The curtain will go up on a most ambitious Kids’ Club production when “Down the Yellow Brick Road” opens April 19-20.
| Ali Fredricks, Jerry Sims, Ron Bourdages are the star and braintrust behind “Down the Yellow Brick Road,” an ASC Kids’ Club production made possible by a grant provided by and Jane Stephens Comer. |
The play, written and directed by Jerry Sims, features a robust set, lavish costumes and a large cast made possible by a grant provided by Jane Stephens Comer to the ASC Arts in Education Outreach Initiative.
“Jane is committed to and loves arts education and loves what Jerry is able to put together with his writing and directing of these children’s theatrical productions,” says Kimberly Kirklin, director of education for the ASC. “We are able to put on this performance for the community because of her support.”
“Down the Yellow Brick Road” is a twist on L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Children attending the performances will join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Cowardly Lion in song, imagination and magic exercises as they journey down the yellow brick road.
Sims writes the Kids’ Club productions with the intent of encouraging children to use their imaginations.
“One of the things I’ve discovered in these plays is that the kids enjoy the interaction,” he says. “We began inviting that interaction in the earlier productions we did, having the audience members sing choruses to the original songs we wrote. We extended that to getting them to participate in games and exercises all pointing toward the themes of the show.” He said that was his goal this past year in “Alice’s Tea Party,” and the same is true for “Down the Yellow Brick Road.”
Imagination and magic
For example, children will be given their Imagineer hat to use during “Down the Yellow Brick Road” in an effort to inspire them to reach deep into their imaginations as they help Dorothy navigate home.
Sims says there are two elements to the stories in the Kids’ Club shows — imagination and magic. “I tell the kids, ‘You provide the imagination and we will provide the magic,’” he says.
There is plenty of work behind the magic, too. When the audience is told to imagine the yellow brick road, it has to be brought to life on stage.
But Sims, who spends most of his time in the ASC as house events manager, enjoys the demands behind making the magic happen. The work the ASC staff has put into the productions has led to large and excited crowds.
It was more than four years ago when the Arts in Action initiative began its Kids’ Club shows with “So You Want to be a Star.” Other productions include “Christmas Comes to Mugwumpville,” “Yuletide in Dogtown” and “Alice’s Return to the Tea Party” — all of which have been warmly received in the community.
Kirklin says Sims, set designer Russell Friedrikis, stage manager Ed Rosendahl and the entire ASC family are the reasons the shows are such a success.
“The children productions are always fun to do because they incorporate so much audience participation,” Kirklin says. “Jerry is such a strong believer in giving the children the opportunity to use their imaginations, and the staff here thoroughly enjoys putting these productions together for the community. We hope to continue our strong tradition of enriching and fun shows for many years.”
Tickets are available for $7 for children and adults. The April 19 shows are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The April 20 shows are 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. For tickets or information, call 975-ARTS.