YS Kids Playhouse » Shows

The Bremen Town Musicians (2009)

kkremer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:00:05 +0000

YSKP’s Holiday Production–The New Bremen Town Musicians (December 17-19, 2009)

YSKP premiered what it hopes to be an annual holiday show – The New Bremen Town Musicians. Based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale, the production also features, for the first time in company history, a mix of adult, teen and youth actors.

In the story a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster, all past their prime years in life and usefulness on their respective farms, are discarded or mistreated by their masters. One by one they leave their homes and set out together. They decide to go to Bremen, known for its freedom, to live without owners and become musicians there.

On the way to Bremen, they see a lighted cottage; they look inside and see a group of robbers enjoying their ill-gotten gains. Standing on each other’s backs, they decide to perform for the men in hope of gaining food. When their ‘music’ has an unanticipated effect; the men at first run for their lives, not knowing what the strange sound is. Eventually, after some slapstick cajoling, the robbers abandon the cottage to the strange creatures, including a cluster of dancing mice, where the animals live happily for the rest of their days. At the end of the play the audience will be invited to join in a community waltz in celebration of youth, art and the holidays.

The New Bremen Town Musicians will had four performances: December 17, 18, 19 at 7:30pm and December 19 at 2:00pm. All performances took place at the Glen Helen Building.

Thanks to the Morgan Family Foundation and the YS Community Foundation for helping to make this production possible!

The Short & Bloody History of Spies (2009)

kkremer — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:26:05 +0000

From disguises to invisible ink, real spies, the famous and the unlikely, took the stage in this charming new adaptation of the book by John Farman. Youth (ages 9 -12) played an amazing cast of true characters–with cameos by Boris and Natasha—under a tent at Young’s Jersey Dairy.

“Pssst! So you want to be a spy?

Most people think of spies as dark shadowy men with big brimmed hats, fake mustaches and no friends. We’re not actually like that.

Pssst! So what and who is a spy?

Basically, spies move quietly among a group of people to find out secret stuff that another group wants to hear about.

Just like at school.

Yeah.

But spies get paid.

Oh yeah.”

See the Cast List.

A Price to Pay: Before Bond Became 007 (2009)

kkremer — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:25:10 +0000

This new musical action adventure, intended for youth actors age 13 years and over and written by YSKP alum Daniel Malarkey, used song, dance and the urban movement style “parkour” to tell the story of James Bond as a boy. Inspired by the James Bond novels and films, the story followed a charming and not so charming cast of characters including Ernie Blofeld, Mad Frankie, Moneypenny, M1, Jaws, Shrimpie and Chapstick who pranced and danced through London Streets on their way to becoming heroes, hunks and baddies of the big screen.

“Hey Double O

Will you be our guy

To fight the wars

To cut the scars?

Be our agent

Be our man

And don’t look back.

Throw the dice. Pay the price?

Double Hero Seven

007.”

See the Cast List.

Since 1995…

ttyslan — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:10:50 +0000

Since 1995, YSKP has been producing plays in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Beginning in 1997, we have annually commissioned an original musical from regional and nationally known playwrights including Carlyle Brown, Peggy Pettitt, Tony Dallas, George Sand and Louise Smith. Click on the shows below to see pictures, artists, and description of the show.

Bunnicula: the Vampire Bunny (2008)

ttyslan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:19:31 +0000

This loose and lyrical adaptation asks “What if our pets actually control us?!” For youth 10-12.

“And after Bunnicula came to live with us, the vegetables started turning white. And isn’t it strange that they only turned white at night? And isn’t it strange that night is the only time Bunnicula is awake? And isn’t it strange that a rabbit could still get out of his cage on his own? And isn’t it strange…?”

Kids are now doing research into their character, getting into their bodies and into their voices…teaching the kids the very basics of what theater is.–YS News

Frankenstein, or, The Difficulty of Changing One’s Mind (2008)

ttyslan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:18:59 +0000

A new adaptation of the classic horror novel is given a few twists. Issues of global warming, the reaches of science to solve social problems, the personal challenge of contending with bad decisions, and the preponderance of monster characters across cultures are just some of the big ideas underlying the dramatic retelling of one of the most famous stories of all time.

“Call it a miracle – to me it’s a hell. What have I done? Haven’t you wanted to do something dangerous? I once had dreams to keep a heart beating. What have I done? There’d be far less terror on this mortal plane, if only I’d used a female brain!”

YSKP doesn’t treat you like a kid. It’s pretty amazing when you give kids the responsibility, how they will rise to the occasion. – YS News

The Velveteen Rabbit (2008)

ttyslan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:18:30 +0000

A charming lesson for youth 10 -12 in what makes each individual special is a gentle lesson in how to endure taunts and criticisms from even our toys.

“Now, Rabbit, as I hold you tight, you have to wish with all your might; wish with all the love you feel; wish that now you could be real.”

This is one of a series of educational modules YSKP is implementing in order to enhance their existing theater arts training and skill building for youth.–YS News

Around the World in Eighty Days (2007)

ttyslan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:18:05 +0000

A new adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel highlights the voices, experiences, dance, dress, and music of emerging new immigrant groups.

“We said Obama, not Osama! And we have 3 hours left!”

But Tony Dallas’ adaptation of the 1872 Jules Verne novel collapses time and space to bring many worlds into this one contemporary fantasy.–YS News

$ense and Sensibility (2007)

ttyslan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:17:41 +0000

Adapted from the novel by Jane Austin, this multimedia musical explores coming of age across time and cultures.

“When I see a guy
I have to feel his heart.
Prudence is good
And so is a purse
But nothing moves me
Like dreamy free verse.

I’m still so young
Hardly made a scratch
On the task to discover
The perfect match.”

CSI: YS (2006)

ttyslan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:17:22 +0000

A town of eccentrics confronts erratic raccoons, peculiar happenings, and assorted busybody neighbors. A multimedia play for youth 10 -12.

“We’re not going anywhere Deputy. We took an oath. We said we would protect and serve the people, and no one, not even those same people, can take that away from us. No one. We’ll go on protecting the innocent. We’ll go on serving the public. We’ll go on ticketing cars. Even if no one knows who it is, we’ll be like caped crusaders in the night. No one must know what we are doing. No one will know who we are. No one will go unprotected. No one.”

In a conveniently unnamed town, where the police blotter in the local newspaper reports incidents of menacing raccoons, joggers with too-short shorts, bear sounds wafting from the Glen and misplaced bicycles someone is desperately in need to rescue the terrorized villagers…a hysterical, utterly ridiculous, classic mystery with a million spins. - YS News