2015-2016 Year in Review
By Sharon Crossen
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This ends my tenure as president of this wonderful organization. It has been my pleasure to serve for the past two years. (Please check out last year’s 2015 report to see what you may have missed. It is posted under THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2014-2015 on the menu.) While here at the 2015-2016 YEAR IN REVIEW, why not check out this past season. A great many of our goals have been met, as we forged on with our mission.
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MISSION
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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.
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GRANTS
Fortunately, we received grant funds for the 2015-2016 season: ($1,700) from DE Division
of the Arts, which allowed us to focus on all four regular season shows. The $2,500 helped with the extraordinary expenses incurred with a Broadway musical. With our SHREK production, we were able to rent a carousel horse for Farquaad to ride, along with some special effects, i.e., a Pinocchio nose that could actually grow. Costuming, sets, props, and choreography were also costly. But, our outreach to school children at a reduced ticket price filled The Schwartz Center for the Arts to capacity for our school performance; indeed, it was a win-win for all.
The good news is simply this: our grant writers have done it, again. The Children’s Theatre, Inc. received the same amount of funding for the 2016-2017 season from these same state and county organizations. Those adjudicating the grants were looking especially for collaboration with other non-profit organizations. They were delighted with our Maurice Sendak partnership with the Delaware libraries this summer. We are grateful for the opportunities and support these organizations have granted us
www.DelawareScene.com
The Children's Theatre Inc. is supported, in part, by a grant from 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.
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SHOWS
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SHREK: the MUSICAL (November, 2015)
We started our season with a production that saw two of three performances SOLD OUT! The third show was almost sold out and record numbers saw a show that had not been done in this area, which added to its appeal. We had 47 young people take to the stage from ages 8-18 for the popular tale of SHREK: The MUSICAL. Our ogre, donkey, and princess(es) received rave reviews as did our entire cast of characters. Due to a Schwartz scheduling conflict, we benefited by switching our reserved dates. Thus, this show set a new record for gross gate receipts. Our “split” netted us $6,780.00. SHREK, on many levels, was a success.
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Snow Queen (January 2016)
Hans Christian Anderson’s SNOW QUEEN was scheduled for the January weekend that found our little Delaware in a State of Emergency blizzard. The Schwartz was forced to cancel all performances, but luckily was able to reschedule this beautiful production for the following weekend. Our Snow Queen dazzled the audience with her “FROZEN” tale. Gerde and Kay had quite an adventure as they met with good and evil characters.
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Alice in Wonderland (March 2016)
Alice in Wonderland captured its audiences with an adventure fit for a queen—The Queen of Hearts, that is. Alice reduced to a tiny size went down the rabbit hole and met all of Lewis Carroll’s classic characters: the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the King and Queen of Hearts, the March Hare, the Duchess, and the Cheshire Cat, to name a few. “Off with their heads!” was the Queen’s constant threat. Decks of cards, executioners, Red and White Queens kept this show lively from start to finish.
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MY NAME IS RUMPELSTILTSKIN ( May 2016)
Rumpelstiltskin wove his magic spell on our season’s final production, My Name is Rumpelstiltskin.
As often happens, a neophyte to theatre, walks in to audition and lands a title role. Never before on stage, Ace Clark, memorized countless lines and took on the posture, voice, movement, and total characterization of this wicked fairytale creature. He was supported by a fantastic cast of medieval characters, who sought to destroy his magical powers.
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
DOVER DAYS
THE WIZARD of AHHHS!
Tommy Price, former member of The Children’s Theatre, Inc. returned from his position at Disney World in Orlando, Florida to recreate his original modern, interpretive dance piece to Todrick Hall and Pentatonix’s, “The Wizard of Ahhhs!” in time for Dover Days. This free show at the Schwartz had parade route audiences stop in to see any one of our three performances. Obviously, they met all the familiar characters from L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz.
