Emma as Bella and Gabe Walker as the prince in Beauty and the Beast.

Emma Cooper is an actor who first appeared on the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine stage last fall as Bella in Beauty and the Beast. In the past year, she’s spent countless hours here rehearsing and performing with friends and peers under the guidance of our Theatre Artistic Director, Reba Short. Emma wrote this essay for a school assignment this spring and shared it with Reba and the actors in the Youth Voices on Stage project (learn more about it here or here). Reba was very moved and shared it with me, and I wanted to share it with you – Emma writes so eloquently of the very special experience our actors have here. If you or someone you know would like to have an experience like Emma’s, we have an audition workshop this week and auditions for Little Red Riding Hood next Wednesday, June 8.

Emma writes:

When you’re a child magic is everywhere. Things become what they aren’t. A boulder becomes a fortress for a fairy army, a bumble bee a fairy prince’s noble steed. Mermaids frolic in the frothy waves at the beach and terrible monsters lurk in woods. Anything is possible. You can fly, become invisible and even become a cat. It all happens. Then, a strange phenomenon called “growing up” occurs. 

Boulders begin to look like really big rocks. Bumble bees become foul pests who sting. The waves don’t seem that imposing and the mermaids are really just loose pieces of seaweed. Flying, it happens, but it’s expensive. Where does all the magic go? We become cynical and hardened. We don’t stop to smell the flowers and to marvel at the beautiful world we live in. Everything has to be fast, grown-up, scientific and chic. 

Reba (standing, left) with members of the cast of The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings.

I get tired of this. This fast moving society we live in. I want to stop and smell the flowers, to marvel at a rock, see the good in a bumble bee! But it’s hard to unravel yourself. To get off of Faceook and sit outside, to stop thinking about your future and be awed by the present. 

I’ve found someone who helps me do this, a grown-up none the less. Her name is Reba Short and she is the director of the Children’s Theater of Maine. When I heard about acting in your shows, I was thrilled. It’s hard to find theaters that do straight shows, non-musicals, for teens in Maine. I remember thinking “I’m so excited; this will look great on college applications! And, I’m getting experience for an acting career!” That IS true and it’s one of the perks of the theater. But when I participated in my first show, Beauty and the Beast, I realized that that wasn’t what I valued the most. I began to marvel again. That childlike wonder came back. I found myself questioning if an angsty prince-turned-Beast really DID live in the woods. Were those mermaids I saw smiling at me? Wait, are those troll tracks?! Smell these flowers! That was the most rewarding thing you could have ever given me Reba.

I remember one time in Beauty and the Beast. Gabe was having a hard time doing the characterization during a scene. You decided that we had to sing our lines out to each other. The combination was one of Phantom of the Opera meets Beauty and the Beast meets a couple of bad singers. It was one of the most outrageous things I’ve ever done and I thank you for it!

Emma at East End Community School leading a group discussion as part of the Youth Voices Onstage project.

In the Youth Voices project that we’ve been doing it’s such a pleasure to work with you. I know that you’ve taught us all to question our actions. When we go into schools the little kids adore you. They hang on to your every word, mesmerized. I know you’re probably going to say that you’re the one that is supposed to be thanking us, because we’re really the people who do the acting. You’re wrong. Without you this project would have not been possible. You’ve not only helped these little kids to do acts of kindness, you’ve helped us. You’ve made it so that we could all heal from wounds that were inflicted upon us by mean things people have done or said. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that working with you on this has been such a pleasure and honor.

We are so blessed to have you in our lives. You’ve taught us to see the fortress in a boulder, the smiling mermaids in the waves, to stop and smell the flowers. To cherish life and everything in it. To slow down and be awed. To find magic in the world. And most important of all to imagine and hope.

As a sneak peek, we’re lucky enough to find out about some of the cast and characters from the actors themselves!

Brooks "Dasher"

Brooks is playing Dasher in the play.  Dasher is a hip, boom boxing reindeer. Brooks is 10 years old and this is his 4th year working with Reba. He enjoys learning all aspects of the theatre from Reba and especially loves all the voice exercises they do as a group.  On the way to rehearsal Brooks likes to sing to get himself into character and really enjoys when he gets to charge at Donner on stage.

