance and music lessons. It's theirs. They learn a lot and have a great time."
Why do you do it year after year?
"We want to see it get better. We learn from each play and make improvements the next time, and it's really fun!"
Look for the Wizard of Oz Sept. 9 - time and place TBA.
Grease Sizzles!
Emily Sikorski, 7, from Appeal Elementary School:
I liked the play Grease because it had a lot of singing and dancing. I felt like I was really at the high school. One of my favorite parts was when Frenchy had her fairy god mother come and sing to her “Beauty School Drop-out.” My favorite character was Frenchy.
They had really good food. For dessert, I had rice pudding, and my cousin Heather had chocolate cake, Jell-O and rice pudding.
It was a fun afternoon and I am glad that we went.
Heather McDonald, 16, a junior at Patuxent High School:
As the saying goes, Grease was “A blast from the past.” For my sweet 16th, my aunt and uncle took me to Chesapeake Music Hall's dinner theatre production of Grease. My cousin Emily and I enjoyed every minute, from singing to all the familiar songs and dances to having a wonderful family dinner.
I have always enjoyed the movie Grease, and I have the video of it, but you must go and see this one performed live. You'll truly want to be jumping out of your seat. The actors/actresses really got involved in playing their parts. Rizzo, the boy-chaser, had the best costumes throughout the whole play and Frenchy’s “Beauty School Drop-out” was as cute as can be with the huge oversized curlers and colorful glittery costumes.
It was a phenomenal play from the beginning, with the fine selection of foods to having our waiters/waitresses in the production and finally ending with the funnest part, meeting the actors and actress. They must have hurried to get out of those wonderful costumes.
Meeting them in person and getting their autographs was truly the greatest birthday present I had gotten.
Thru Sept. 10. $29.50-$32.50
Chesapeake Music Hall, Annapolis: 800/406-0306.
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TEASERS Answers at bottom
Who’s bigger?
Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger or their baby?
What occurs twice in a lifetime, once in a year, twice in a week but never in a day?
Cool stuff
Drop In Pony Rides
Tues (10am) and Sats (12:30pm)–Visit the Old Maryland Farm for an old-fashioned pony ride. Come rain or shine and ride indoors or out. Ages 2+. Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro. $2: 301/249-7077.
Bring a Friend
Fri. Aug 18 (10am)–Enjoy stories about friendship with a special friend. In, Franklin Says Sorry, friends learn about keeping secrets. Preschoolers. Barnes & Noble, Annapolis Harbour Center: 410/573-2084.
Not-So-Secret Garden
Fri. Aug 18 (10:30am or 1pm)–Walk through a garden and see what lives there as you learn about nature. Create a seasonal craft and enjoy a story. Ages 3-5 (w/adult). Tawes Garden, Annapolis rsvp:
410/260-8189.
Crawdad Grab
Sun. Aug 20 (2-3pm)–What do they eat? How do they taste? Why do they build strange mud chimneys in the swamp? Meet a live crayfish and satisfy your curiosity. All ages. Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, Port Republic. rsvp: 410/535-5327.
Meet the Oyster Lady
Sun. Aug 20 (1pm)–Miss Nora the Oyster Lady tells local tales about life long ago. Enjoy a hands-on show-and-tell including things used by Native Americans. All ages. Earleigh Heights Ranger Station, Serverna Park: 410/222-6244.
Answer: Their baby, because it’s a little bigger!
Answer: The letter E.
Copyright 2000
Bay Weekly
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