Entries Tagged 'Lakeside Players' ↓

Lakeside Players children’s division is holding Cinderella auditions and production crew recruitment at the Rhode Opera House located at 514 56th Street, Downtown Kenosha, on Saturday, February 27 (2PM—5PM), Sunday, February 28 (4PM—7PM), and Tuesday, March 2 (6PM—8PM). Roles are available for five Children, and up to fourteen adults. Cinderella and Prince MUST be over 18. High school age will be considered for a few parts. Auditions will consist of cold script reading and impromptu activities. Production Crew opportunities include stagelights, sound, set-building, painting, magic, greeters, props, choreography and hair. This production would be an excellent volunteer opportunity for acting buffs, theatre lovers, retirees, and resume fillers. No experience or audition appointment is necessary. While show dates are May 15-16 and May 23-24, rehearsal schedule will be two to three times per week over a seven to eight
week period. The original script, written by mother/daughter team Ruth and Jordanna Gastrow,

includes dancing and special effects and is an adaptation of Charles Perrault’s 17th century classic fairytale. For more information, please contact the Producer at indikarr@aol.com.

by Lisa Adamowicz Kless

I love the holidays, but hadn’t been ready to finally surrender to the reality that winter is here. I’ll admit that I refused to listen when, right around Thanksgiving, a local radio station start playing Christmas music twenty-four hours a day. Then, the “there’s only X number of shopping days left until Christmas!” countdown began, making me more panicky than motivated. When the first snow of the season fell though, forcing me to get out my winter coat and gloves, it was hard to keep denying it. Lucky for me, the Lakeside Players were there to help me ease into the holiday spirit. Their holiday play “All Through the Night” opened this past weekend, so my mom (and trusty play companion), Sue, and I set out for the Rhode on opening night.

The play centers around a group of travelers that get stuck at a train station on Christmas Eve. With a snow storm raging outside, there’s no chance that they’ll make it to their destinations in time for the holiday. The kindly stationmaster tries to make them as comfortable as he can, and encourages them to get to know one another to help pass the time. Slowly, the travelers form friendships and begin to open up. Each passenger’s personal story and the underlying hardships and challenges they’re facing begin to emerge. In the midst of all of this, a group of children come in from the storm and ask to perform a play that they’ve secretly been practicing for Christmas Day at church. After the performance, each traveller talks with one of the little actors. The audience soon finds that the advice and insight the children give the passengers changes their lives in often simple, yet profound ways. There’s a definite lesson to glean from this production and a lot of emotion involved, but the gravity of it was tempered by humor from beginning to end.

There was quite a cast for this production, so naming actors individually would take some time. I’d definitely like to give recognition to the fantastic acting in this production though, and that extends to the children in the cast too. There were a few newcomers to the LSP stage, and I was impressed with their abilities. This was a play in which its success hinged on emotion, and the cast pulled it off beautifully. In fact, this is the second production this season that’s actually brought tears to my eyes as I sat in the audience, and we’re only three plays in! The caliber of the productions has been excellent this season, and I look forward to each one, knowing that I’m going to enjoy an evening of great local theater. Bravo to co-directors Chris Brouton and Julie Dietrich Brouton, and all of the cast and crew.

“All Through the Night” runs this weekend and next at the Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th St. in Kenosha. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Call (262) 657-PLAY for more information.

by Lisa Adamowicz Kless

Going to the Lakeside Players’ children’s productions is one of my favorite new mother-son traditions. I’m sure that my son would definitely agree. Five hours after seeing “The Frog Prince” recently, he was walking around the living room croaking and acting out scenes of his own. I loved the fact that his imagination had been set into motion and was still going, long after the play had finished. For me, it reaffirmed that exposing him to the arts benefits him in innumerable ways. So in that spirit, I’d like to offer up my “Top Five” reasons to take the young people in your life to see the Lakeside Players’ children’s series this season. Not a parent? No problem! Aunts, uncles, family friends and others can share and enjoy the experience too.

1. Location, location, location! The Rhode Center for the Arts is the home of the Lakeside Players, and also one of the grand old dames of Kenosha architecture. Not only is the whole structure full of beautiful and intriguing details, but it also presents some fun ways to learn. Information about the history of the building is available near the ticket booth, and would be a great conversation to engage slightly older children in. If you’re just not a history buff or have younger children, you can do something as simple as asking what shapes can be found throughout the building (such as the square tiles in the floor, etc.).
2. It’s an enriching experience. Children attending a show are being exposed to the arts, and reaping many benefits. Instead of just being passive viewers, there are opportunities for them to interact. Attendees are invited to sit on a carpeted area in front of the stage for a better view, and audience participation is strongly encouraged. Free art or craft projects are usually available in the lobby before and after the shows, tying in to the theme of the production. Even the programs feature coloring pages, fun facts, and more.
3. Each time you attend a performance, you’re supporting local theater, which has a wonderful “ripple effect”. Since actors are often Kenosha residents, you’re truly supporting members of our community. Young actors also participate in these productions, giving them a chance—like the children in the audience—to reap the numerous benefits that come from being involved in the arts.
4. In my book, going to the children’s series counts as real “quality time” together. Adults can ask children questions and initiate conversation about the plays. During one scene in “The Frog Prince” in which a character was faced with a tough decision, my son whispered to me what he would do in that situation. These are good opportunities to gain insight into what a child is thinking and feeling.
5. In tough economic times, the children’s series is affordable entertainment, and trust me; the concession area is much more budget-friendly than those at movie theaters!

There are still two productions ahead this season. “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” will be presented in March, and “Cinderella” will play in May. That’s plenty of time to plan ahead for a fun “play date”. Call (262) 657-PLAY for more information.

The Lakeside Players’ children’s series is back for the season! Their first production is an adaptation of “The Frog Prince”. Last Saturday and Sunday was the opening weekend, but there’s still time to catch a performance. Shows are scheduled at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 21st and Sunday, November 22nd at the Rhode Center for the Arts (514 56th St., Kenosha). Tickets are $7 for both children and adults. For more information, call (262) 657-PLAY or visit rhodeopera.org.