NEYT explores The Quality of Mercy

New England Youth Theater partners with the Brattleboro Community Justice Center to present "The Quality of Mercy" , directed by Rebecca Waxman, November 12-21.  A powerful theatrical collage of work inspired by class work during our Season of Restorative Justice, this production will focus on sharing awareness of Restorative Justice with the wider community.  
 

The Cast of The Quality of MErcy stands in unity singing the song that ties the entire production together: "Out on the outside, that's where I've been.  Out on the outside... Let me come in!"

What is Restorative Justice?  One student sums it up pretty well:  “I don’t really know a lot about Restorative Justice.  I know that its about how instead of saying ‘Okay you did this bad thing so you get this sentence and get thrown in jail,’ people talk about how to work things through.  It’s like, someone does something that hurts people, and they have to sit down and hear how they’ve hurt people so they really understand.  Then they have to make it right.”

The performance will be a multigenerational collaboration of youth and adult students, faculty, as well as alternating surprise groups from within the Brattleboro community.  Scenes, monologues, songs and theatrical events explore relevant themes of justice, retribution and healing.  Material is being pulled from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, and many other great works, classic and contemporary.

Even the Brattleboro Police Department got involved in the production, with a lighthearted bit of self-mockery.  Several of Brattleboros most courageous officers perform in Officer Krupke from West Side Story.

Teacher James Gelter admits to a sense of caution at the start of the class session. “I was wondering at the beginning of class where the line would be – the line that I could push them to the precipice of. They showed me very clearly, ‘Here it is - we’re ready to deal with this stuff full on!’ The material that the teens are tackling is dangerous and edgy – dealing with substance abuse, power struggles, and relationships.

“This fall is full of serious, serious stuff. And, even though we didn’t exactly plan it this way, everything seems to be tied into these big themes of justice, oppression, and overcoming it,” says faculty member Peter Gould, who directed Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in October.

Teachers leading classes this semester have trained with the Brattleboro Community Justice Center (BCJC) in elements of restorative justice, including role plays of what actually happens at a restorative justice conference. Instead of taking first-time offenders to court, the police department may refer a case to the Community Justice Center. In a conference style all affected parties sit together in a circle and the crime and impact on the community are discussed. A facilitator leads the discussion, allowing every person at the conference to give voice to the hurt that was done as a consequence of the crime. By the end of the conference, all parties come to an agreement on a contract that the offenders must fulfill to repair damage done as a consequence of their actions. If the contract is not fulfilled, the offenders must go through the courts. This, of course, is just one of the processes employed by the BCJC.

This production is a part of International Restorative Justice Week, organized locally by the Brattleboro Community Justice Center.  Last year, they held an open mic night at New England Youth Theatre to raise awareness, but this year they have received funding to do a partnership with the theatre to create a performance. The Quality of Mercy will run for two weekends from November 12^th to the 21^st, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM, with matinees specially tailored for younger audiences.  Evening shows will include interactive panel discussions after the performances to further the connection to community and the understanding of Restorative Justice. Tickets will be $6 for students, $8 for seniors, and $10 for adults You may purchase advance tickets online at www.neyt.org, or at the NEYT box office on Wednesdays from 12-5pm.  For more information about our programs, please see our website or give us a call at 802-246-6398.

“As faculty members, we were all invited to sit on a Restorative Justice Panel – these are the groups that hear the stories of the people that commit the crimes and help them figure out what they can do to repair the damage that their crimes caused. It is so inspiring to be in the room as they tell their stories and work through it because they can be doing this instead of or at least in conjunction with community service, maybe instead of parole. All three folks that were there that night were really invested in this process, in what they could do to make things right.”

--Rick Barron

Catching up!

We have been remiss in updating our blog, and apologize.
Here is what we missed!

 TAP presents: Aesop's Fables - PHOTOS & PRESS

NEYT Alumni present: Original Works Festival - PHOTOS & PRESS

Fall Arts Classes Fair - PHOTOS & PRESS

NEYT Mentors present: A Community Cabaret - PHOTOS & PRESS

Arthur Miller's The Crucible - PHOTOS & PRESS & POSTER

TAP presents selections from The Phantom Tollbooth - PHOTOS & PRESS & REVIEW

The Pajama Game!

New England Youth Theatre presents “THE PAJAMA GAME” August 6-14^th.  The Pajama Game is a musical written by George Abbott and based on the novel 7-1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell featuring a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.
The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where workers’ demands for a seven-and-a-half cent raise are going unheeded. In the midst of this ordeal, love blossoms between Babe, who is the grievance committee head, and Sid, the new factory superintendent.

A perennial audience favorite, the original production won a Tony for Best Musical, and the 2006 Broadway revival won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
NEYT founder Stephen Stearns directs, with a stellar line-up of alumni, including musical directors Nick Bombicino & Louisa Sullivan and choreographer Shoshanna Bass.