Andrew "Donner"

Donner is played by Andrew who describes his character as the oldest and strongest reindeer.  Andrew says it’s fun to play Donner as an ancient and grumpy old man and he gets into character during warm-ups by thinking about what it would feel like to be that old.  Andrew is 14 and this is his second mainstage show at the Children’s Theatre.  He has also appeared in Kids on the Block and Custard the Dragon at the Children’s Theatre.

Sophie "Jane"

10-year-old Sophie plays the part of Jane – the living “Reindeer Encyclopedia” who loves reindeer and knows all there is to know about them.  Sophie was also a part of the Beauty and the Beast production and the thing she likes best about acting is being on stage in front of a crowd!

Bianca "Becca"

Bianca plays the role of Becca, a human who is terrified by Santa’s reindeer when they first appear. Bianca’s character is the director of the play within the play of Santa’s Reindeer Revue and for inspiration she’s observed Reba’s actions as a director.  Bianca is 16 and has been involved with the Children’s Theatre since 2006 when she was in Madeline at the Theatre’s old home on Marginal Way.

The trees may be hanging on to the last of their fall leaves but over at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Santa’s reindeer are gearing up for the holidays.. the holiday production of Santa’s Reindeer Revue, that is!

I sat in on a rehearsal for the production last week and was greeted by an exuberant group of reindeer-in-training.  Before rehearsal officially began there was loads of energy bouncing around the stage and I knew immediately that I was in for a treat!

The afternoon started off with a circle of yoga stretches followed by vocal exercises.  When everyone seemed thoroughly warmed-up, actors took their places on stage to act out a scene in which Santa’s reindeer are showing off their various talents.  As I watched, I knew right away that the reindeer in the show weren’t the only talented ones – these actors knew their stuff!

Many of the actors in Santa’s Reindeer Revue have been in previous productions put on by the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine and their experience – and passion for theatre – blew me away!  I can’t wait to see what else they have in store.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be dropping by rehearsals, chatting with cast members, and snapping some behind the scenes photos so be sure to stay tuned for more sneak peaks of Santa’s Reindeer Revue!

Chris says:

“Even though we are still a few weeks away from opening night (Dec 3^rd), design and construction of the set for Santa’s Reindeer Revue is well under way! Reba Short, our Theatre Artistic Director, asked us to design a set that would be simple and allow a lot of room to play. After reading the script, we developed a concept that would allow us to travel to two different locations, while sticking to the same central theme.

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Santa’s Reindeer Revue takes place in two very different places. The show begins at the North Pole, where Santa’s Reindeer are (what else?) playing games, and getting ready for their big night! The show then travels to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, where the cast of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are well into rehearsals at our very own Dress-Up Theatre. At the climax of the play, we come to opening night. And, although this is still in the Dress-Up Theatre, the look has to be one of Opening Night – not of rehearsal.

For the North Pole, we decided to keep a very open stage with a few hints of the great outdoors. “Real” trees, snowdrifts, and a North Pole sign all indicate the location without bulking up the stage. This allows plenty of room for the reindeer to play their games without being hindered by an overcrowded stage. When the play moves to the Dress-Up Theatre, we came to the conclusion that because the actors are rehearsing a play about the North Pole, the stage could still resemble the North Pole, but with more obvious stage pieces. Tree cutouts, ladders, and Christmas lights half-strung let us know this is a production in progress. By moving the ladders, adding some curtains, and stringing the lights properly, the stage will “magically” transform from rehearsal to opening night (although a little quicker than in real life!)!

Sometimes bigger is not always better. A simple set allows the actors and director to explore the full area more completely, and relies on the audience’s imagination to create their own magic. Isn’t that what this holiday season is all about?

Enjoy the show!”

I was able to see a completely different type of puppeteering during my residency in Japan two summers ago. On a day off from kyogen rehearsals, our professor took us to see a bunraku performance. I knew bunraku was a Japanese puppet show, but I didn’t know much else. I was excited to find out that we had tickets for a special learning performance designed for Japanese students! The performance started with a scene from a bunraku play complete with puppeteers, shamisen players and narrators.

Diagram 1. Click to enlarge!

The performers then stopped and started explaining (in Japanese) the mechanics of bunraku. While we were given short English explanations, it was much more fascinating to watch the puppeteers explain how a puppet was operated, even if I couldn’t understand everything they were saying.

Here you can see the head puppeteer's special kimono, hakama (wide-legged pants he wears over the kimono) and elevated shoes.

