Sunday, December 14, 2008

Children's Theatre e-NEWS DECEMBER 2008

CHILDREN’S THEATRE of KNOXVILLE
DECEMBER 2008 e-NEWS

FINAL EIGHT PERFORMANCES OF "THE LITTLE PRINCE" OVER NEXT TWO WEEKENDS

Children’s Theatre of Knoxville is presenting “The Little Prince,” a play based on the beloved children’s novel by Antoine de Saint- Expury, for eight more performances December 20. “The Little Prince”
is one of the world’s most famous books for children, having been translated into over 40 languages. About 200 people came last weekend to see the play, and we are expecting hundreds more over the next 8 shows.

One of our audience members had this to say in a recent e-mail: "(We had) done the (traditional) Christmas story type-thing one too many times. The Little Prince is an offbeat holiday production but very refreshing. Kids love the costumes and the music, and adults appreciate the underlying examination of man's values."

Thought-provoking, thrilling, and funny, “The Little Prince” tells the story of an Aviator who crashes his plane into the Sahara Desert, where he is surprised to find a little boy wandering near the crash site.
As the Aviator attempts to repair his plane, he learns that this is no ordinary little boy - but a “little prince” from Asteroid B-612 who has also fallen to Earth. “The Little Prince” is a timeless spiritual allegory for people of all faiths. Through a series of outer space encounters and Earthly adventures with The Fox, The Snake, and The Desert Rose, the Little Prince teaches the Aviator about the power of faith, the triumph of beauty over ignorance, and the spiritual victory of good over evil, making “The Little Prince” the perfect holiday experience for people of all beliefs.

The play will be performed at CTK’s new location in the historic ballroom of the Farragut Building (530 S. Gay Street) in downtown Knoxville, immediately next door to The Tennessee Theatre. The show plays on Thursdays (Dec. 18) at 7 PM; Fridays (Dec. 12 & 18) at 7 PM; Saturdays (Dec. 13 & 20) at 1 PM and 4 PM; and Sundays (Dec. 14) at 3 PM. Tickets are $9 per person, although CTK is continuing its popular special rate of $7 per person for any adult and child entering together. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Tickets may be obtained by calling (865) 599-5284. Remaining tickets may be purchased in the Farragut Building ballroom, beginning 30 minutes prior to each show. All seating is general admission.

Twelve-year-old Alex Drinnen will play “The Little Prince,” with Ben Croisdale appearing as The Aviator. UT student Harrison Young plays The Aviator (As A Grown-Up). Fifteen other children, age 9 to 15, play the various characters who meet The Little Prince, including Sophia Abouelata, Marisa Beeler, Mac Bower, Amelia Bryant, Abigail Coughlin, Gregory Croisdale, English Dougherty, Tessa Goodnight, Caroline Hartley, Emily Hartley, Amber Latham, Graham Marema, Juliana Pulsinelli, Sarah Smith, and Rowan Young.

AUDITIONS FOR “THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS” TO BE HELD IN JANUARY

CTK’s next production will be a dramatic adaptation “The Wind in the Willows,” which will play in February 2009. Auditions have been scheduled for Sunday, January 4 at 3 PM and Monday, January 5 at 7 PM. Up to 12 young people, ages 7 to 17, will be considered for casting. “The Wind in the Willows” is based on the children’s book by Kenneth Grahame and tells the story of the forest friendship between Mr. Frog and Mr. Toad. Auditioners may perform a short 1- minute monologue, and all will be asked to read from the script. The play will be directed by Zack Allen. Questions? Call (865) 599- 5284 for more information, or e-mail zack@childrenstheatreknoxville.com .

