Child’s Play brings local children’s writings to life
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Huntington, Ind. "Child's Play Touring Theatre (CPTT), a nationally-acclaimed company that performs stories and poems written by children, will perform local elementary students' plays and writings at the Merillat Centre for the Arts on Saturday, February 9. The curtain will open at 2 p.m. By combining children's imagination with the artistry of professional actors and musicians, Child's Play, which is based in Chicago, Ill., has created one of the most innovative children's theatres in the country. According to the Chicago Tribune, Child's Play's enthusiasm for their work is so infectious it's hard to tell who is having more fun " the actors or the children.
Each year, two performing companies of four adults each, read over 100,000 pieces of literature written by kids ranging in age from kindergarten through eighth grade. Hundreds of manuscripts are then adapted into songs, dances and plays to be performed before the young authors' eyes.
In it's 23-year history, Child's Play has toured in 35 states, from Alaska to Florida. The company has reached an audience of approximately six million and has performed in such prestigious venues as the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Child's Play works to provide children with a stage where their voice can be shared, enjoyed and treasured. A not-for-profit organization, CPTT receives support from the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Community Trust, The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and other corporate and private donors.
Plays to be performed on the ninth include How to Decorate a Tree by Salamonie Elementary School second grader, Felicia Burcham; The Eagle by Andrews Elementary School third grader, Brittany Newsome; and What Do You Do With a Leprechaun? by Northwest Elementary School fifth grader, Josh Riggle.
Thirty-seven other elementary students will receive certificates at the event for their writings that were awarded honorable mention. Those students include from Salamonie Elementary School " Clinton Rosen, Landon Poulson, Kaitlyn Campbell, Emma Ainsworth, Kaylie Dunn, Kendra Hoskins, Courtney Williams, Morgan Radol, Tyler Rice, Curtin Semon; from Andrews Elementary School " Benjamin Kline, Ethan Hethcote, Alan Poon, Cameron Ables, Sam Dombrosky, Martika Velez, Melissa Grossman, Kayla Marie Martin, Jonathan Staffel, Ali Draughn, Matt Dombrosky, Cameron Long, Presley Thompson, Tiffany Poteet, Joyce Oppy, Natalie Bickel, Karissa Miller; from Northwest Elementary School " Katie Miller, Brandon Burnworth, Derek Pyle, Ali Ness, Garrett Humbert, Jessica Williams, Joshua Nave, Whitney Switzer, Robert Brumm.
To reserve tickets, call the Huntington College Box Office at (260) 359-4261. Office hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $4 for students and seniors.
Child's Play is presented by the Huntington College Community Arts Program. Partial funding is provided by Ecolab Foundation and Cinergy Foundation, Inc.
Huntington College is comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 50 academic concentrations. US News and World Report ranks Huntington among the best in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana.
