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OKTC STAGE DOOR NEWSLETTER May 2015 Editor: Kerry Hishon [email protected]
SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT ORIGINAL KIDS!
Spring is all about new beginnings and fresh starts, and we are thrilled to present some amazing, brand- new productions here at OKTC in May! This is a big issue… so read on for more!
WATCH OUT… FLAT STANLEY IS COMING YOUR WAY!
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Stanley Lambchop is just your normal ten-year-old: normal mom and dad, normal little brother, normal life. But Stanley wants a life of adventure... to travel the world, to be amazing. Be careful what you wish for, Stanley... you never know what will happen! But we’re not telling any secrets… you’ll have to come to the theatre to find out what happens next! OKTC is thrilled to present THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OF FLAT STANLEY JR., opening today at the Spriet Family Theatre! It’s a brand-new musical based on the Flat Stanley children’s books by Jeff Brown, a cultural phenomenon since 1964! You have 6 chances to check out this new musical! Thursday April 30, 2015 - 7PM Friday May 1, 2015 - 7PM Saturday May 2, 2015 - 2PM & 7PM Sunday May 3, 2015 - 2PM & 7PM
COME FLY AWAY WITH BORN TO FLY: MUSIC FROM THE COUNTRY
Grab your boots and your red solo cup and come on down to the Spriet Family Theatre for a brand-new musical performed by our amazingly talented senior OKid actresses, BORN TO FLY: MUSIC FROM THE COUNTRY. Country music has emerged from a special taste to the hottest phenomenon in pop music; it tells real stories about real, down-to-earth women with deep inner lives. Share in their joy, pain, love and heartbreak with songs from artists like Shania Twain, Little Big Town, Dolly Parton, The Dixie Chicks, Toby Keith and Terri Clark. These songs, whether serious, touching or humorous, deal with real and personal things that we all can relate to: their loves, their homes, their parents and their upbringing, their dreams, the trials and triumphs of their lives. This exciting new country review, created just for OKTC, is playing at the Spriet Family Theatre – you have 6 chances to see this show! Thursday May 7, 2015 – 7PM Friday May 8, 2015 – 7PM Saturday May 9, 2015 – 2PM & 7PM Sunday May 10, 2015 – 2PM & 7PM 3
AND EVEN MORE FUN IN MAY!
We’ve got even more exciting shows for you! Our final two shows in May are two very different, yet equally enjoyable musical productions.
Original Kids is excited to present FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY: THE MUSICAL, based on the beloved New York Times Best Selling book by Academy Award-winning (and frecklefaced) Julianne Moore. Strawberry will do anything to get rid of her freckles – scrubbing with soap, caking on makeup, even wearing a ski mask to school! But with the help of all her loveable, oddball schoolmates and teacher, Strawberry learns that everyone is different – and that’s what makes everyone special. You have 6 chances to see Freckleface Strawberry: Thursday May 14, 2015 – 7PM Friday May 15, 2015 – 7PM Saturday May 16, 2015 – 12PM & 3PM Sunday May 17, 2015 – 12PM & 3PM
Our final production in May is Charlotte Bronte’s haunting beautiful gothic romance, JANE EYRE: A MUSICAL DRAMA. It’s a heart-wrenching journey of love, and in this Broadway musical it is told with music to set your spirit soaring. This tale of hope and unspoken passion reminds us what it is to fall deeply, truly and completely in love. From her tortured orphan childhood, to her miserable years in a girls’ school, and finally to her governess position at gloomy Thornfield Hall where she meets Mr. Edward Rochester, we follow Jane in her story: one of love, loss, and the struggles to resist evil. This challenging and rich classic will be one to treasure. You have 7 chances to see this show: Wednesday May 27, 2015 – 7PM Thursday May 28, 2015 – 7PM Friday May 29, 2015 – 7PM Saturday May 30, 2015 – 2PM & 7PM Sunday May 31, 2015 – 2PM & 7PM
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SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY! Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1076559059040220/
It is with great excitement we announce the 2015-2016 season of the Original Kids Theatre Company as our 25th Anniversary. This year of celebration will capture and enhance the unique creative spirit of what it is to be an Original Kid for our current members and rekindle this spirit for alumni. We are excited to use this year to celebrate our past 25 years and continue to build a stronger Original Kids for the next 25 years!
SAVE THE DATE! "Original for 25 Years" Celebration Mezzanine of the Covent Garden Market Saturday February 13, 2016 This event is an opportunity for past and present Original Kids, their families, and members of the community to look back on the last 25 years, meet up with former cast mates and directors, and celebrate what Original Kids meant to them.