Evening performances are Friday and Saturday August 6 and 7, and Tuesday through Saturday August 10-14 at 7pm.  Mattinees will be held at 2 PM on Saturday August 7, Sunday August 8, and Saturday August 14^th.
Tickets prices for students are $7.50, seniors $9.50, and adults $11.50.
You may purchase advance tickets on the NEYT website at www.neyt.org and at the NEYT box office on Wednesdays from 12-5 PM.  Tickets may also be purchased at the door.
Thanks to our sponsors: Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors and The Richards Group

Pajama Raffle!

New England Youth Theatre will be holding a raffle during each performance of its upcoming musical The Pajama Game.  Prizes will be all sorts of pajama-related items - from men’s plaid flannel pajamas from Sam’s to toddlers pajamas from Carters, Llama, Llama Red Pajama from Everyone’s Books and Polly’s Pink Pajamas from The Book Cellar, to a lovely ladies’ bathrobe and pajamas from Peebles, pajama bottoms from Adivasi paired with NEYT t-shirts, pajamas from Dragonfly Dry Goods, home-made cookies with tea provided by the Twilight Tea Lounge, and a copy of The Pajama Game original movie starring actress Doris Day -choreographed by Bob Fosse.

The funds from selling raffle tickets, which cost $2 for one ticket or $5 for 3, will be put into NEYT’s financial aid fund.  The Youth Theatre is committed to never turning away a student in financial need.  We believe that it is important for all youth to be engaged in the arts and in collaborative ventures that help students build teamwork and leadership skills, confidence, and, most importantly, friendships.

During the summer, New England Youth Theatre distributed a total of over $7,000 in financial aid to all 40 students who applied for assistance. This money came from paid tuitions; concession sales at intermissions; donations in the lobby box; generous donations to our "Angels in the Wings" fund, set up specifically for this purpose; and from fundraisers geared towards boosting the financial aid funds.

Purchase your tickets at performances of The Pajama Game at New England Youth Theatre, August 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 at 7 PM or August 7, 8, and 14 at 2 PM.  Get your advance tickets to this production online at www.neyt.org.  Raffle tickets will be sold during performances.  A winner will be drawn at each performance.  Winners will be able to choose their prizes!  Come take in a great show with some superbly talented actors and actresses, and help support NEYT’s scholarship fund!

Teens Connect with Shakespeare's Cymbeline

There is a moment that you reach when you’re a parent when you say, No you can’t, and your son or daughter replies, Yes I can – and I will. Director, and mother, Keely Eastley says, “You realize that they are actually breaking away.  There is this moment that you know that you will never be a parent in the same way as you used to.”

All of the actors putting together this show are apt at connecting to this seemingly complex language and plot.  They are just on the cusp of that change, and all the parents, who help these kids learn lines at home – and who will be sitting in the audience - they are going to know exactly what this feeling is, having lived through it themselves as kids, and now coming upon it as parents.  It helps that most of the roles in Cymbeline, excepting the parents and political figures, are young people.

Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, a modern and dark fairytale, is about young adults learning how to love, deal with the trials of love, and live with the choices they make in spite of their parents guidance.  Mothers push daughters, fathers push sons, but the young people all have the drive to prove themselves by acting independently and following their own ambitions.  “So, the main characters go on these journeys that bring them through enormous hardships of life.  They start from a place of idealized love.  Then they go through the hardships of life, which make them grow and come to a place of forgiveness.  Finally, they come to a deeper and more real love at the end of the play, and it’s just beautiful,” says Eastley.

I peer into the large red rehearsal room in the back halls of New England Youth Theatre.  Students stand in a circle making strange noises, shaking their bodies, and laughing with each other.  Their warm-up seems to bring a sense of not only focus towards a common purpose, but a great camaraderie.  Soon rehearsal begins, and each student is busy doing something – working with one of the three directors, learning lines, practicing scenes, and talking about the meaning of what they are saying.

Keely Eastley - who has taught actors at Yale, MIT, Boston Conservatory, and Shakespeare & Co. - is embarking on her first sojourn into directing.  With experience as an actor and voice teacher, having worked intimately with Shakespeare’s text, and served as vocal and text coach for two previous summer Shakespeare Programs with NEYT, Ms. Eastley is ready to jump in with directing and take on one of Shakespeare’s more complicated Romance plays.

“I took what I knew, and we just started with the material, the text, and the relationships.”  At rehearsal students stand in a big circle in the room diving into the text, really investing in the meaning of the words.  “It is really allowing the actors to have the permission to do whatever kind of movement or physical relationship building that they feel is right in the moment, without constraints of the stage or a set.  The kids have really found some things on their own, and I think its because they don’t have to focus on remembering their blocking.”

As a “green” director, Eastley was nervous about one thing – the epic Shakespearean war smack dab in the middle of this beautiful, raw, emotional, modern fairytale.  She said she was looking for an outlet that was different – some way that the actors could express the true ferocity of a brutal war.  Then with a stroke of brilliance, she found her answer – a dvd of STOMP. “I rented three different versions of it, and was looking at the ferocity of the rhythms and how they were using their bodies – that could be war.” 