In bunraku, most puppets have three puppeteers (except for minor puppets, which can be operated by one person). The head and right-hand puppeteer (omo-zukai), the left-handed puppeteer (hidari-zukai) and the feet puppeteer (ashi-zukai). Their duties are described in this diagram (see Diagram 1). As with all Japanese performance, an actor has to spend years of his life perfecting the art. For bunraku, training begins with the feet, then the left hand and the final stage is to master the head and right hand. These levels of training are also denoted by what the puppeteers wear. The foot and left hand puppeteers are dressed in kurogo, or black robes and head coverings. The head and right hand puppeteer wears a traditional kimono, hakama and elevated shoes, so he is very clearly seen.

The fact that the head puppeteer does not wear black is an interesting aspect of Japanese theatre that I noticed during my studies. While character performance ishighly revered in Japan, the audience still expects to see traces of the actor. For instance, sometimes famous kabuki actors will ad-lib during performances with lines from previous plays they have done and audience members will frequently shout out actors’ names during short pauses in the performance. This is also true in bunraku, the audience wants to see the master behind the movements, but also wants to be given the opportunity to completely focus on the puppet.

A bunraku performance in Osaka, Japan

As the performance went on, I became more and more in awe of what these actors do with the puppets. As with most theatre I saw in Japan, I couldn’t understand the intricacies of the plot, but the movements of the puppets and the way the narrators voiced the characters was mesmerizing. You truly forget that you’re watching puppets. When you are reminded, studying the puppeteers harmonious and fluid movements adds another layer to the performance.

Naturally, I took my fascination with bunraku mechanics back to the states. I began to see the Japanese influences in all forms of puppeteering I encountered. Whether it is children’s puppet shows or the Bread and Puppet Theater, the mechanics of bunraku can be clearly seen.

Mandy Puccini teaches audiences about deaf culture! This puppet is very similar to bunraku puppets, as you can see Bianca is operating her arms and Gabe is operating her head and mouth.

I remember on my first day at the Museum & Theatre Reba and I were talking about Kids on the Block and she described them as bunraku-style puppets. I couldn’t believe it! I was so impressed that the Kids on the Block puppeteers were in middle and high school. I knew first hand how complicated bunraku was and the dedication that was needed to operate the puppets. While puppet shows are always fun and exciting, the relationship our puppet troupe has with their characters is very reminiscent of what I witnessed in Japan. (Although I don’t think Reba would be too pleased if her puppeteers started bringing attention to themselves by saying lines from The Emperor’s New Clothes or Pinocchio!)

Check our calendar of events for puppet shows and programs at the Museum & Theatre. And don’t forget to buy tickets to see everyone’s favorite puppet without strings- Pinocchio!

Claire Devlin is playing Geppetta the Woodcarver.

1. Why did you decide to do Theatre at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine this summer?

CLAIRE: I missed the last show due to a school trip and I missed performing!
EDEN: It sounded like a lot of fun.
KALEIGH: I decided to do theatre at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine this summer because I was looking for a new adventure and a fun time, a way to occupy my time this summer.
MICHELA: Because it’s awesome here!  This place is my second home.  I love the atmosphere here and all the people too!
BIANCA:  Because I wanted to keep busy, and it’s really fun. I made the mistake of not doing Tomato Plant Girl last summer due to one week of church summer camp and I regretted it. I didn’t want to make that mistake again!

2. What is your favorite warm-up game?  How do you play it?

Eden Dyer is playing Fox the Count.

CLAIRE: I really love the game What Are You Doing? Someone goes onstage and does a gesture, then the second person asks what they’re doing.  The first player says something different than what they’re doing.  Player B has to do that gesture and then player C enters and repeats the game with different gestures.
EDEN: The Park Bench.  You sit next to somebody waiting for the bus and talk to them in character.
KALEIGH: What Are You Doing?
MICHELA:  I like Bus Stop because it gets your brain working.  One person sits at the bus stop, neutral while another person comes up and starts the scene.  As the scene progresses, the neutral actor must come up with an excuse for leaving. Once they leave the actor left will become neutral and a new scene will start.
BIANCA: What Are You Doing? It’s so much fun!

Kaleigh Colson is playing Master Antonio and The Coachman.

3. What is your favorite moment in the play so far?

CLAIRE: I really like the moment when the blue fairy (Bianca Brown) says “Mastroni thows puppets in the fire!” and she says it in funniest way.  It really cracks me up!
EDEN: When Reed attacks the cabinet.
KALEIGH: My favorite moment was when I had to miss a few rehearsals and when I came back everyone was welcoming and happy to see me.
MICHELA: I think when Pinocchio tells the blue fairy about the silver tree in the field of miracles.
BIANCA: Finding out I got to play the blue fairy.  It was good for me, but bad for the actress originally cast in her role. She got sick and I took her place!

