Backstage with Ozma of Oz

Coralville – It isn’t often that the world premiere of a new full length play happens at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, but this weekend you’ll have the opportunity to experience just that. Young Footliters’ youth theatre will present Ozma of Oz, written and directed by Dreamwell Theatre founder Matthew Falduto on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We had the chance to speak with Falduto about his show.

Footliters presents RAPUNZEL!

*press release from CCPA*

Coralville – The Young Footliters will present Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale July 24-26 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $11-$17 and are available online at http://www.coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office (1301 5th Street) and Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street).

Directing and Stage Management Opportunities for Teens

Coralville – Young Footliters is offering two intern positions for its upcoming production of Ozma of Oz, which will be directed by Matt Falduto. Teens age 13-18 can apply for this unpaid intern experience. The teen will learn all about directing or stage managing a live theatre show.

Footliters’ Pinocchio – Only Two Performances This Weekend!

Coralville – The Young Footliters will present Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio, as adapted by Kathryn Schultz Miller, this Friday April 17 at 7:00 PM and Saturday April 18 at 2:00 PM at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. The production features performers in grades K-4 and is directed by Jean Grewe. Tickets are $5 for youth and $7 for adults.

According to director Jean Grewe, “It has been a total joy and blessing working on this show! The kids are acting, building the sets, and working as running crew; they have really been involved in every part of the show, and are having a great time doing it! And the parents have really stepped up as well – costumes, props, set, working backstage, helping in the Green Room, you name it, they did it!”

Tickets are available through the CCPA Box Office at 319-248-9370.

Check Out April Events at CCPA

Coralville – You might want to check out these upcoming events at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

UI School of Music presents The RivalsApril 9-12

UI School of Music presents this story of misguided deceptions between several sets of lovers and would-be lovers, with deceptions unraveling into hopeless tangles before resolving with a classic comic-opera ending. With music and libretto by Kirke Mechem, The Rivals was an instant hit when it premiered at Skylight Opera in 2011.
Tickets ($5-$20) are available through the Hancher Box Office.

Young Footliters present Pinocchio
April 17 & 18

The youngest members of Young Footliters present Kathryn Schultz Miller’s adaptation of the story of Pinocchio.  This production features 60 children in grades K-4, with crew help from older youth.  Directed by Jean Grewe, the production includes music, dancing, and lots of fun for all ages!
Tickets ($5-$7) are available online, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Rec Center. 

City Circle presents Into the Woods
April 24-May 3In this Stephen Sondheim favorite, a baker and his wife, a vengeful witch, a woman fleeing a ball, a girl with extraordinary hair, a cow-sick boy, a sweet-loving granddaughter, a couple of princes, and at least one giant come together in the woods in their quests for happily ever after.

Tickets ($12-$27) are available online, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Rec Center. 

Footliters Announces Summer Musical

Coralville – This year’s Young Footliters summer musical is Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale.

Visit an enchanted fairy tale land with dragons, a handsome prince, an evil would-be Queen, a really great hair stylist, and that famous princess with the long, long, long hair! Hold onto your hair and prepare for a brand new magical musical re-telling of the classic tale.

Save the date for auditions, May 8 and 9. Performances are July 24-26. (Note that final performance dates/times are to be determined due to RAGBRAI’s July 24 Coralville stop). More information on age range and audition details coming soon.

Pinocchio has been cast!

Coralville – The Young Footliters have announced the cast for their next show, Pinocchio. This show consists of a cast of children in Kindergarten through fourth grade.The show will be presented April 17th and 18th at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Director Jean Grewe has also recruited older children to handle a number of the backstage tasks.

Cast:
Pinocchio- Dillon Croco
Hickory Cricket- Jack Furlong
Lorenzo- A J Murdah
Geppetto- Massimo Biggers

Puppeteers:
Alberta- Liberty Henstrom
Brunella- Julianna Mascardo
Carlotta- Lily Schloss
Dina- Mary Danielle Gross
Elma- Amelia Douglas
Felona- Maya Marquardt

Puppets:
Fettucini- Zaira Malloy-Salgado
Gorgonzola- Noe Richman
Linguini- Amara Ballantyne
Macaroni- Paisley Brown
Pepperoni- Elsie Gross
Ricotta- Piper Falduto