The tech department at NEYT created quarterstaffs and Todd Roach is guiding the actors in creating a rhythmic and dynamic battle scene.  “Most of them are not musicians or drummers, but Todd - it is amazing what he can get them to do. The fight is just gonna be thrilling, its gonna rock,” Eastley says.

As we wind up our interview, the director confides, “I’m tired, but I’m a good kind of tired. I’ve never in all my years seen a group of more focused actors - they actually go away and work and hang out some but they work hard.”  Hard work pays off.  Cymbeline will be a “can’t miss” performance.

Catch the shows July 9^th and 10^th at 7 pm or 10^th and 11^th at 2pm in the air-conditioned New England Youth Theatre on 100 Flat St. in downtown Brattleboro.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.neyt.org or in the NEYT box office on Wednesdays from 12-5 pm.  Prices are $7.50 for students and seniors and $9.50 for adults.  This show is sponsored by The Bear Bookshop.

SALMAGUNDI is almost here!

NEYT is delighted to announce the return of our Salmagundi Festival, once again offering workshops, master classes, and performances by acclaimed professionals. Salmagundi artists come from outside our region to teach a wide array of performance disciplines for one week only, right here at NEYT.  This year, there will be over 13 teachers, 15 performers and 20 exciting opportunities available to kids and adults.

There are returning artists such as Rob Mermin, founder of Circus Smirkus, who will teach magic and present an illustrated lecture about circus in film. Beloved clown Roger Reed will be here to share his exceptional juggling instruction, as well as a feisty clown performance. Robin Fawcett will repeat her popular monologue study class. Our revered David Vann will share secrets about Shakespeare with a lunch-time class for adults and a scathing lecture in the evening.  He will also be teaching a scene study class for teens and adults.

Newcomers to the 2010 line-up include legendary composer and musician Doug Katsaros, inspiring street performer Brent McCoy, world-renowned clown Avner the Eccentric, professional costumer Ginny Clow, brilliant physical comedienne Julie Goell, TV/Film acting coach Anastasia Barnes,  Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and their master teacher Jamie Guite, and award-winning dance company Adele Myers and Co.

Whether you’re 8 or 80, join us for laughter and learning. Come once or attend every day; there is something for everyone during Salmagundi. Performances are appropriate for the whole family and many are completely free! Full descriptions of offerings, artists’ biographies and daily schedules can be found on our website www.neyt.org.  To register for classes call the Theatre at 802-246-6398 x 101 or e-mail michelle@neyt.org.  Classes will be held at the theatre at 100 Flat St. Brattleboro, VT.

Imagination Celebrated at NEYT' s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

New England Youth Theatre presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe April 23-May 2, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.

In a world of trauma, war, and family separation, four siblings, exiled from their home, find an escape via their imaginations to a place where they are empowered to change the lives of hundreds for the better. C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an epic tale of youth creating an imaginative land where they have the power to determine not only their own futures, but the future of this magical place called Narnia.

Director John Hadden, one of the founding members of Shakespeare and Company in Lennox, Massachusetts, describes what pulls him into the play, “It’s really interesting, what happens to kids in a world that is made chaos by the adults. Getting involved in another world is a natural reaction to real crisis. Is this their way of playing out the crisis in order to deal with it?  Or is the imagined world real?”

Hadden and the talented technical crew at New England Youth Theatre create an undeniable mirror – Narnia reflects the real world that the children experience. If you recall the characters from the story, you’ll remember all sorts of animals, beavers, badgers, foxes, lions.  Hadden explains that “instead of becoming real animals, the animals are played as humans with those characteristics from the children’s real lives.  A woman in an elaborate fur coat becomes the Queen.” 

The excellently coordinated costumes that make these correlations happen are definitely something to celebrate.  Not only are the costumes beautiful and appropriate to the fantasy, but Costumer Sandy Klein has pulled out all of her furs to make a chilly English winter and an epic Narnia winter come to life.  Also, local folk music and dance expert Tony Barrand has collaborated with Hadden on this project to bring some classic folk tunes and movement into Narnia.

Hadden says, “I believe that imagination is important to a healthy existence on this planet.” Let the magic of the stage inspire your imagination – the more you use it the stronger it will be.  Let this tale you read in school bring you back to those memories, and create new ones with your children!

Tickets are $7.50 for students, $9.50 for seniors, and $11.50 for adults, and performances are from April 23-May 2 at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.  To purchase tickets in advance go online to www.neyt.org, call the NEYT box office at 802-246-6398, or visit the theatre at 100 Flat St. on Wednesdays from 12 pm – 5 pm. Thanks to our sponsors – 1^st Advantage Dental with Brattleboro Orthodontic Specialists.

Salmagundi Theatre Festival Approaches

New England Youth Theatre would like to invite you to sample the "feast" of Theatre Arts at this year's Salmagundi Theatre Festival. There will be a smorgasbord of options - Workshops, Performances, and Lectures!  Will you choose from the menu - Professional acting, Music & Dance, Clowning, Juggling, or something completely different?  Check out the menu below or at our website to find something suitable to your palate.

We are offering special discounts to folks who register for three or more classes!