4. What is the craziest thing your character does in the play?

Michela Micalizio is playing Mastroni the Puppet Master.

CLAIRE: At one point in the play, I get swallowed by a giant fish.  I’d probably say the part where I build a fire to make the fish sneeze and let us out is pretty crazy.  I do that part with my cast mate, Reed Foehl, who plays Pinocchio.
EDEN: [picks up some bubblegum off the ground]
KALEIGH: I have two roles.  As Master Antonio I think the craziest thing is finding a talking piece of wood.  As the coachman the craziest thing is turning young boys into donkeys.
MICHELA: Everything!  Well, maybe not everything, but he’s a crazy guy!  I think the craziest thing he does is have the sock puppets on all the time.
BIANCA: Talk in baby talk.  All the time!

5. Why do you think people should come see Pinocchio?  What makes it a great show?
CLAIRE: There are a lot of really talented people in this show, which makes it really fun and interesting.  Also, it’s unpredictable, which makes it a fun show to watch.

Bianca Brown is playing Glissandra the Blue Fairy.

See Claire, Eden, Kaleigh, Michela, Bianca and the rest of the cast of Pinocchio on opening night, Friday, July 23 at 4pm. For tickets visit our website, call 828-1234 x231 or stop by the front desk!

If you’d like to make new friends and have fun in the theatre like these five girls, audition for Beauty and the Beast! Auditions are Monday, August 30 from 3-5pm. We are also offering a free audition workshop on Wednesday, August 25 at 2:30pm so you can prepare! To register for the workshop call 828-1234 x247 or email reba@kitetails.org.

I ventured downstairs to the Dress Up Theatre last night for a mini photo shoot with the cast. First off, let me just say that costumes look AMAZING! Christina, our costume designer and front desk staffer, has outdone herself once again. If she helps you at the front desk be sure to congratulate her (of course, you should see the show first!).

I also met some new faces in the cast and, like all our young actors, they have already immersed themselves into the Museum & Theatre community. One of the greatest things about our theatre program is the welcoming atmosphere created by the young actors. They accept new faces with open arms and wish good luck to those who move on to other activities!  Along with this, they’ve started a new tradition of creating raps for each show. I got a taste of a rap Pinocchio (played by Reed Foehl) created; the audience is really in for a treat!

Though I only saw bits and pieces of scenes, I know this is going to be a fast-paced and engaging production. With the multiple scene changes (aided by a great signpost that you can see on the Pinocchio poster and postcard) and fun costumes, audiences young and old will be on the edge of their seats! Be sure to buy your tickets to see the adventures of Pinocchio as he discovers what it truly means to be a real boy. The show opens in TWO WEEKS!

To buy tickets visit www.kitetails.org, call 828-1234 x231 or stop by our front desk!

Here’s what the girls had to say:
1.  Why do you do theatre at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine?
BIANCA: Because of all the nice people, and the fun shows that we put on.
ERICA: Ever since I saw my sister in shows I thought it would be really fun, and it is!
ALYSHA: I do theatre at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, because I have friends who do it with me, it’s pretty close to my house, and it’s just a BIG BUCKET OF FUN! Haha!

Bianca Brown is 16 years old. Bianca is playing Mrs. Skunk. This is Bianca’s fifth show with us; she’s also a puppeteer for our Kids on the Block puppet show.

2.  Who in the cast do you admire, why?

BIANCA: Caroline (Duck #2), because I have noticed that she has made the most progress throughout the rehearsal process, and she is really nice to everyone.
ERICA: I personally admire Michela (Little Rabbit) because she is a really great actor and makes everything fun. Also she seems like she is always living life to its fullest.
ALYSHA: I’d have to say I admire Bianca the most, because she always comes to rehearsal happy, even if she is sick with a sore throat (like she was this week). Also because when we’re backstage and some people are talking she’s not afraid to go up to them and tell them to stop.

3.  What makes The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings special?

BIANCA: The story, it has a good message for kids.
ERICA: I think The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings is a good way to tell people to love themselves.
ALYSHA: I think what makes The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings a special play is how we all work together. Also how we complement each other while acting, like how me and Michaela (Little Rabbit) make each other’s scenes better with our animal actions/moves.

