SETC Theatre for Youth Division 2011 Festival Participants!

2011 SETC Theatre for Youth Invitational Festival

Festival Chair: Amie Dunn Kisling, Lexington Children’s Theatre
Respondents:  Gary Cadwallader, Education Director at Orlando Repertory Theatre
Carol North, Artistic Director at Metro Theater Company 

SETC gratefully acknowledges Dramatic Publishing for their sponsorship of the Festival

Thursday, March 3 – Grand Ballroom East

9:00 AM          Charlotte’s Web
By Joseph Robinette
Based on the book by E.B. White
Columbus State University
Director, Brenda May Ito
Synopsis –

E.B. White's classic tale of loyalty, friendship, and dealing with the realities of life takes place, for the most part, in a barn cellar in 1950s middle-America. All the enchanting characters are here. Wilbur, the irresistible young pig; Fern, a girl who understands what animals say; Templeton, the gluttonous rat; the Zuckerman family; the Arables; and, most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be "a true friend and a good writer." Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign which ultimately end with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte.

Targeted for grades K-5.

10:30 AM        Still Life With Iris
BySteven Dietz
The Galloway School
Director, Jennifer McNair
Synopsis –

Still Life with Iris is a fantastical adventure which centers on a little girl's search for the simplest of things: home. Iris lives with her mom in the land of Nocturno–a magical place in which the workers make, by night, all of the things we see in the world by day. Also, in Nocturno, memories do not reside in people's minds but instead are kept in their coats (called 'Past Coats'). The rulers of Nocturno, the Great Goods, are determined to have the "best" of everything on their island–and therefore take Iris away from her home and bring her to Great Island to be their daughter. To ease the pain of this separation, they remove her Past Coat, leaving her with no memory of her home or her family. All that remains of Iris' past is a single button from her coat. Using the button as a clue, Iris joins with friends she meets on her journey–Annabel Lee and Mozart–and frees herself from the Great Goods.

Targeted for grades 3-6.

12:00 PM        The Yellow Boat
By David Saar
DeSoto Central High School and DeSoto County Thespians
Director, David Boone
Synopsis –

The Yellow Boat is based on the true story of David and Sonja Saar's son, Benjamin, who was born with congenital hemophilia, and died in 1987 at the age of 8 of AIDS related complications. A uniquely gifted visual artist, Benjamin's buoyant imagination transformed his physical and emotional pain into a blaze of colors and shapes in his fanciful drawings and paintings. The story of THE YELLOW BOAT Is a glorious affirmation of a child's life, and the strength and courage of all children. Recommended for children of age 8 and older, parents, families and adults.

Appropriate for grades 3 and up.

4:00PM-5:30PM         Theatre for Youth Festival Critique
Grand Ballroom East     Presider: Amie Dunn Kisling, Lexington Children’s Theatre
Respondents:   Gary Cadwallader, Orlando Repertory Theatre
Carol North, Metro Theater Company 
                                         Response for this year’s festival performances.

7:00PM-9:30PM        Theatre for Youth Meet and Greet
President’s Suite           Presider: Presider: John Spiegel, Piedmont College
Sponsored by Dramatic Publishing

                                               
Friday, March 4

9:00PM-10:30PM      Theatre for Youth Festival Forecast
Room 312                     Presider: John Spiegel, Piedmont College
Festival respondents will discuss some interesting issues that face the field of theatre for young audiences.  The session will address concerns and will be open for questions and dialogue among the participants.

4:00 PM-5:20PM        Theatre for Youth Division Meeting
Room 403                   Presider: John Spiegel, Piedmont College
Open meeting to all individuals interested in theatre produced for youth.

                                                                       

Theatre for Youth Invitational Festival
March 2011 • Atlanta, GA

Over the last quarter century, the Festival has showcased more than one hundred works to more than 25,000 young people.

As a part of the Annual Convention, each year the festival brings together Artist and Audience, Playwright and Publisher, Performer and Producer to explore the infinite world of Theatre for Youth and to work with and get feedback from some of this country's preeminent figures in the field. The Festival brings together various forms of theatre for youth:

Professional theatre companies Young people performing for young audiences College students learning the challenge of performing for young audiences New plays along side proven classics

What the Children Have to Say:
- "Thank you for letting us come to the SETC. It was very nice and it was funny, too. Your show is my favorite show. I wish I could come again. I wish I could meet you all!"
- "I wish I could put on a performance for you like you did for me and the other children."
- "The play was really fun. It was a blast!"
- "The show was so fun! I really learned something from the play. I learned that I have time for everything."

Interested companies need to fill out an application  for 2012. The festival will have two nationally respected respondents who will provide feedback on the entrants work. If you are looking for a great way to get some national recognition than SETC Children’s Theatre Invitational Festival is the place to go!

Amie Dunn Kisling
akisling@lctonstage.org