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BANNER February 25, 2016
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Talented youngsters get two chances to perform by Tucker Hottes
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The Phoenix Performing Arts Centre of Duryea is in full swing for the theater company’s ninth season. Saturday, February 27, the company will stage a Broadway Bound Phoenix Cabaret fundraiser at Queen of the Apostle Parish Hall in Avoca. Phoenix Kids will also present musical twist on Shakespeare with A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Musical beginning Friday, March 4, at the theater in Duryea. Lee LaChette, artistic director, said the unique take on a classic helps bring the material to young performers aged four to 13. “They’re learning Shakespeare in a fun way with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Musical,’” she said. “It’s the first time I think all of them have been exposed to Shakespeare. There’s really not much out there Shakespeare-wise that you can expose a younger child to that they’re going to understand. This company that licensed this musical brought it down to the kind of tone a child can understand, but yet have the fun of the learning his way of writing.” Even those very familiar with Shakespeare’s tale of fantasy will find new updates to the performance to keep things fresh for modern, young audiences. “It keeps the same exact storyline, but they added some lighthearted things like The Backstreet Boys and N’Sync,” said LaChette. “The mechanicals, who are supposed to be an offbeat theater troupe, are updated to be more like a rock band. The music they’ve added is a lot of fun: it’s fun to dance to, it’s fun to sing, it’s very original. It’s only ever been done once in this area about eight years ago. We like to find the new and the off-the-wall.” Cast members for Phoenix come from all over the area — LaChette said auditions are open and welcoming to all. In order to help raise funds for Phoenix productions, LaChette said the Broadway Bound Phoenix Cabaret will offer an evening of fun for kids
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From left: Shane Balchune (Oberon), Dayla Musgrave (Titania), Megan Dennis (Puck) and Aiden Hart (Shakespeare).
and adults alike. “It’s a lot of the kids who are in the theater company, plus kids who aren’t part of it and are looking now to be part of it,” she said. “It’s the kids having a fun night, they practice their own songs they picked from a Broadway show to sing or dance.” The Cabaret won’t be simply an evening of performance, however. “We’re doing a three-course dinner and the show,” she said. “One of our parents is a DJ and will be throwing a dance party afterwards. We’ll even have a photo booth; it’s a lot of fun. It gives the kids a chance to perform without dealing with costumes and scene changes and learning lines. They’re just going out to perform and have fun, they don’t have to put a whole lot of thinking into it, they get to just perform and have a relaxed night.”
LaChette said young performers rehearse for about seven or eight weeks prior to a performance, and many past Phoenix performers have continued pursuing theater. “We have some kids who this year will be graduating from college, who, entered into musical theater as their major,” she said. “A lot of our kids are very serious, and they do move on to some of the best colleges. In New York, I’ve got some at Pace, Wagner, Hofstra, West Chester, they’re all over the place. Some just started, some have been there a couple years.” The Broadway Bound Phoenix Cabaret fundraiser will take place Saturday, Feb. 27, 6-11 p.m. Tickets are $20, call 570-457-35289 for reservations and dinner choices. Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Musical will run Fridays through Sundays, March 4 through 13, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows at 2 p.m.