Teen Drama Project Benefit Performance July 12 Geauga Lyric Theater…

June 27, 2013

Teen Drama Project Benefit Performance July 12

Geauga Lyric Theater Guilds teen drama project, designed and implemented by director and instructor Angela Miloro-Hansen, is having an exciting fourth year. This years play, I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Celeste Razpanti, is based on the true story of the journey of a teen and young woman as they are imprisoned in the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust.

The cast undertook in-depth research, which included talks with survivors, a trip to the Maltz Museum in Beachwood, all in addition to their long rehearsal schedule. After a successful weekend of shows and traveling to schools, including the Fairmount Temple, they believed the journey was done. A decision to enter the piece in the Ohio Community Theaters Associations (OCTA) regional theater competition changed that.

The cast and crew were entered in the adult division of the OCTA competition because three of the actors are 19, making them ineligible for the junior competition. They nonetheless wowed the judges and attending theaters with their performance. Director Angela Miloro-Hansen, producer Karen Martin and the cast were a bundle of nerves. That is, until the cast stepped on stage. Despite having daily cuts from the scripts every night for the preceding week, some of which they never had a chance to rehearse (the rules state only 40 minutes allowed), the cast flawlessly performed. With less than 30 seconds to spare, they received the first standing ovation at the regions competition in three years.

Awards given include: Merit in Acting: as Father – Johnathan Klein; Merit in Costuming: Kelly Miloro; Merit in Acting: as Mother – Halle Blados; Merit in Set Design: Randy Hansen; Excellence in Acting: as Irena – Sarah Wyatt; Excellence in Directing: Angela Miloro-Hansen; Excellence in Acting: as Honza – Andrew Kotlar; Outstanding in Acting: as Raja – Janna Klein; and Outstanding in Ensemble: I Never Saw Another Butterfly.

Now GLTGs cast is invited to perform in the state level at the OCTA State Conference in Dayton in August. Only 12 to 15 theaters in the state will be invited to perform. Director, cast and crew have launched from shock to jubilation to intense fundraising mode. To pay for registration, travel and hotel for this 28-person cast plus crew is expensive.

One of the ways they are intending to raise money is with a benefit performance of I Never Saw Another Butterfly at Geauga Lyric Theater on July 12 at 8 p.m. All proceeds will go towards the groups expenses for the conference.

Tickets for the benefit performance will be $10 general admission at the door.

For information, contact the business office at 440-285-7701. Anyone wishing to donate, or to help with the fundraising, such as car washes and more, please contact the office, or mail donations to GLTG, PO Box 834, Chardon, OH 44024, ATTN Teen Drama.

The Geauga Theater is located on Chardon Square, at 101 Water Street. For more information, go to www.geaugatheater.org.

Summer Youth Productions

The Geauga Lyric Theater Guild will present four youth productions that will showcase the hard work of students in the summer workshops.

Shrek the Musical kicks off the youth performances with a comedic fairy tale directed by Patty Osredkar and performed by a talented cast of teens. Shrek, an ogre, sets out to reclaim his swamp from squatting, displaced fairy creatures, by rescuing the dragon-guarded Princess Fiona. He must deliver her to Lord Farquaad, who must marry a princess to become a king and make his land of Dulac into a real kingdom. As expected, nothing goes as planned for Shrek! Performances are July 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and July 20 at 2 p.m.

On July 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and July 27 at 2 p.m., the elementary drama workshop takes the stage with a performance of Beauty and the Beast. In this original adaptation by Angela Miloro-Hansen, audiences will delight in the familiar story of a girl who must teach a beast how to love in order to become human again. With comedic additions and a group of talented young actors, this is sure to be a hit.

Dragon Tale will follow with performances on Aug. 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. Debbie Keppler directs the elementary musical production. It is another tale of a princess, but a completely different story than the teen musical. A group of actors ages 7 to 13 will make the audience laugh with their engaging tale of an evil dragon who is terrorizing the kingdom and the King who searches for a brave knight to defeat the creature, winning the hand of the princess.

Tom Sawyer, directed by Sarah Wyatt will be performed by ages 10 to 14. The dramatic tale of a likable but mischievous lad will entertain. Performances will be Aug. 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 17 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for Shrek, the Musical and $6 for Beauty and the Beast, Dragon Tale musical and Tom Sawyer. Marquee sponsor is Lake Health.

Geauga Theater is located at 101 Water St. in Chardon. Tickets are available online at www.geaugatheater.org or call the box office at 440-286-2255.