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REALLY ROSIE
Almost three years ago, The Children’s Theatre, Inc. was asked to partner in the summer of 2016, with the Delaware Libraries to perform something from Maurice Sendak’s works while the Maurice Sendak Memorial Exhibition was on loan to the State of Delaware. John Clendaniel, then president of the board, asked if we could accommodate this request. We were thrilled to be the theatre group of record. Activities were planned by many organizations and Sharon Crossen, Ami Leaming, and Sydney Palmer took a musical for six characters, Really Rosie by Maurice Sendak with music by Carole King and expanded it to a cast of 14. This troupe opened the exhibit in Dover at the Schwartz, then performed in Sussex County at the Milton Theatre and in New Castle County at the Brandywine Hundred Library. We played to terrific audiences loaded with little children, parents, and grandparents. Mr. Mercer designed a flexible set that parents transported up and down the state. We thank all involved for giving up four weeks of intense rehearsals.
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MAURICE SENDAK’S MONSTER PLAYED BY OUR JESSE RICH
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Story Hour with Ms. Jackie at the Dover Public Library
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THE JUNE/AUGUST IMPROV CAMP
Melissa Brenner, founder of First State Improv, assisted by Erin Rich hosted two instructional theatre camps offering various activities for The Children’s Theatre, Inc., one in June and one in August. Both camps were filled to capacity (and beyond) as these talented children turned on their creative juices. No props, costumes, sets, were needed…just pure imagination and communication skills. At the end of each camp, an evening presentation demonstrating their skills was offered to parents and friends of the campers.
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SPONSORS
Our coffers were enhanced with donations in categories: $50 (BRONZE), $100 (SILVER), $150 (GOLD), $200 (PLATINUM), and $500 and up (DIAMOND). We look forward to these and additional sponsors for the 2016-2017 Season.
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Diamond Sponsors
James & Marina Rogin *
Ami Leaming
Law Office of Laura A Yiengst, LLC
Joseph & Sharon Crossen
Northgate Laundromat
Estate of Shirley Clark
Platinum Sponsors
Patricia Parsons–Beetschen
Gold Sponsors
Michael & Sara Soules
Edelman Spine & Orthopaedic Therapy
Silver Sponsors
Ross Jahren
Kathleen, Paul & Viktor Kress
John & Deborah DeMarie
Bronze Sponsors
Cassidy Yiengst
Kylie Yiengst
Brad and Karen Sawicki
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. All donations are tax deductible. Your name will be printed on all programs for the 2016-2017 season. We thank you in advance for your generous support.
*Founding members, Marina and Jim Rogin donated the Flatforms (risers, portable staging) that we purchased this summer at for a total of three with their $2,400 donation. These will last a lifetime, and will give our directors elevation opportunities, galore. We thank them for their generosity and vision with this gift, something from which our children will truly benefit.
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As reported at our August 31, 2016, Annual Meeting, our financial picture remains strong according to our treasurer, Matthew Hartigan. An exit audit has been scheduled as officers change.
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VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED
Brought back last season by popular demand are our volunteer awards. Plaques for our Volunteer-of-the-Year 2015-2016 honorees were presented to Ali Bing, Jacqueline Pierce, Quianna & Jaime Nieves, and Kathy Szramka as they were called to the stage at the Schwartz Center for recognition during our final production. We thank them and all of our volunteers for giving of their time and talent. Please contact any board member to see how you may become a volunteer.
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SPECIAL THANKS
This year, our administrative assistant, Patricia Beetschen, provided us with blasts concerning auditions and production information. Our data base continues to grow; if you are not on our email list, please notify us through our website.
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FOUNDERS’ DAY CELEBRATION
On June 15, 2016, a celebration of The Children’s Theatre’s, Inc.’s founders took place in our rehearsal space at Reith Hall. Plaques were presented honoring the five original members who had the vision to bring opportunities for children to experience theatre arts and audiences to enjoy fare that was appropriate for children and families. After 21 years, our organization continues to grow and prosper. We thank Ted Ressler (deceased), Marjorie Ressler, Marina Knipe Rogin, James Rogin, and Anne Evans (deceased) for their dedication to children and the arts.