To register contact Michelle at michelle@neyt.org or 802-246-6398 x 101.

Workshops in:
Scene Study
Singing
Dance
Street Theatre
Clowning
Juggling
Costume Painting
Improvisation
Magic
Physical Theatre
Shakespeare
Film and TV

Artists:
Avner the Eccentric
Julie Goell
Doug Katsaros
Roger the Jester
Rob Mermin
Brent McCoy
David Vann
Anastasia Barnes
Virginia Clow
Adele Myers & Dancers
Jamie Guite
Thomas G. Waites
Robin Fawcett
Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theatre

Brattleboro Reformer Article on Raising Our Voices by Jon Potter

You don't need a spotlight to see inner light, but there, on the New England Youth Theatre stage, both sources of illumination were in ample supply, as a group of actors prepared last Monday afternoon for the most important show of their lives. After six years of letting their talents shine through the words and music of others, members of the Adult Troupe of the Theatre Adventure Program were working hard to polish "Raising Our Voices," a multimedia show the 14 actors ages 19-49 have written about their lives.
A program of NEYT, TAP is an inclusive theater arts program for people with disabilities, as well as a few of their typically developing peers. "Raising Our Voices" marks a considerable milestone for both the program and the people it serves. Not only is it the first show they've written. It is also the first show they will present more than once and the first one that will be given a gala evening performance.
That gala performance is Saturday, April 3, at 7 p.m., and is a crucial fundraiser for the TAP program. An earlier performance will be held on Thursday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. Both are held at NEYT, 100 Flat St.
Though it's still a few days away, members of the TAP troupe can't wait to have you come and see it.
"We want to tell other people that we have a voice and to let them see the special gifts we have," said troupe member Katharine Breunig after rehearsal last Monday. "We are so proud of ourselves."
"It feels great amazing. We've been working so hard," added troupe member Kyle Riopel, who wrote the opening song for the show. "I'm hoping people will get inspired by this and use their voices, too."
That is the essence of the show -- and why it's important not just for TAP but for all of us. They're not just telling their story, they're telling our story. And they fit into a theater tradition of shows that offer glimpses into the everyday world of one community to reflect the everyday lives of all of us -- think "Our Town" or "Rent."
In "Raising Our Voices," troupe members introduce themselves to us in a series of songs, stories and vignettes. There are moments of great poignancy and poetry, lighter moments casting the warmest possible glow; there are people standing proudly on their own and people helping each other with unparalleled kindness.
"What's fun about this play we're doing is being with all our friends here at TAP. It's nice to be with them," said Breunig.
As we get to know them through the show, we see our own lives reflected in simple pleasures -- going out for Chinese food, playing basketball, attending church, riding a bike, working out at Curves, listening to Miley Cyrus, chilling out with friends and watching TV. Their larger concerns are ours, too -- finding meaningful work, a good home, friendships and relationships, fitting in, giving back to our community.
"The big vision is ‘Here we are!' Not just a tentative putting your toe in the water, but ‘Here we are! We have something to say. We're proud of who we are," said Laura Lawson Tucker, TAP co-director with Darlene Jenson.
They should be. It's been a year of speaking out with a more confident voice. In February, many of the TAP members journeyed to the Statehouse in Montpelier to join advocates and service providers in lobbying against cuts to services.
"Now's the time for us to speak out Show them where we stand," raps Riopel in the opening song he wrote.
The idea for "Raising Our Voices" began germinating nearly 10 months ago, when Lawson Tucker realized her veteran troupe was ready for the extra load of two performances, including an evening show.
"We also had been entertaining the idea of having them write their own show," she said.
The troupe spent six weeks this fall gathering material and tried some of it out in shows in the community -- including a paying gig -- and at a Sept. 12 symposium on how all people can be better integrated into the community.
What emerged is "Raising Our Voices," a show in three parts. The first part, titled "Here I Am," features the opening song and a group poem where the cast members introduce themselves and shed a little light on who they are.
The second part is a series of vignettes titled "Friends," created by the cast, dealing with the issues they face, the things on their minds, the times they share together and the things they do for fun.
The third part, titled "Community," talks about the jobs they have and the ways they are active and helpful in the community. The show features many songs troupers sing, slides projected in the background, recorded voices, pantomimed scenes, the piano playing of Kachina Lee-Autenrieth, colorful costumes and dancing. The show ends with the ensemble singing Sweet Honey in the Rock's "All I Have to Do." The show will be interpreted in American Sign Language.
"The first goal, I have for each troupe member is that their self-esteem and their self-confidence are boosted. That when the show is over, they're just bursting with pride," Lawson Tucker said. "For the audience, I would hope that they would just feel a sense of celebration for this troupe and these troupe members. We just want to help break down barriers and connect us. The arts do connect us.
"They are making important contributions to the community, and I don't think that's often recognized," she said of her troupers.
The "Raising Our Voices" TAP troupers include: Erin Ansart, Katharine Breunig, Adam Crocker, Evan Cross, Liz Cutts, Nathan Hirth, Julianne Kaplan, Kachina Lee-Autenrieth, Susan Mandell, Brittany Pusey, Kyle Riopel, Zach Teller, Heather Wilson and Teresa Woodlock.
Tickets for the April 3 gala fundraising show are $25 for adults, $10 for students. The show starts at 7 p.m., and there will be hors d'oeuvres, desserts and beverages, as well as entertainment in the lobby starting at 6 p.m. Purchase tickets for the gala at www.neyt.org, 802-246-6398 or at the NEYT box office on Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m.
Tickets for the April 1 show at 10:30 a.m. are $5.

