The Children’s Theatre, Inc.
President’s Annual Report
2021 – 2022
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
The 27th year of the Children’s Theatre was mostly back to normal. Instead of a pandemic-
shortened season, with one show taking place in the summer, we were able to return to form with
a three-show season. For that we were very thankful.
Our season kicked off with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! We saved this one for December
for obvious reasons. This play was directed by Sharon Crossen, marking her final time in the
director’s chair (unless we can coax her into it again somehow). The actors had a blast playing
the “naughty” Herdmans creating lots of laughs in the audience. This show evoked all the right
feelings for the holiday season, and along with the costumes, set design, and audience
participation with some of the carols, brought it all home for a fun, family performance.
Soon after, Carole-Ann Harding put on her director’s hat to lead the classic: Princess and the
Pea. The performance took place in March at the Schwartz Center for the Arts. It was one of our
smallest shows ever with only eleven cast members. The tall bunk used for the queen’s mattress
was a big hit with the audience as well as the strobe light that went off when the witch turned
into human form. Despite the small cast, the audience really seemed to enjoy the story and have
fun with it.
We saved our musical for last. During the month of May we performed The Wizard of Oz. This
time, Patricia Beetschen took the helm for one of the all-time crowd pleasers of children’s
musical theater. The costumes and set pieces, including some backdrops borrowed from a local
ballet company helped make the show fantastic. The actors had a blast playing the classic
characters of L. Frank Baum and the songs brought the audience back to their childhood.
Applause abounded as each scene changed to the next.
All in all, a wonderful season of Children’s Theatre. The only question left is what comes next??
Psst. It’s revealed at the bottom.
Steven Mercer
President, Board of Directors
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MISSION
The mission of the Children’s Theatre, Inc. is to foster and encourage children in the
development of and commitment to the highest standard of theatre through instruction, direction,
and production of quality performances, whereby, its audiences may gain an appreciation for the
arts.
GRANTS
We received grants from the Kent County Fund for the Arts and The Delaware Division of the
Arts for this season. Thanks to their support we were able to run our three shows this season:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!, Princess and the Pea, and our musical The Wizard of Oz.
We are most appreciative of their continued support.
Our productions are supported in part by The Delaware Division of the Arts, a state
agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes
Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
www.artsdel.org
www.arts.gov
www.DelawareScene.com
The good news is that our grant writers have done it, once again! The Children’s Theatre, Inc.
received funding for the 2022-2023 season from these same state and county organizations. The
Delaware Division of the Arts awarded us $2,800 for this season. We also received a $2,500
grant from The Kent County Fund for the Arts for use in our musical production The Addams
Family, Young@Part. As stated earlier, we are grateful for the opportunities and support that we
have received from these organizations.
Special thanks goes to Craig Horleman who wrote coverage for the The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever!, Princess and the Pea and The Wizard of Oz. We would also like to thank Gary Emeigh
who took photos for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!, Ariane Mueller who took the photos
for Princess and the Pea and Quiana Nieves who took the photos for The Wizard of Oz. We
thank the Delaware State News for their enthusiastic support and press coverage of our
productions.
AUDIENCE COUNT
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! sold 321 tickets for both of its shows. The small cast for
Princess and the Pea drew in 124 tickets for its weekend debut. Lastly, The Wizard of Oz had so
much traction we had to add a third show (not counting the school show). Saturday night was
sold out, with the two Sunday shows filling most of the seats. Excluding the two sold out school
shows, 608 tickets in total were purchased.
Report of Visitor Count of State-Owned Buildings
Event Visitors Notes
Auditions 226
44 children The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
18 children Princess and the Pea
52 children The Wizard of Oz
(114 children + 114 parents)
Play 1 2,788 (41 children + 41 parents) x 34 practices (82 x 34)
Play 2 528 (11 children + 11 parents) x 24 practices (22 x 24)
Musical 4,160 (52 children + 52 parents) x 40 practices (104 x 40)
Directors 254
Directors attending the practices (3 x 34) and (3 x 24) and (2 x
40) [102 + 72 + 80]
Return of sets,
props, & costumes
to OBC 120
Parents and children assisted in moving set pieces to and from
Old Brick Church to the Schwartz Center. (20 people x 6 days)
Cast Parties 312 Actors and family members in Reith Hall
Total Visitors 8,388
2021-2022 SEASON
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! (December 2021)
Forty-one children performed in this holiday themed show at The Schwartz Center for the Arts.
Attendance was good as we were coming out of pandemic restrictions. It also helped that this fun
and family friendly show took place in December. Lots of laughs and a good message was
delivered to the audience and they were very pleased.
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Princess and the Pea (March 2022)
Eleven children performed in this classic tale at The Schwartz Center for the Arts. The clever
“mattresses” and regal characters made for a beautiful show. This simple story of a spoiled
princess brought a lot of fun to the stage and the audience seemed to really get into it. The actors
did a tremendous job bringing this show to life.
