Thursday, August 21, 2014 Page B1
SECTION
LIVING
B
WHAT’S ON? Q DINING GUIDE Q WHAT’S COOKING? Q SPORTS Q REAL ESTATE Q CLASSIFIED Q SERVICE GUIDE Q BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY
Photos by Marisol Díaz
YOUNG ACTORS from the Riverdale Rising Stars take the stage at The Riverdale Y’s theater for a performance of ‘Peter Pan, Jr.’ on Aug. 7.
‘I know a place where dreams are born’ Riverdale Rising Stars transport audiences to Neverland By Maya Rajamani
To
Rising Stars win national notice
mrajamani@riverdalepress.com
I
The Riverdale Rising Stars won seven out of 22 prizes in the National Youth Arts Awards competition in the 201314 season. The contest draws theater groups from around the country.
Proud grandpa former Sen. Joseph Lieberman applauds the show. Eliza Fischer, 9, as Tiger Lily, top center. Trevor Scott, 12, as Mr. Darling, and Eden Migdal, 11, as Wendy, top right. Samantha Trombone, 11, as Captain Hook, Eliza Fischer, 9, as Tiger Lily and Abigail Fischer, 12, as Smee, bottom right. Tatyana Moore, 7, as a mermaid, bottom left. Tiarra Towns, 10, as Peter Pan, center left. “Good, because most people only hear bells.” Evan O’Rourke, also 8, was excited to see his mother, aunt and father in the audience. After he discovered he would play Wendy’s brother Michael, his aunt brought him a copy of the animated Disney movie. “I’m very happy,” he said, adding his grandmother and babysitter would attend a second performance of Peter Pan Jr. Trevor Scott, 13, played Wendy’s stern father, who admonishes the girl to be a “proper lady” and refrain from roughhousing with her siblings and telling stories at the start of the play. The show received an endorsement
F E AT U R E D E X C L U S I V E S
from former senator and vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman, who was there on Aug. 7 to see his granddaughter Eden perform. “I think the show’s wonderful,” Mr. Lieberman said during intermission. “It’s such a great thing to have in the neighborhood.” His granddaughter accurately predicted the audience’s reaction to Wendy’s walk on the plank. As Eden appeared to fall from Hook’s ship, there were a few gasps from the audience. But after their adventures in Neverland, the Darling siblings made it back home safe, where their father recalls his own childhood journey to Neverland. The young actress playing Peter
Pan made sure to point out the difference between herself and the precocious young boy. “Being Peter Pan is the opposite of who I am,” Tiarra said. “I’ve always wanted to grow up [and] see what it feels like.” Nevertheless, she adopted the role with ease. When she and her fellow actors took a bow at the show’s close, she and Eden took a final spin around stage on their Heelys. “I think they’ve all done a remarkable job,” said director Ms. Howell. “I think they really have adopted the attitude that you could be a fairy or you could be a pirate as long as you believe.”
Award winners: Q Lead actor in a musical: Ezra Mutnick as Roger in Rent Q Lead actress in a musical: Leora Einleger as Natalie Haller in All Shook Up Q Lead actress in a musical: Rachel Szpilka as Mimi in Rent Q Supporting actress (junior division): Zoe Wilson as Bunny in Babes in Arms Q Outstanding ensemble: Rent Q Lighting design: David Pentz for All Shook Up Q Direction: Laurie Walton for Rent Nominations: Q Outstanding production: Rent Q Lead actor in a musical: Tyler Nottage as Mark in Rent Q Lead actor (Junior Division): Thomas Grant as Harold Hill in The Music Man Q Lead actor (Junior Division): Sam Backer as Horton the Elephant in Seussical Q Lead actor (Junior Division): Hillel Schwab as Cat in the Hat in Seussical Q Supporting actor in a musical: Julian Bar-Illan as Collins in Rent Q Supporting actress in a musical: Lindsey Crowe as Joanne in Rent Q Supporting actress in a musical: Leora Einleger as Maureen in Rent Q Supporting actress in a musical: Katie Kilcommons as Mayor Matilda Hyde in All Shook Up Q Supporting actress in a play: Nava Schorsch as Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank Q Supporting actress (junior division): Enza Jonas-Giugni as Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man Q Supporting Actress (junior division): Kyra Siegel as Mayzie LaBird in Seussical Q Featured Actor (junior division): Jacob Schorsch as Mayor Shinn in The Music Man Q Outstanding ensemble: All Shook Up Q Set design: Tony Wan for Rent
BRIGHT CONDO!
ROOM TO GROW!
4 BR / 2 BATH
3 BR / 3 BATH
$925K. Web#10126308
$789K. Web#11023439
Amela Kadric
Vicki Green
718.878.1719
718.549.4116 ext.226
VIRTUALLY STAGED
717312
f you ever need help reaching Neverland, the Riverdale Rising Stars know how to get there. The cast of young local performers brought Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinker Bell and the rest of J.M. Barrie’s beloved characters to life in Aug. 7 and 10 shows at The Riverdale Y. While Director Angela Howell’s production mostly adhered to tradition, including casting a female as the title character, the Rising Stars made a few modifications to the children’s classic. Instead of using a haphazard harness in the flying scenes, Ms. Howell opted for the actors to use Heelys, sneakers with wheels in their heels. “I’m happy the flying we’ve done works, because it’s not the traditional method,” the director remarked. The show followed the Riverdale Rising Stars’ tradition of letting each performer participate to the max. Everyone in Peter Pan, Jr. had a speaking role. “No one feels like they’re being excluded,” said 11-year-old Eden Migdal, a Kinneret Day School student who played Wendy, one of the lead characters. “Excited” was an understatement for Tiarra Towns, 10, when she discovered she would play the title role. “It was my favorite movie for four straight years,” said the St. Margaret’s of Cortona student. “The adventure and the action — everything is so cool.” Tiara said the cast became closeknit through daily 90-minute-long practices following rigorous auditions. Eden said she had initially hoped to be cast as Tiger Lily, a tribal princess, but was content to play Wendy instead. She added that walking the plank under orders from Captain Hook was one of her favorite scenes. “It gets a lot of surprise from the audience, and it’s pretty scary,” Eden said. “It was frightening at first, but they set it up so it’s very safe and comfortable.” The crew also included 8-year-old Beth Levin as Tinkerbell, who helped bring the audience into a world where the days move faster, there are three moons and no one perishes. “Before I get started, can everyone understand what I’m saying?” Beth asked the audience as the play began.