Mixed Abilities Theatre Troupe Presents Premier of Original Work

On Saturday, April 3, 2010 the Theatre Adventure Program's Adult Troupe will premier their original production of "Raising Our Voices," as part of a fundraising gala in support of New England Youth Theatre and its groundbreaking initiatives to include students of all abilities in the expressive world of the theatre arts.

Raising Our Voices is a new production, written and performed by the NEYT Theatre Adventure Adult Troupe, demonstrating their commitment to speaking out, telling their stories, and highlighting their abilities as performers. Original songs, familiar music, dancing, acting, singing, adaptive equipment, sign language, and projections help to tell the story of this dynamic, diverse, and talented troupe of actors.

The fourteen Troupe Members speak about their lives in a group poem, “Here I am!” They bring to life the importance of friendship in five vignettes. Pantomime, recorded voices, and projected images create a montage of the Troupe Members engaged in their community. “Putting this play together has been a fun challenge,” says Kyle Riopel, a troupe member and the author of the show’s title song “Raising Our Voices.”  “I never thought that I would be doing so much work, but this song means a lot to me and I hope it means a lot to people around the world I want it to inspire.”

“Working in collaboration with these actors to present their stories to the world has been so inspiring,” says TAP Co-Director Laura Lawson Tucker. “They have so much to communicate about their dreams for connection and inclusion. And theatre, with all its creative tools for self-expression, provides a perfect blank canvas on which to work.”

The April 3 event is a fundraiser for the Theatre Adventure Program of New England Youth Theatre. Founded in 2004, the program has been offering theatre classes for students of mixed abilities. This premier production of “Raising Our Voices” marks the first time the troupe has presented material generated wholly from the contributions of troupe members.

“Times are tough for all arts programs,” says Lawson Tucker. “We really hope people will come out and support these actors who have worked so hard to produce this original work, and in turn support New England Youth Theatre that has helped to give voice to so many in our community.”

Tickets to the gala are $25 for adult and $10 for students and may be purchased online at www.neyt.org, at the NEYT Box Office on Wednesdays from noon to 5 pm, or by calling 802-246-6398. An hors d’oeuvres buffet will be served at 6 pm, followed by the performance at 7 pm and a coffee and dessert buffet will be served following the performance.

New Seating Arrangements

NEYT is pleased to announce a new feature of their ticket reservations system- numbered seats.  You can now go to the website, click on "buy tickets" and find a map of the theatre seating arrangement showing which seats have been reserved, and which are available for each show.  You can choose your seats on the spot, make your  purchase, and be assured of the seat of your choice, particularly if you book early. Note that each of the rows is marked with a letter, and the seats go 1-9 or 10, starting at the stairs at each side of the theatre.  If you book the higher numbers, you will not only have more central seats, but you will also not have people asking you to get up so they can get to their seats.

It is still going to be important, maybe even more than before , to get to the theatre on time.  If you arrive after the performance, you can not come in through the main aisle and into your seats, even if they are reserved.  This would be too disruptive for audiences and actors.  We will ask you to go through the tech booth at the top of the lobby stairs, and find whatever seating you can until intermission.

We look forward to your feedback, suggestions, and comments as we phase in this system over the next couple of shows.

Pajama Game Auditions

AUDITION DATES MARCH 31, 4 - 6 pm at NEYT
* Sign up (via e-mail michelle@neyt.org or phone Michelle at 802-246-6398 ext. 101)

Please prepare 16 bars of a ballad song and 16 bars of an up tempo "belt" type song from the musical theatre repertoire.  Remember to act while singing!  And bring your sheet music with you. Dress in comfortable clothing as there will be a short sequence of dance steps for everyone to learn together. (Pajama Game has lots of dancing and lots of big chorus dance numbers.)  We will ask you to read short scenes from the play with other actors - you may choose which character(s) you want to read for. Reading selections will be copied and available in the office for you to take home to review and study before the audition date. Auditions will run from 4:00 to 6:00 and we expect everyone to come at the start and stay until the end as we will be doing some call backs right then and there and want to mix and match actors within various scenes.

The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7-1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell, featuring a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cent raise are going unheeded. In the midst of this ordeal, love blossoms between Babe, the grievance committee head, and Sid, the new factory superintendent.

A perennial audience favorite, the original Broadway production of Pajama Game opened on May 13, 1954 and ran for 1,063 performances. It was revived in 1973, and again in 2006 by The Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway. The original production won a Tony for Best Musical, and the 2006 Broadway revival won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. 

