Madison youth stage musicals at FDU
The musical “How To Eat Like a Child” is intended to make audiences of any age look at the world through the eyes of a young person.
Ironically, the production of “How To Eat Like a Child” that will be staged in Madison is intended to make its young cast members learn about such grown-up topics as maturity, responsibility, and cooperation.
The show, with a cast of 10 between ages 8 to 13, will be presented July 30 through August 1 at the Barn Theater at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison.
“How To Eat Like a Child” represents this year’s junior production in the annual summer program co-sponsored by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (based in Madison) and the Madison Recreation Department.
The “senior” production, with a cast of teens and adults, is an original piece called “Magic To Do – A Musical Revue of Stephen Schwartz.” This tribute to the composer of shows as “Pippin,” “Godspell,” “Wicked,” and others will be staged through July 25.
The purpose of both productions is to give amateur performers of any age the chance to work with Equity actors and directors, according to Jane Keitel, who is directing “How To Eat Like a Child.”
“It’s about the process of staging a show,” says Keitel, who has been a teaching artist at Playwrights Theatre for a decade, besides appearing in the theater’s productions. “It’s not about who gets the best part.”
“The kids get a great professional experience, and at that same time, they learn from professionals who are committed to their growth,” she adds.
Keitel notes that “How To Eat Like a Child” (with a subtitle “And Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-Up”) is an ideal show to teach these lessons to her young performers. “There’s no starring role,” she says. “It’s an ensemble.”
The musical, based on the book of the same name by humorist Delia Ephron, is also appropriate for young performers in its subject matter. “The joy of this show is that it’s kids being kids,” Keitel says. “They’re having fun and enjoying themselves.”
That attitude extends to Keitel herself. “I always learn as much from the kids in the cast as they learn from me,” she says. “I love growing as a director and as a teacher.”
The combination of education and enjoyment was one of the impetuses for the summer performance program, according to John Pietrowski, founder and artistic director of Playwrights Theatre.
The program began four years ago, when the theater was allowed to move its offices into the Madison Civic Center. “As ‘rent,’ we agreed to take over the summer recreation show sponsored by the borough,” Pietrowski says.
The choice of shows this year reflects Pietrowski’s mission to promote what he calls “smaller, more substantial shows,” compared to splashy Broadway musicals.
Pietrowski stresses that he is not anti-Broadway. “But we want to get away from the notion that Broadway is the only thing in American theater,” he says.
The Stephen Schwartz revue represents a step in that direction, even though Schwartz has been associated with some of Broadway’s biggest hits, Pietrowski says.
“Magic To Do,” which takes its name from the opening number from “Pippin,” is an original work developed by director Danielle Constance. She started with about 25 songs and then adjusted the list to about 18 numbers to suit her cast of about 16.
Pietrowski says he would eventually like to commission all-original musicals for the Madison summer program. Another option is to have the young people in the program develop their own productions.
“I like the idea of developing works that feature characters between (ages) 18 to 30,” Pietrowski says. “I like to have works for audiences that are underserved.”
HOW TO EAT LIKE A CHILD and MAGIC TO DO
WHAT: Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey partners with Madison Recreation Department to offer residents of Madison the chance to work on theatrical productions with Equity performers. “Magic To Do,” presented by teens and adults, is an original revue of songs by Stephen Schwartz, whose credits include “Pippin,” “Godspell,” and “Wicked.” “How to Eat Like a Child,” with a cast between ages 8 and 13, is a musical based on the book by Delia Ephron about how to stave off adulthood.
WHEN: “Magic To Do”: 2 and 7:30 p.m. today; 2 p.m. Saturday.
“How To Eat Like a Child”: 7:30 p.m. July 30; 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 31; 2 p.m. Aug. 1.
WHERE: Barn Theater at Fairleigh Dickinson University,
Barn Theater, 285 Madison Ave., Madison
TICKETS: Free for seniors, $5 for students/children, $10 for other adults
INFORMATION: 973-514-1787, ext. 31, and www.ptnj.org. Seniors seeking free tickets should call the Senior Center at 973-593-3095.