Northland Players, Inc

P.O. Box 157, Cheboygan, MI 49721-0157  231-627-7833

Summer Youth Theater

HISTORY

It began with the success of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in November

1995, which included a cast of 30 children. The Players held a Kid’s Theater Workshop developed by Michele Peters, that ran for four weeks in March 1996 hoping to keep this enthusiastic group’s interest. The workshop covered:

· Voice (projection, enunciation)

· Characterization (development, expression)

· Stage Movement (blocking, placement)

· Memorization (concentration exercises)

· Theater Manners (Do’s & Don’t for productions)

It was such a success that a workshop was held in June 1997 and again in March 1998. That summer The Northland Players, in partnership with the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, presented a three-week children’s theater workshop. Seventy-five local children auditioned and trained in all components of theater, acting, singing, dancing, production, sound, lights, set construction, costuming and make-up. The Northland Players provided the (25) volunteers and a paid director and the Arts Council provided the use of the Opera House, its services, staff and technical equipment needed for a full production. This partnership has strengthened over the years because of a shared belief that instilling an appreciation for the arts and for the historic value of the Opera House in our youth will ensure the continued future of both. Productions have included:

                

                 The Wizard of Oz – 1998

             Back to the Roxy – 1999

             Pocahontas – 2001

             The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf – 2004

             Robin and the Hoover Hollow Hood – 2005

             Under The Oak Tree or Things are Never What They Seem – 2006

             The Escape of Bubbles Malone – 2007

             Saddle String Revue (A Horse Opera in Two Acts) - 2008

                 Murder Twice Baked - A Musical "Who Done It" With A Culinary Twist 2009

SYT Directors and Staff

Getting ready

 

Too Precious

Blackmail

Murder Twice Baked - A Musical "Who Done It" With A Culinary Twist

 

 

Summer Youth Theater 2009

Murder Twice Baked - A Musical "Who Done It" With A Culinary Twist.

 

The stage at the Opera House is empty. All the flats, furniture and props are gone, returned to where they came from. The costumes and make-up are back at the Theater Center ready to be used for the next production, CHICAGO.

             Load out is a wild run to get everything out and back to its proper place and owner. A Big Thank You to Barbara Beckers and Jill Kwiatkowski for the use of their furniture. It made our set one of the best the kids have ever had. Cindy St. Clair did our kids proud with costumes that actually fit most of them (some of them are so small) and Randy Maltby added his magic touch to the lights during our performances. Leo, our ‘jack of all trades’, as always stood by and gave us any and every thing we needed.

             What a ‘great’ show this was! Bruce and George outdid themselves, both with the script and the music. And once again our kids brought to the Opera House stage a show as good or better than most community theater groups put on. What they can do in three weeks never ceases to amaze us. The characterizations this year with the British accents and mannerisms were outstanding. Cora Brodeur, Chelsea Ingersoll, Linda Lyon-S, Jill Kwiatkowski and I all had a hand in choreography and movement, which gives all the musical numbers a little variety.

             Opening night, June 19th, we recognized seven kids who have been with us five years or longer. Receiving medals (supplied by Cora Brodeur) for five years participation in SYT (Summer Youth Theater) were Eleanor McLellan, Victoria Penny, Corinna Stempky and Lindsay Wood. They all started summer theater in 2005 with the production of Robin and the Hoover Hollow Hood. 

             We also recognized three kids who have been with us for six years. Their medals read SYT 5 years 2008. They were Paige Armstrong, Leah Derris and Hanna Kwiatkowski. Their first production was The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf in 2004.

             George, Jill and Bruce were also recognized for their SYT milestones. George came on board in 2001 with Scott Vernon for Pocohontas. Two years went by with no program as Scott moved to Canada. Jill took up the job of directing in 2004 with Trial of the Big Bad Wolf , and then Bruce teamed up with George in 2005 for the first original musical from the duo that the SYT produced which was Robin and the Hoover Hollow Hood.

             The kids are already asking what the storyline for next year is. How many will return? We had thirteen new members this year and 21 veterans of varying levels. Pretty good, I’d say.

             One last note: Thank you to the Orchestra. You all are great to give of your time for our kids. Thank you to Sharon Gulau for her improve workshop. The kids look forward to that every year. Thank you to Jennifer Wells who handled make-up for us throughout the show. And a big thank you to the Cheboygan Area Schools who provided our kids with lunch everyday through a grant for Meals for Kids in the Summer. It kept our kids in house and improved our use of time.

Well, hope to see you all at the show next year. It’s Worth It!

 

Michele Peters