Erica Glidden is 9 years old. Erica is playing Duck #3. This is Erica’s first show with us.

4.  What was your favorite moment in the rehearsal process?

BIANCA: Being told to talk in a southern accent.
ERICA: I liked all the games like gesture circle and freeze.
ALYSHA: This is a tough one… I guess my favorite moment in the rehearsal process was watching all of our characters develop.

5.  What’s your favorite moment in the play?

BIANCA: Sheena’s song. It’s so cute.
ERICA: My favorite part is when Mama Rabbit doesn’t know who Little Rabbit is because it is a really big part in the story.
ALYSHA: My favorite moment in the play is when me and Bianca have our first scene together and we act like spies! It’s REALLY fun!

Alysha Alling is 12 years old. Alysha is playing Mr. Squirrel. This is Alysha’s seventh show with us.

6.  What do you want the audience to leave the theatre thinking about / take away with them?

BIANCA: That they should be who they are, not any one else. Also, that skunks are nice animals, and don’t always spray people.
ERICA: That you should just be yourself.
ALYSHA: I want the audience to leave thinking… “That was a great play!” or “What a good life lesson for my kids!” Or just thinking they wanna come for the next play.

Come see Bianca, Erica, Alysha, and the rest of the cast perform in the final weekend of The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings! Click here to buy tickets!

Auditions for our next play, Pinocchio, are on June 5 from 10am-12pm. If you want to have fun, make new friends and learn a lot about theatre, visit our website for more information on how to prepare for the audition!

Michela is always in character!

After stage managing The Emperor’s New Clothes this past winter, I was really excited to sit in on Tuesday’s rehearsal of The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings. It was a chance to see some of the actors I knew and meet some new faces! When I came in, Michela and Sheena (who played Empress Sophie and Theodore in The Emperor’s New Clothes, respectively) were in the middle of a scene. I sat down and watched them in action. It was amazing to see them play characters that are so different from the ones they played in The Emperor’s New Clothes. Michela was hopping around the stage playing Little Rabbit and Sheena was quite a sassy and funny Real Girl (and she has such a beautiful singing voice!)

"You can see the food. You can taste it!"

As the rehearsal went on, I saw the actors transform into a forest of animals. Everyone had their own way of becoming their character that I knew right away what animal they were portraying. But I know from experience that it’s always tricky staying in character, especially when you have so many things to think about. Every moment you’re onstage you have to think: if I were a duck, what would I be doing right now? But that’s where Reba comes in! She let the actors explore their characters, but if they get stuck she always is there is give them guidance, suggestions or real-world examples of how a character might react to something. Little Rabbit’s new red wings were related to a changed hairdo, eyebrow waxing and a squid backpack—all examples given by other cast members!

Reba asked the cast members to act like scared squirrels. Pretty convincing!

I’ve been doing theatre since I was 10 years old, so I know how exciting the rehearsal process can be. This is the time for actors to make bold choices, become friends with their fellow cast members and learn news things about themselves and their character. The cast of The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings has a few weeks of rehearsal left and from what I saw they are doing a fantastic job. I can’t wait to see the final product!

Tickets are on sale now! To buy tickets visit our website, call 828-1234 x231 or stop by the front desk!  The play runs Thursday-Sunday from April 22 – May 2. Thursday and Friday performances are at 4pm and Saturday and Sunday performances are at 1pm & 4pm.

Jai sitting in the Emperor's throne.

Leo watched the play with his brother Sam and his Mom Eden. Jai watched the play with his Grandmother.  They were both eager to talk to me afterward and tell me what they thought!

You can listen to the full interview here.  Here are a few of my favorite parts:

Reba:  What did you think of the play?
Jai & Leo:  Good!!!!

Reba:  What was your favorite part?
Jai:  In the end.
Leo:  The end!

Reba:  Why the end?
Leo:  Because they married each other.

Leo getting into the royal mood with a bag of jewels!

Reba:  What was your favorite costume?
Jai:  The Prince’s
Leo:  Cinderella’s!

Reba:  Why Cinderella’s?
Leo:  Because it was pretty.

I’ve seen Jai and his Grandmother at several plays and Leo and his brother Sam have even taken a Teensy Weensy Theatre Class with me.  It’s exciting to see young people engage with and enjoy theatre at an early age, a sign that they’ll value the arts for life!