Theatre Adventure Program Raises their voice

On Saturday, April 3, 2010 the Theatre Adventure Program's Adult Troupe will premier their original production of "Raising Our Voices," as part of a fundraising gala in support of New England Youth Theatre and its groundbreaking initiatives to include students of all abilities in the expressive world of the theatre arts.

Raising Our Voices is a new production, written and performed by the NEYT Theatre Adventure Adult Troupe, demonstrating their commitment to speaking out, telling their stories, and highlighting their abilities as performers. Original songs, familiar music, dancing, acting, singing, adaptive equipment, sign language, and projections help to tell the story of this dynamic, diverse, and talented troupe of actors.

The fourteen Troupe Members speak about their lives in a group poem, “Here I am!” They bring to life the importance of friendship in five vignettes. Pantomime, recorded voices, and projected images create a montage of the Troupe Members engaged in their community. “Putting this play together has been a fun challenge,” says Kyle Riopel, a troupe member and the author of the show’s title song “Raising Our Voices.”  “I never thought that I would be doing so much work, but this song means a lot to me and I hope it means a lot to people around the world I want it to inspire.”

“Working in collaboration with these actors to present their stories to the world has been so inspiring,” says TAP Co-Director Laura Lawson Tucker. “They have so much to communicate about their dreams for connection and inclusion. And theatre, with all its creative tools for self-expression, provides a perfect blank canvas on which to work.”

The April 3 event is a fundraiser for the Theatre Adventure Program of New England Youth Theatre. Founded in 2004, the program has been offering theatre classes for students of mixed abilities. This premier production of “Raising Our Voices” marks the first time the troupe has presented material generated wholly from the contributions of troupe members.

“Times are tough for all arts programs,” says Lawson Tucker. “We really hope people will come out and support these actors who have worked so hard to produce this original work, and in turn support New England Youth Theatre that has helped to give voice to so many in our community.”

Tickets to the gala are $25 for adult and $10 for students and may be purchased online at www.neyt.org, at the NEYT Box Office on Wednesdays from noon to 5 pm, or by calling 802-246-6398. An hors d’oeuvres buffet will be served at 6 pm, followed by the performance at 7 pm and a coffee and dessert buffet will be served following the performance.

Cure your Cabin Fever with a Spook!

The gray days of March bring a kind of gloom.  The snow melts and fog rises from the ground giving our quiet town an eerie feel. If you go out walking alone, beware - the headless horseman is coming to Brattleboro this month!
New England Youth Theatre is presenting The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, an early American story by Washington Irving, directed by Peter Gould, and generously sponsored by The Bear Bookshop.
Peter says, "Sleepy Hollow is one of the first great Colonial American folk tales. Set in the rolling hills and dark hollows of the Hudson River valley, it's exciting and mysterious, with four memorable legendary characters: the awkward singing schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, the wealthy land-owner Balt Van Tassel, his blooming daughter--and only heir-- Katrina, and her suitor, the muscular braggart Bram Van Brunt. And there's a whole host of supporting townsfolk, farm animals, spirits, and school children."
In an exciting twist, Gould has decided to set the play in 1950’s rural America.  Be ready for bobby socks, pony tails, bomb drills, and possibly even some early rock ‘n’ roll. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow will be story-theatre in the style of the two recent Kipling productions directed by Peter (Jungle Book and Just So) with the young ensemble doing all the chorus parts, physical moves, sound effects, dances, scary illusions, and general, rural, schoolhouse mayhem.

Don't miss this energetic fun-filled hour of youth theatre, right in the middle of cabin fever days March 12-21, Friday-Sunday.  Evening shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and matinees are on Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.  Tickets are $11.50 for adults, $9.50 seniors, and $7.50 for students. To purchase advance tickets visit our website at www.neyt.org, call (802)246-NEYT, or come in person to the theatre at 100 Flat St., Brattleboro, VT. 

MythMasters!

Attention Educators, myth lovers, kids young and old and theater enthusiasts

Coming to the New England Youth Theater a new educational show about myths - Greek myths, in fact, Greek myths with a twist (repeat 10 times fast)! No, a myth is not a female moth! From the brain child of David Zucker, creator of Poetry in Motion, and professional actor Richard McElvain, comes MythMasters, an imaginative new program of Olympic proportions. This story is brought to life by Actors Matthew Tibbs and Doran Hamm, who take MythMasters to a whole new level. These Myths, both ancient and modern, are rich, dramatic tales that have helped humans make sense of and face the unknown for thousands of years. Tibbs and Hamm, armed with international experience in children's theater and degrees in fine and performing arts, bring their own playful style to help blow off the dust of centuries from the myths of ancient Greece, bringing the power, majesty, and magic of Mt. Olympus wonderfully to life.

Through a skillful and entertaining combination of theatrical techniques (masks, mime, comedy, drama, puppets, costumes, music, reverence, irreverence, and lots of audience participation) these modern Marx Brothers allow the gods and goddesses, heroes and villains, monsters and maidens of ancient Greece to walk the earth again. This engaging program is certain to bring wonder and delight to both adults and young audiences, and to fire their interest in further exploration of one of the world's most ancient and fascinating civilizations.

