[NEohioPAL] Heights Youth Theatre Announces 2012-2013 Season

[Pamela Fine]

HEIGHTS YOUTH THEATRE 2012-2013 SEASON TO INCLUDE

TWO PREMIERES

Season to open with “Midsummer”, a music theatre adaptation of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, written by local director, Nathan Motta


University Heights, OH – Heights Youth Theatre (HYT), with the generous support of the Ohio Arts Council and the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, is proud to announce their 2012-2013 season opening in October 2012 with the national premiere of Midsummer, written and directed by established director, conductor, composer, and lyricist, Nathan Motta.  Midsummer is Motta’s music theatre adaptation of what is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage, "A Midsummer Night's Dream".  The musical translates Shakespeare's text, while maintaining the integrity of the original verse for the magical characters including Oberon (King of the Fairies), Titania (Queen of the Fairies), and the various others fairies and sprites in the forest. The show boasts original music (including such songs as "Relentless", "On a Midsummer Night", "Like a Summer's Day", and "A Confounding Situation”), filled with the richness of a chamber orchestra of strings, oboe, reeds, percussion, and two keyboards.  “This show stays true to Shakespeare's story while remaining relevant and entertaining for people of all ages through the use of modern language and music,” says Motta. 

 
In addition to Midsummer, the season will showcase the Ohio premiere of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic novel, A Little Princess (January2013), directed by acclaimed artistic director, Pierre Jacques-Brault.   A Little Princess was first made famous in 1939 by child star, Shirley Temple, who portrayed the young girl (and heiress to a large fortune), Sara Crewe.  Enrolled in an exclusive girl’s seminary in Victorian England, Sara’s life takes a dramatic turn when she receives news of the loss of her father, and her fortune, and is forced to become a servant for the seminary.  A Little Princess is said to have a beautiful and melodic score that adds to the magic and enchantment of the production. 


Following A Little Princess, will be Disney’s The Jungle Book (March 2013), directed by singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and visual artist, Treva Offutt.  The Jungle Book tells the story of Mowgli, an orphan boy raised among animals in the wild jungles of India.  With song favorites like “Bare Necessities” and “I want to be like you”, Jungle Book is expected to be a real crowd pleaser.


Participants in Heights Youth Theatre range in age from 6-18 from all over Greater Cleveland.  The Theatre generally produces three to four full-length musicals each year, servicing over 200 children and entertaining thousands.  HYT has been in existence for over 55 years and serves close to 4,000 youth and families each season.  For countless numbers of children, Heights Youth Theatre is their first exposure to live theater. It has been a place where young people from kindergarten through the 12th grade, from the inner ring suburbs of Greater Cleveland and beyond, enjoy a safe, nurturing environment and a cooperative learning experience as they work together to create a production. The extraordinary artistic quality of Heights Youth Theatre's productions and the sense of connection to a larger community, are but a few of the compelling reasons children and adults choose to become involved with the Theatre.


Says Pamela Fine, Executive Director, “We are so excited to bring these amazing shows to our communities.   We are so fortunate to work with some of the best directors around, in turn providing our young performers with a truly engaging and educational experience.  We encourage everyone to bring their family and friends out to see our shows this season.  You will be in for a real treat!!”


Heights Youth Theatre is considered one of the gems of Cleveland Heights, having been named in Cleveland Magazine's "Best of Cleveland" issue (2006) for tops in children's theater.  Several HYT youth have gone on to study Musical Theater at major colleges and universities such as Baldwin Wallace, Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, NYU Tisch School, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Ithaca College.  Some have attended summer programs at Interlochen Arts Academy, Fairmount Performing Arts Camp, Stage Door Manor, Carnegie Mellon and Northwestern, and others have gone on to perform on Broadway in shows such as Hair, Newsies, Rent, Mama Mia, Wicked, Spring Awakening, and the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.


For more information on auditions, tickets, sponsorships and donations, please call 216.923.1583 or visit www.heightsyouththeatre.org.

 


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