Ivana- Ellie Ziegelbein
Lucky Star- Britton Mason
Blue Fairy- Aleigha Ausman
Fibber the Fox- Leo Burchett
Lefty the Cat- Davis Nepple
Lampwick- Landon Peoples
Coachwoman- Ava Prickman
Jack- Clive Guidry
Jill- Lilly Vogts

Music Box Ensemble:
Jenna Alden
Jade Freeburg
Maddie Struthers
Rachel Swack
Emma Wagner

Cuckoo Clock Ensemble:
Aubrey Ballantyne
Madilyn Deifell
Blaise Guidry
Ivy Hendrickson
Will Jackson
Ella Kucers
Izzy Murdah
Anna Prieskorn
Hanna Robbins
Sebastian Robertson

Fish/Water Ensemble:
Sylvia Broffitt
Adelaide Capps
Tali Clements
Tessa Clore
Hyrum Henstrom
Max Lynch
Rowan Russell
Cooper Shilling
Nadia Sprague
Chelsea VeDepo
Tage Zimmerman

Fire/Cage Ensemble:
Nora Ausman
Abril Bejarano
Maya Hanna
Natalie Hawk
Brody Hiscock
Tanvi Kuppachi
Amelia Marquardt
Margaux Maurus
Bryn Russell
Samir Singh
Makenna Waite
Sam Zimmerman

A Suessified Christmas Carol

Coralville – “Young Footliters presents A Seussified Christmas Carol

Friday, December 5 at 7pm
Saturday, December 6 at 2pm & 7pm
Hoover Library, 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch

Peter Bloedel’s comedic take on the Dickens tale is told in rhymed verse, inspired by a certain children’s author. Each performance is preceded by a special Reader’s Theater presentation of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

This production, directed by Tara Acton, is part of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum’s Christmas Past Celebration. Free and open to the public.”

Source: CCPA Press Release

Auditions for City Circle and Young Footliters

Coralville – City Circle and Young Footliters both have upcoming auditions.

City Circle presents A Year With Frog and Toad
Auditions: September 27, 9am-noon
Performances December 12-21

This charming musical tells the story of a year in the life of forest neighbors Frog and Toad and their many woodland friends. Adapted by Willie and Robert Reale from the beloved books by Arnold Lobel. Directed by Liz Tracey.

Auditions are Saturday, September 27 from 9am-noon, with callbacks from 4:30-6pm, at the Coralville Rec Center, 1506 8th Street. Auditioners (high school age and adult) should prepare 32 bars of a song that showcases range and ability; they may also be asked to read from the script. Learn more.

Young Footliters present A Seussified Christmas Carol
Auditions: September 26 & 27
Performances December 5 & 6

Young Footliters present a comedic take on the Dickens novel told in rhymed verse, inspired by a certain children’s author. Auditions are Friday, September 26 from 4pm-6pm and Saturday, September 27 from 11am-2pm. Peformances will be at the Hoover Library in West Branch.

Anyone in grades K-12 may audition. Those auditioning should be prepared to do a cold reading from provided scripts; they may also recite a short rhyming poem. Auditions are at the Coralville Library. Learn more.

Source: CCPA Newsletter

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Opens Sept 12

Coralville – Young Footliters presents Joseph Robinette’s adaptation of the C. S. Lewis novel The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe for 4 performances, September 12-14 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. The production features 32 local children in 4th grade through 10th grades and is directed by Matt Falduto. Hills Bank is the supporting sponsor.

Performances are at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts Friday, September 12 at 7pm, Saturday, September 13 at 2pm and 7pm, and Sunday, September 14 at 2pm. Tickets are $7 – $12 and are available online at www.coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office (1301 5th Street) and Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street).

Robinette’s adaptation features the characters of the novel – the four children, the talking animals, the White Witch and her followers, and the great lion Aslan – in a timeless setting that contemporary children can identify with. Director Falduto worked to create an empowering experience for the children who are in the cast and those in the audience, helping them understand the themes of the story. For example, he says that as a child, he “loved that Edmund could screw up, find forgiveness, and then become the hero. To me, that’s a very powerful message for our kids to learn.” This adaptation also presents a strong, brave Susan and a Peter who finds strength in emotion and empathy, portrayed by real life siblings Emma and David Bluder.

Young Footliters is a program of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts offering children and teens fun, creative, and educational theater arts opportunities in a safe, positive, and professional environment. Young Footliters aims to produce quality productions and classes that promote responsibility, confidence, leadership, cooperation, and arts appreciation.

Source: CCPA Press Release