Shows are Friday February 12^th at 7pm, Saturday February 13 and Sunday February 14^th at 2pm.  Tickets are just $3 dollars for adults, $2 dollars for children and seniors and all educators get in for free! This show is suitable for families of all ages and runs about an hour without an intermission. Tickets available at the door one hour before show time. It’s the next best thing to being on Mt. Olympus!

You can bring these Myth Masters to your school, classroom, library, church or festival for a delightfully educational exploration of ancient Greek Mythology. Discover why schools in MA, CT, and NY bring this show back year after year!


For booking information and availability please contact Mattew Tibbs at funwithmatt@gmail.com or Doran Hamm at funwithdory@gmail.com.

Golden Ticket Prizes!!

Yesterday the four golden ticket winners gathered at New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat St. in Brattleboro, to draw their prizes.  The kids who found the tickets got to draw their prizes out of Willy Wonka's top hat.  NEYT costumers Sam, Phoebe, and Tilden drew first, pulling out the $300 gift certificate to Vermont Artisan Designs. 
Next was Connall, who found his ticket at a Wonka performance that he was attending with his grandmother.  He squeezed his eyes shut so tightly and reached into the hat, pulling out the BIG prize - $500 cash!  When he drew the ticket, Connall said he wanted to win the big cash prize most of all. "I would give $100.00 to my sister Elizabeth and then i would buy lots of things for my many pets I have.  Then i would buy a DSI."
The third winner is David Petrie of Brattleboro, who brought his family to see the show and surprised them all when he opened his chocolate bar at intermission. His daughter drew the prize out of the hat - a year of free tickets for two to all of NEYT's productions.  And last was fourth winner, 10-year-old Zoe Baker of Putney who capped the special gala night festivities on December 18, by finding a golden ticket in her chocolate bar. She pulled out the $200 gift certificate to GameStop.  

There was a fifth golden ticket hidden in the chocolate bars, but no one came forward to claim their prize in time.  Maybe the ticket was lost, or the dog ate it.  We may never know...

Angels in the Wings

In the last year, NEYT has seen a 25 percent increase in financial aid requests. In 2008 close to $10,000 was given out in financial aid – this money comes from concession sales, fundraising events, and 10 percent of tuition income. With “Angels in the Wings” the theatre hopes to double that amount in order to provide families with the needed extra support to continue participating in NEYT’s dynamic programs, as well as to those families who have not considered it affordable. “If a mere 100 people donated a mere $10 per month, that would be $12000 per year, which would accomplish the goal we have set very painlessly and democratically,” says Rick Barron, Director of the Technical Theatre Program.

Taking steps to meet the increased need for financial assistance by NEYT families who have been affected by the economic downturn, New England Youth Theatre has created a new financial aid program:  “Angels in the Wings.” This program is an effort to reach beyond what NEYT’s Financial Aid Program can fund, and both help those families whose financial need has increased, and reach out to new families and students who may have found the tuition expenses prohibitive to participating in NEYT’s programs.

Donations to “Angels in the Wings” will be gratefully accepted and can be made on a one-time or on-going basis. Please contact the NEYT office at 802-246-NEYT or michelle@neyt.org. Donations can also be made online using a credit card at www.neyt.org.  

Golden Ticket Drawing!!!

On Wednesday, January 27 at 4 p.m., winners of New England Youth Theatre’s golden tickets from the Wonka-inspired candy bar sale, will gather at the theatre on Flat Street to draw their prizes. First up will be the first winners, Sam Grubinger from Dummerston and Tilden Remerleitch from Guilford, student costumers at NEYT who found the first golden ticket in late November, and plan to share their prize with fellow costumer Phoebe Martel. Next up will be 7-year-old Conall Halvey from Wardsboro who came to see Willy Wonka with his grandmother and left with a grin and a golden ticket. The third winner is David Petrie of Brattleboro, who brought his family to see the show and surprised them all when he opened his chocolate bar at intermission. The fourth winner is 10-year-old Zoe Baker of Putney who capped the special gala night festivities on December 18, by finding a golden ticket in her chocolate bar. 

      The fifth golden ticket winner has yet to come forward, although all the chocolate bars have been sold since late December. “We decided to go ahead with the drawing,” said Development Director Carlotta Cuerdon. “Although we are hoping a fifth winner will show up.”  Now is the time to check any unopened bars you may have, as the theatre has set the drawing date and time of 4 p.m, on January 27 as the deadline for producing the fifth ticket. Speculation on the missing fifth ticket ranges from an out-of-towner who didn’t know about the contest, or the story of the dog that swallowed a chocolate bar wrapper and all.

      Winners will be drawing for prizes including two $500 cash prizes, a $300 gift certificate to Vermont Artisan Designs, a pass for two to all New England Youth Theatre shows in 2010, and a $200 gift card from Gamestop. More information about the contest can be  obtained by contacting the theatre at 246-6398.

