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Dear Friends:
Theatre is magic. Every play
begins with an empty space and a handful of actors.
Together, the Players embark on an incredible
journey, working together to create something
from nothing. In the end, there is a story-a great
illusion of complex relationships and emotions
that can move one’s soul. But it always
starts with just a space and the actors. It is
in the imaginations of the Players that the play
takes shape and is born.
Children are natural actors, natural artists. In
their wild imaginations, they have the power to
go anywhere, create anything and be anything! It
is the goal of The Young Players to give kids an
opportunity to have a direct experience of their
own highest creativity. We want kids everywhere
to experience the same joy that actors experience
when they create together. So
we bring the magic of the theatre out to elementary
and middle school auditoriums, gyms and cafeterias.
We transform the spaces not with elaborate sets
or fancy costumes, but with our imaginations…with
the belief of children!
Everywhere we go, we meet kids
who come to the workshops energized and enthusiastic.
We talk to parents and administrators who are
excited that we are bringing drama to their school.
When each workshop begins, we feel that same magic,
the fresh beginning, the sense that anything can
happen!
One of our warm-up activities
is called “Paint the Music.” We play
beautiful music and ask the children to listen
carefully, and “paint” on an imaginary
canvas what they see. It only takes a minute before
the “paint brushes” are moving in
bold or painstakingly minute directions. When
we are finished, we ask the kids what they have
painted, and suddenly, the room is full of color
and fanciful delights. We ask them to “hang
up their paintings” to decorate the room
and they hurry off to find a special place to
hang their “painting.” Never once
have I had a child say, “but the painting
isn’t real,” because for them, it
is as real as the things they can actually see.
In less than five minutes, we have created something
from nothing, and the children have experienced
the joy and magic of theatre. And we have only
just begun.
We look forward to serving children
for many years, and we welcome all of your comments
and ideas!
-- Janea
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