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The Wizard of Oz (May 2022)
Our musical, as usual, had our biggest cast of 52 actors. A favorite show among many, everyone
had a blast. The costumes were vibrant, the set pieces were creative, and the singing and
choreography were fantastic. Once again, the show was performed at the Schwartz Center for the
Arts to sold out and mostly sold out shows. These actors did it five times! Saturday night, tow
Sunday shows and two school shows on Monday. Bravo!
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SPONSORS
Our corporate and organizational sponsors for this season were (in alpha order):
Children First Learning Center
The Delaware State University
Edelman Spine & Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Fifer Orchards
Forrest Avenue Animal Hospital
Law Office of Laura A. Yiengst, LLC
Visten Property Management
Additionally, we had several parents, grandparents and theater fans who also donated to our
organization, out of the love of the arts and/or their family.
If you or your business would like to be a sponsor to our tax-exempt organization, please send
your check to The Children’s Theatre, Inc. c/o Treasurer, P.O. Box 823, Dover, Delaware 19903.
Please consider making your tax-deductible donation through our website,
www.thechildrenstheatre.org, our Facebook page, or through your purchase at Amazon Smiles.
We thank you in advance for your generous support.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, we offer scholarships to two deserving high school seniors
for $500 each. This scholarship is named The Kaitlyn Clendaniel
Memorial Scholarship.
This year we awarded the scholarship
to two deserving individuals. First
up:
Lee Peppard
Lee is a senior in the Caesar Rodney School District. Not
only has Lee performed in many shows, but you can add
student director and volunteer to that resume. Many hours
have been spent organizing, cleaning out and moving
costumes, set pieces and props. Thank you, Lee!
Lee is also a great student, excelling at CR with hard work,
determination, and perseverance. Lee will be attending Sarah
Lawrence College and studying Creative Writing (that’s the
“Love of the Arts” for you). Congratulations, Lee!
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Our other scholarship recipient is:
Manuel Nieves
Manny is also a senior in the Caesar Rodney School
District. He has been participating at the Children’s
Theatre for many years, his first show being Shrek: The
Musical. With many shows under his belt, and his
willingness to step in and help with whatever is
necessary, coaching the younger actors, Manny is a
perfect choice for the Children’s Theatre scholarship.
Manny has also kept his grades up and had a successful
career in high school. Manny will be attending Delaware
Technical Community College where he will be
studying Education. Keep up the great work, Manny!
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The Children’s Theatre’s proposed 2022-2023 Season
Synopsis: The Addams Family- Young@Part
It’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown
up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her
parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father
and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done
before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole
family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his
parents.
Audition Dates: July 21, 25
Show Dates: October 22, 23, 24
Venue: Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, DE
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Synopsis: Anne of Green Gables
Share the adventures of Anne Shirley and her “best friend for life,” Diana Barry, as they travel
from childhood to maturity in this heartwarming adaptation which beautifully captures the
highlights of the classic novel.
Maria Cuthbert asks for an orphan boy to help her and her brother take care of Green Gables, but
the orphanage sends Anne with an “e” — an independent, red-headed, freckle-faced girl who
changes their lives and touches the hearts of all who come to know and love her. Delight in
Anne’s high-spirited antics as she narrowly escapes Mrs. Blewett’s clutches at the orphanage,
whacks Gilbert over the head with her slate, saves little Minnie May from her deathbed and,
when she has come of age, finally lets Gilbert into her life. In the touching words of Marilla,
Anne is “the dearest mistake” that’s ever come into her life, and she doesn’t know how she could
love her more.
Audition Dates: January 23
Show Dates: March 25, 26
Venue: Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, DE
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Synopsis: Snow White
The wonderful world of the Brothers Grimm is brought to life in this delightful
adaptation. Production requirements are minimal, but the familiar story loses nothing in the way
of excitement, adventure and fun. All our old friends are here — the lovely Princess, the
mischievous Dwarfs, the Prince, the Huntsman, the evil Queen. But wait until you meet the
hilarious palace Cat and the Enchanted Vixen. In this version, the Magic Mirror not only talks
— it walks! Shiver and shake as the scheming Queen transforms herself into various
personalities like Esmeralda, the young gypsy, and a withered Crone so horrible even the Queen
herself is terrified! Don’t forget that poisonous apple waiting for our heroine. Laughs, chases
through the forest and more than enough stage magic to light up the box office and delight young
audiences. This is one of the most popular tales of all time, and it never fails to enchant and
amaze.
Auditions dates: April 2022
Performance dates: June 2022
Venue: Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, DE
TICKETS: All seats for all public shows are $10. Audition information is available on our
website and Facebook page.