NEYTers Dig Improv

A group of NEYT students have been gathering weekly to bone up on their improvisational theatre skills.  Led by the beloved Sandy Klein, NEYT alum Andrew Marchev and Jane Baker, relatively new to the faculty, the “Monday Nighters” are building a formidable troupe.  Often you will find them performing at Elliot St. Café on Gallery Walk evenings.  They also can be found at Freaky Friday Games Nights, which happen monthly.

Take a Deep Breath...

 Winter Classes begin January 18!  

Make sure you’ve registered.  We have an excellent line-up of classes for all ages and abilities!  Improve your audition monologues, learn new skills, get ready for challenging roles by boosting your acting chops! For more details please visit the website: http://www.neyt.org/programs/classes.html

NEYT has a New Managing Director!

You have seen her countless times as you enter through NEYT doors.  She welcomes everyone with a smile, a joke, an inquiring gaze over her dainty glasses...

New England Youth Theatre is proud to announce the promotion of Michelle Meima to the position of Managing Director, furthering NEYT’s goal of building an efficient organization.  Meima was previously the registrar and administrator for NEYT, and will continue to hold many of those responsibilities, while also taking on new ones.  She will remain the welcoming face of New England Youth Theatre.  Her office will still be located just off the lobby area to greet audiences, students, and parents coming into the theatre.

Originally from Great Britain, the new managing director began her life in the performing arts as a cabaret singer in locations all over Europe, including the UK, Greece, and the Canary Islands.  After moving to Brattleboro from Sweden, Meima began as a volunteer with the youth theatre when her daughter began voraciously auditioning for shows and taking classes.  Since that time four years ago, she has been dedicated to helping the Youth Theatre become what it is today.

Alumni Panel

On December 27 an Alumni Panel came to Brattleboro's New England Youth Theatre and spoke to the Professional Track students about their college and professional experiences.

Active NEYT alumni range in age from 18-25 and are involved in theatre in many different gradients of intensity – some are pursuing careers in New York City and Boston, others work in the theatre world in smaller communities, and many are still in college either earning a degree in theatre or a complimentary degree in liberal arts.  They also come from different disciplines in theatre - stage management, marketing, acting, composing, singing and dancing!

NEYT Students were able to ask questions about making the college choice, auditioning, and what happens after college.  Alumni were able to discuss the variety of programs that they had attended and many were loyal to the training they had gone through - whether it was a conservatory program or a liberal arts program.  Alums emphasized that finding the right school is a very personal decision - it is not only ranking and programs, but also the community and culture of the institution that should influence a student's decision.

Also, Pro-trackers were curious what it is like to make the transition from rural Vermont to a big city such as Boston, New York, or any others that the alumni have traveled to.  Alumni confirmed that the cities are the best places to begin, but reasserted the old boyscout adage: "'Be prepared!'  Cities are really different." Noah Smith, who now lives in Manhattan, added "Its best when you can find a place in a city where you can be outdoors, like a park.  Its good to get fresh air."

NEYT - an Accessible Theatre

NEYT is making strides in becoming a more accessible theatre!  This fall we purchased four Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs).  These devices receive a signal from a microphone near the stage and they transmit the dialogue and audio action right to your ear!

And for the first time ever for a main stage production, NEYT brought in two American Sign Language Interpreters for Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka.  In the past only Theatre Adventure Program performances have been interpreted, but it is NEYT’s goal to at least provide one interpreted performance for the holiday show and maybe even the big spring production.

On top of all of that, NEYT offers reserved handicapped parking, seating, and most of the theatre is on ground level.  What is not yet wheelchair accessible are the booth, where lights and sound are operated, and the costume loft, where many of the costumes are made and stored.  There are plans in progress to build an elevator so that we can make the full technical theatre training experience available to everyone.

If you would like to assist in helping New England Youth Theatre become more accessible for people of all abilities and mobilities, please contact our general manager, Michelle, at michelle@neyt.org.  You may also make a secure donation online by clicking here.

Founding member of Shakespeare and Co. Joins NEYT faculty

New England Youth Theatre is happy to welcome a new addition to its faculty. John Hadden joins an already impressive group of teachers and directors, bringing a life full of exciting experiences in the professional acting world, and a plethora of teaching experience – having held positions at universities as well as working with younger youths.
Hadden was a founding member and Associate Artistic Director at Shakespeare & Company, in Lennox, Massachusetts.  The Youth Theatre has had a relationship with this organization for years – attending plays, bringing company members up to Vermont to conduct workshops, and incorporating their voice coach, Keely Eastly into the NEYT faculty. With this group, Hadden acted, taught and directed for twenty years and founded the company's Summer Training Program.
NEYT is glad to add faculty who bring new talents and experience, as well as accolades: Taken, a film that Hadden directed and appeared in, was an award winner at the 2009 Boston International Film Festival. He also is a produced playwright, an experienced director, and a published author.
Hadden is currently directing a small group of NEYT’s younger students in a workshop version of You Can’t Take It With You, not for public performance, but for the students’ growth as actors. This spring he will be directing New England Youth Theatre’s production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, opening April 23.