WINTER TERM OF “MATINEE CLUB” SATURDAY CLASSES SCHEDULED

Enrollment has begun for the Winter term of “Matinee Club” Saturday classes. For younger students (ages 6 to 10), CTK will offer “Performance Basics for Young People,” for five consecutive Saturdays from 10 AM to 12 PM, beginning January 10. For older students (ages 11 to 15), CTK will hold another section of our most popular class “Solo Acting and Auditioning” for five consecutive Saturdays from 2 PM to 4 PM, beginning January 10. All classes are
$125 per student, and all meet in the ballroom of The Farragut Building at 530 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. For more information, contact Zack Allen at (865) 599-5284.

2008 MILESTONES

It has only been nine months since our inaugural production at St.
James Episcopal Church, but we have reached many milestones in 2008 which assert that CTK is the Knoxville area’s fastest-growing theatre company.

In our fourth production (Little Women in October), we had our 1,000th audience member attend a show. And overall, our four productions thus far have been attended at 88% capacity. Treasure Island USA sold out every show! We quickly outgrew our small 50- seat playing space, which was graciously provided by the Arts and Culture Alliance at The Emporium. In October, we were given permission by Kailyn Realty Management to utilize the 100-seat historic ballroom in the Farragut Building to stage and produce our shows and classes.

With The Little Prince, we will have had over 120 child actors audition for - and over 40 receive a role in - a CTK production. Our youngest actor to have appeared in a production was Caleigh Schaad, who was only 8 when she made her stage debut as Dolly the Rabbit in The Velveteen Rabbit. Also, two of our shows, The Princess and the Pauper and Treasure Island USA have been premieres of original plays by our Executive Director Zack Allen.

CTK has also been active in the community, having conducted a hands on Film and Theatre Camp for troubled teens at Peninsula Village, led numerous workshops at local Boys & Girls Clubs and at the Public Defender’s Juvenile Facility in partnership with Tennessee Stage Company, begun a three-month in-school residency at Mooreland Heights Elementary School (see article below), and led workshops in conjunction with the Clarence Brown Theatre for Blount County’s Day for the Arts.

If you have contributed to CTK over the past nine months, we hope you are as proud as we are of our accomplishments since February. We simply could not have achieved so much without you.


ROTHCHILD CATERING TO DONATE AUDIENCE CHAIRS FOR “THE LITTLE PRINCE”

One of Knoxville’s most respected and community-conscious businesses will help CTK to produce “The Little Prince.” Rothchild Catering will donate the use of 100 audience chairs to CTK to use in our new theatre in the ballroom of the Farragut Building. CTK’s move to a larger venue (which holds almost 100 theatre-goers per
show) will certainly allow for the organization to grow and expand programming opportunities and audience capacities. One of the hurdles to overcome, however, has been to populate the space with audience chairs. Enter Rothchild Catering! They have graciously agreed to donate 100 chairs to the new space! If you are considering a holiday party this season, please consider Rothchild as your catering source. Not only do they have decades of culinary service to their credit, but they truly care about our community and its children. Thank you, Rothchild Catering, for this meaningful donation to Knoxville’s fastest-growing performing arts group!


"THE LITTLE PRINCE" PAINTING USED IN POSTER TO BE AUCTIONED ONLINE

Nationally-acclaimed New York-based artist April Laragy created the remarkably beautiful artwork for our poster of “The Little Prince.”
(See it at childrenstheatreknoxville.blogspot.com). Her national reputation and the quality of her work so impressed the Knoxville Museum of Art that the original painting is hanging there now!
Admission to the museum is free through the rest of 2008, so visit the museum and see the painting for yourself! If you like it, you can take it home! Yes, the painting is being auctioned online at the above “blogspot” address! This is your chance to obtain a gorgeous piece of original fine art for your child’s bedroom and to help CTK! All proceeds from the sale of the painting will be donated to CTK.


WEBSITE UPDATES / BLOGSPOT

Check out our updated website at www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com !
It has new information about the current play, classes, and outreach activities. Also, the most up-to-date information about CTK can be found childrenstheatreknoxville.blogspot.com . Bookmark both sites to get all the CTK info!

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Wind in the Willows