| Theatre
of Youth was founded in 1972 by Rosalind Cramer and Toni Smith Wilson, theatre
instructors at Daemen College. Since then, TOY has continued to gain expertise
and experience in our field and grow in our dedication to bringing theatre into
the lives of young people. Our plays are performed by professional adult actors
in full-scale mainstage productions. Our professional staff have excellent training
and many hold advanced degrees in their fields. Keep
in Mind that when you support Theatre of Youth, you are also supporting actors
that live and work in Buffalo. Our actors are familiar to our audiences and feel
like friends. Time and time again, parents tell us how much our plays impact their
children. We hope that you will join us for the special theatre experience that
only TOY creates for young people.
Last year over 50,000 parents, teachers and young people attended Theatre of Youth
productions. Artistic Director Meg Quinn is proud to announce the upcoming 35th
season.
2006-2007
Season
The
Witches
October 6-October 29, 2006
Based on Ronald Dahl's
award-winning book, this play reveals the truth about "Real Witches."
Children beware! They look like everyday people and visit the same places you
do! The Grand High Witch has a monstrous plan. Her fellow crones will take over
all candy shops and make poisonous candy that transforms children into mice! Luckily,
a brave young boy has overheard this terrible plot. With the help of his grandma,
who knows something about witches, he will try to stop the Grand High Witch, but
time is running out...and what exactly is the secret behind grandma's missing
finger? Join TOY for Halloween fun, with some hair-raising celebrity guest witches!
A Little House Christmas
December
8-17, 2006
Laura Ingalls Wilder has charmed generations of readers with
wholesome adventures about what it was like to live two centuries ago, in the
land of covered wagons. Join the Ingalls on Christmas Eve when they invite friends
and neighbors to their new home. Although Laura's good behavior is tested by busybody
Nellie Olesen, she and her sister do their best to help Ma and Pa trim the tree
and prepare a marvelous dinner. When an approaching winter storm threatens to
postpone Santa's visit, Pa tries to make it to town for supplies. By Christmas
Eve he still hasn't returned! Based on several events from the "Little House"
books, this heartwarming adventure shows how, with help from a surprise visitor,
Laura and Mary learn the true meaning of Christmas!
Bridge
to Terabithia
January 19-February 11, 2007
Based on the
Newbery Award-winning book, the play tenderly captures the humor, warmth and emotional
intensity of this masterpiece of children's literature. Inspiring, it gently offers
young people important thoughts about life and death. Jesse Aarons, a 10-year
old boy, is an artist at heart. Unfortunately, that interest isn't encouraged
by her rural Virginian family, so he tries to become "the fastest runner
in the fifth grade," a calling considered far more impressive. Leslie Burke,
the new girl from the city and the ultimate outsider, opens up for him a world
of imagination - "Terabithia." Suddenly, Jesse must come to terms with
a wrenching loss and he bravely accepts the very grown-up idea that people we
lose in our lives can always be a part of us.
The
Giver
March 9-April 1, 2007
Young adult readers love The
Giver, the Newbery-Award winning Sci-Fi thriller by Lois Lowry, author of Number
the Stars. In Jonas' world, everything is under control. There are no choices;
everyone's role is flawlessly assigned. Twelve-year old Jonas is about to receive
his life's assignment, along with others of his age group. To his atonishment,
he is given the most respected job, "Receiver of Memory," transferred
from The Giver. When Jonas discovers his community is ruled by a lie, he determines
to change his world - but he cannot predict how that change will come about or
what it will mean for the "newchild" Gabriel, whom he has resolved to
protect.
Charlotte's Web
May
4-June 3, 2007
Charlotte's Web is based on E.B. White's Newbery-Award
winning classic. The Children's Literature Association named this "the best
American children's book of the past two hundred years." Joseph Robinette's
play captures the playful and endearing spirit of this family favorite. All of
the classic characters are here: Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately
wants to avoid the butcher; Fern, a sweet and energetic girl who understands what
animals say to each other; Templeton, the gluttonous wise-cracking rat who can
occasionally be talked into a good deed; the Zuckerman family; the Arables; and
most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be a good friend
and writer. This colorful storybook adaptation for our youngest audience will
have the whole family saying "Terrific!" that was "Some Pig!"
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