THE REVUE II This special, commemorative full-color magazine will take you through the history and inception of Original Kids while highlighting many of the great facets that makes OKTC what it is including: Summer Camp, Kidlets, the New York trip, Behind-the-Scenes, Volunteers and many more! Scheduled Release Date: December 1, 2015
MAILING LIST Want more information about our special year? Want to stay "in the know"? Join our mailing list! http://originalkids.ca/mailing-list.html
SUBMIT A PHOTO OR MEMORY Have a great memory from behind the scenes at OKTC? A great moment from Summer Camp? A favourite show you saw or was in? You can submit your photos or memories online: http://originalkids.ca/memory-and-photo-submission.html
These photos and memories will be used at our "Original for 25 Years" Celebration and may be featured in our Revue II magazine.
MORE INFORMATION Available on our 25th Anniversary website: http://originalkids.ca/25th-anniversary.html
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THIRD ANNUAL OKTC PLAYFEST AWARDS
Our Third OKTC Playfest was a smashing success. We are incredibly proud of every one of our fantastic actors, directors, stage managers, techies and volunteers -- you all worked so hard to create 4 memorable and entertaining plays! Here are the award winners from our ceremony, held on April 19 and awarded by adjudicator Ron Dodson: Outstanding Use of an Ensemble: The Audition/The Rehearsal Most Creative Use of a Blackbox Stage: Nancy Drew: Girl Detective Outstanding Use of Tech Theatre Basics: The Trojan Women The Transform Award: Megan Rossini (Radium Girls) Speak the Speech Award: Mandy Dunmore (Nancy Drew: Girl Detective) Show Don’t Tell Award: Michael Goodale (Radium Girls) Singular Sensation Award: Amanda McConnell (The Audition/The Rehearsal) Talented Tragedy Award: cast of The Trojan Women Chameleon Award: Carina Sabourin (Radium Girls) Post-Curtain Award: the puppets of Nancy Drew (Rachael Young, Tara Quesnel, Rosie Pasquino) Make ‘Em Laugh Award: Ben Andrews (The Audition/The Rehearsal) It Takes Two Award: Alicia Kupinski and the Chorus of The Trojan Women Artistic Director’s Process Award: cast of The Trojan Women MVP Awards (voted by our audiences) o MVP Nancy Drew: Benjamin Lord o MVP The Audition/The Rehearsal: Abbey James o MVP Trojan Women: Marissa Rasmussen o MVP Radium Girls: Zach Peebles
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OKs IN THE COMMUNITY
OKid Eden Reshef is appearing in Fridge Door Live Theatre’s production of Anne Frank and Me, by Cherie Bennett, on stage April 24th through May 2nd. Anne Frank and Me is a poignant story put together by a talented cast to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day. It’s a modern-day story that deals with issues of love, war, holocaust denial, and momentous realizations! More info is here: www.AnneFrankAnd.Me
Photo Credit: Bryan Nelson
GET YOUR SING ON AT MTP’S KARAOKE PIANO BAR!
Back by popular demand is Musical Theatre Production’s Karaoke Piano Bar Event. MTP had so much positive feedback from their event in October that they just had to do it again! Get your tickets now for OKTC’s BORN TO FLY on Saturday May 9 and then join MTP for a night of fun, laughter and song! Lots of OKids were seen at MTP’s last piano bar event, singing up a storm and having a wonderful time. OKTC artistic staff member Andrew Rethazi-Recchia will once again be tickling the ivories so bring your sheet music for your favourite song, or simply join in some of the group sing-along numbers. This is a great chance to try out a new audition song in front of an audience! MTP will have lots of sheet music for you to browse, or you can bring your own. You can also come just to listen if that’s more your style. See the details below:
WHAT: MTP Karaoke Piano Bar WHEN: Saturday May 9, 7 pm WHERE: London Music Club, 470 Colborne St. WHO: You and all your friends! HOW MUCH: $10 for members/$15 for non-members
Tickets on Eventbrite or at the door. Memberships will also be available at the door if you want to become a member or renew your existing membership.
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OKTC STRATFORD FESTIVAL TRIP: CAROUSEL Original Kids is pleased to host a special night at the Stratford Festival with OKTC Alumna, Alexis Gordon, in the leading role of Julie Jordan in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel! As part of our 25th Anniversary season, this special event on Saturday, October 3, is open to current and former members of Original Kids, as well as their family members. The best part is the evening will include a talkback session with Alexis immediately following the performance. This special talkback, for Original Kids members only, will take place on the balcony of the Avon Theatre and allow Original Kids to hear exciting insights on the creation of Carousel and ask Alexis questions. Carousel is a true musical theatre classic and will be executed beautifully in the great tradition of high caliber musicals presented by the Stratford Festival. We can't wait for this special event - all a part of the excitement of our 25th Anniversary Year! To register for this special evening (tickets are limited!) and for more information, visit http://originalkids.ca/stratford-trip.html.
QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? CONTACT US!
OKTC Office – [email protected] // 519-679-0598 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:30 pm)
OKTC Box Office – [email protected] // 519-679-8989
Summer Camp Questions – [email protected] // 519-679-8989
Receipts for OKTC Main Cast – [email protected]
Receipts for Kidlets, Kamp Kidlets or Summer Camp – [email protected]