Another fall is here, and instead of worrying about the changing leaves, our actors on stage are learning to keep an eye out for street rats, snakes, and sand storms! No we have not relocated to the LCA to the Middle East, but we transform our minds into Agrabah three days a week for rehearsal!

After our first week of rehearsal, I am astounded at the talent we have in our young actors, and can't wait to dig in further! They transported us with the opening tune "Arabian Nights" and their amazing voices filled the LCA with the sounds of, dare I say, "A Whole New World"!

You do not want to miss this magical family favorite!

Performances:
November 21st - 7 PM
November 22nd - 2 PM
November 23rd - 4 PM

Tickets:
$10 Adults
$8 Seniors
$5 children
Tickets on sale to the public October 27th, available at the front desk of the South Shore Emilson YMCA

Brayden and Kristen, in the Multipurpose Room after class

Anyone who has been to Laura's Center for the Arts on a Monday morning has probably had the chance to meet Brayden Hum.  This energetic and friendly little guy is a regular for the Monday morning Music and Me class with his mom, Kristen Stewart.  Kristen has worked for the Y for a number of years, over at what Brayden refers to as "Mommy's Y" or the main branch here at the Emilson Y, but Brayden joins us over here at the LCA, which he has cutely dubbed "Tyler's Y".

I got a chance to sit down and talk with Brayden and Kristen a bit about what they've been doing at Tyler's Y...I mean the LCA. Brayden asked a lot of questions, as he usually does, so it was a fun chance to get sit and talk to him!

Kristen and Brayden have participated in Music and Me as well as our Toddler Art class.  Kristen felt that it was important to expose Brayden to a variety of things, and music was one that she felt was not her forte, so they signed up for music class, and Brayden had such a good connection that they have been signing up ever since!

Brayden's favorite part of class is when we sing "I Saw a Little Bunny", a simple finger play that proves a challenge for the fine motor skills of the class, but as we progress we get more and more two finger bunnies! Kristen's favorite part of class is when Brayden, who is often quieter in class, sings the songs at home "just like Tyler".  The repetition of the class is designed just for that purpose, to teach the students (and parents) songs and music games they can do at home!

Brayden loves to help clean up! He's a great helper!

In the future Kristen would like to see us running programs that include literature incorporated into the program, much in the way that it had been in Toddler Art and in the way that we do in Musical Mavericks, and to see us taking some of our classes onto the outdoor stage as the weather gets nicer.  Coming to work to dance and sing songs outside...? I like the sound of that!

Kristen loves the space and the artwork that changes on a monthly basis, allowing her and Brayden to be exposed to things that they otherwise wouldn't.  So come on over and check out what we have going on at Laura's Center for the Arts, and if you're here on Monday morning, be ready for Brayden to ask you questions!

Last weekend was a wonderfully packed one at Laura's Center for the Arts. Three sold out performances of Annie JR filled the center with bustle and song. There are few things better than to hear 55 youth, ages 5-16, belting out "the sun'll come out tomorrow!" Its hopeful and refreshing, to say the least.

Tyler Cavanagh, the production director, wrote beautifully about all that theatre at LCA means to us in his director's note. In case you missed the performances, or just missed snagging a playbill, here is an excerpt:

Annie is a show about feeling loved and finding a place to belong, and most anyone who has been involved in theatre can appreciate that feeling. The camaraderie, trust, and feeling of home is something that has always drawn me to theatre, as well as to the Y. I am blessed to have the chance to work such an amazing cast and production team, and find that family feeling directing Annie Jr. at the Emilson Y.  

Bravo to the cast and crew of Annie JR and thanks to all who attended. A HUGE thanks to the families of the participants as well: the holidays are a busy time for all of us- thank you for making this opportunity a priority for your kiddos!

When I was in college I studied music.  About a month into my senior year, the tech director for Dever Stage (an on campus theatre) approached me to see if I would be interested in doing an internship with him.  I took a minute to think about it;  I was a music major with a concentration in performance.  Why would I want to do a technical theatre internship?

I said yes anyways.  It was 12 credits to spend time with friends in a theatre I basically lived in, the internship just meant I had to be there and that I got keys.  Keys that meant responsibility and responsibility that meant adulthood.  So with adulthood looming just two semesters away I figured I better get started.

I learned something hugely valuable with that internship.  It wasn't about music, or theatre, or even how to use the recording equipment (which I did learn, even though it terrified me).  What I learned was that you can't make yourself versatile enough.

It isn't enough to have our students be involved with the acting on stage in our productions.  If that is where they are comfortable that is fine, but so many of our students are like me: they don't even know that they would love being involved in a myriad of other aspects of the production too.  Our students have the great opportunity to paint, create, and learn from a team of professionals that include teachers, directors, musicians, artists, and performers.

Today we had a chance to work with the actors involved in our upcoming production of Annie Jr. on how to paint a stage- something that to me has become commonplace and simple task, but after the first child "boxed them self in" with paint I realized just how much they had to be taught! Along with those kids on the stage, we also had a team in the house working on costumes and set design.  They learned about how we organize our costumes on racks and how we select who wears what.  They even helped to design the back drops for our windows with Beth!  She worked with them on how to design the "window scenes" that will changed depending on the setting.

 

 All in all it was an awesome set build and a fun day.  We only left with a few socks painted black and a lot of smiles.

In today's fast paced world it's a challenge to find family time.  Families find themselves running from this game to that birthday, from one class to the next, with the parents on the fringes watching and driving.  It's a beautiful thing to see a family just play.

One of the classes we are currently offering is "Oh the Drama" and I couldn't ask for a better class! We currently have two families who honestly exemplify the power of theatre, in this case the simple act of "playing pretend", to bring people together.  Throughout the fall session I have had the chance to watch this group of youngsters transform into animals, chefs, royalty, and anything else our imaginations could come up with. 

What has been so inspiring is the parents involvement; These parents actively participate in engaging their imaginations as well.  It's easy to get wrapped up in the idea that we have to act a certain way, and pretending to fight a bear that your 3 year old son is imagining looming over you, ready to attack, is rarely seen as the "right" way to be an adult, but that's just what these parents are doing.  They are letting their kids make the decisions, and following along as a character in their story! Whether we are pretending to cook a gourmet meal or protect the throne of the kingdom, this class, these kids, and these parents are a highlight of the week.

The throne created by Prince Tristan and Princess Adriana