Join NCTC for our next production—Disney’s High School Musical—on July 22 through 25!

Theatre classes beginning in March include: Creative Play (ages 3-5); Beginning Drama I: Travels Around the World (ages 5-8); Beginning Drama II: Introduction to Stage Techniques (ages 8-12); and Theatre Improvisation Workshop (ages 8-16). All repeating classes may be taken more than once, as teachers will adjust activities to challenge both new and returning students.

Dance classes beginning this month include: Beginning Dance I: Let’s Dance (ages 3-5); Beginning Dance II: Dancing Stars (ages 5-8); and Broadway’s Best: Dancing for Actors (ages 8-16).

NCTC programs listed in the Newington Parks and Recreation Spring Program Guide include sessions of Creative Play for Preschoolers, Let’s Dance, and Broadway’s Best.

All theatre and dance classes will be held at NCTC at 743 North Mountain Road in Newington. For schedules, detailed class descriptions, and downloadable registration forms, please visit the NCTC website at www.nctcarts.org. Registration for classes offered in conjunction with the Newington Parks and Recreation Department may also be made through that office.

SUMMER STAGE is an all-day four-week program, beginning Monday, June 28, in which children will work with acting, dance, and music instructors to prepare a fully-staged production of Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL directed by Christa Pizzoferrato. Half of each day will be devoted to classes in acting, music, and dance, with the other half spent rehearsing for the performance. Pizzoferrato co-directed last year’s summer production of Seussical, and is also director of NCTC touring productions of The Secret Garden, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella.

SUMMER STOCK is also an all-day program, but is held for three weeks beginning Monday, July 26. In this high-energy, creative program, children will work with acting, dance, and music instructors—plus occasional guest artists from Broadway—to create their own musical production to perform. Last year, guests included Broadway cast members from The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and Wicked.

Registrations for both programs are now being accepted. Enrollment for both programs is limited to thirty-five, and spaces do fill quickly! All programs run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the theatre’s performance, rehearsal and education facility at 743 North Mountain Road in Newington. For the first time this year, extended hours are available beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. for an additional cost. For more information or to register, call 860-666-6282 or visit www.nctcarts.org.

Using scores from Broadway musicals, Broadway Show Choir participants will rehearse and perform as a musical theatre choir that will offer both group and solo opportunities. Direction will be given in voice development, diction, harmony, stage presence, and other aspects of chorale performance. Broadway Show Choir is open to ages 8 to 18, and no audition or prior experience with NCTC is necessary. The program will conclude with a performance for invited family and friends and a possible public performance in the community.

Broadway Show Choir will be led by musical director Richard Diamond and stage director Christa Pizzoferrato. Richard has been a music teacher at colleges and secondary schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts for the last eleven years. At these institutions, he has served as musical director, orchestra conductor, and pianist for many musicals. Christa has directed the Newington Children’s Theatre Touring Company for the past three years (The Secret Garden, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella) and will direct the Summer Stage and Summer Stock programs at NCTC this summer.

Rehearsals will be held at NCTC at 743 North Mountain Road in Newington on Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. beginning on March 4. Registration forms are available on the NCTC website at www.nctcarts.org. For more information about this or other programs and family entertainment at NCTC, visit our website or call (860) 666-NCTC (6282).

If Colin Craven can make it out of his chair, you can make it to NCTC to see The Secret Garden! Performances continue in Newington through February 7, 2010. Remaining shows are Friday, February 5 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, February 6 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, February 7 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $8 for children, students, and seniors. Shows often do sell out, so please call the theatre at 860-666-NCTC (6282) to reserve tickets.

In the photo, Mary Lennox (Molly Menner) watches as Colin (Thomas Rattigan) learns to walk. Looking on are Dickon (Michael Luszczak) and Mrs. Sowerby (Marissa Sullivan).

Master Colin, played here by Thomas Rattigan, just heard that some people haven’t bought tickets yet for The Secret Garden. Trying to calm him is his nurse, played by Bridget Corcoran.

The Secret Garden continues performances in Newington through February 7, 2010. Remaining shows are Friday, February 5 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, February 6 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, February 7 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $8 for children, students, and seniors. Shows often do sell out, so please call the theatre at 860-666-NCTC (6282) to reserve tickets.

Auditions are open to ages 9 to 16. No prior experience is required, and auditions are open to children from any town. Both males and females are encouraged to audition.  No prepared monologue is required, but those auditioning may be asked to read from the play.  Comfortable clothing and sneakers should be worn. To schedule an audition, call (860) 666-NCTC (6282). Pre-scheduled auditions are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome prior to 7:30 p.m. Students age 13 and up may also call with interest in stage crew and technical positions.  The NCTC production will be directed by Jill Luberto.

Based on the 1908 classic by Kenneth Graham, The Wind in the Willows is the story of Mr. Toad and the friends who rescue him from his troubles and save his home at Toad Hall in the English countryside. When Mr. Toad sees his first motor car, he falls uncontrollably in love with motoring and buys a car—which he crashes. He buys another car, followed by another crash, and another and another! When he’s ruled off the road, he steals a car and lands in jail. In prison, Toad learns that mischievous weasels have taken over his home and his friends have been thrown out. The jailor’s daughter helps him to escape, and in an exciting climax, Toad and friends Ratty, Badger, and Mole retake Toad Hall by storm. Toad makes up for his wrongdoings, and the friends live happily ever after.

The Wind in the Willows has been published in over one hundred editions in dozens of languages. It is also one of the most adapted stories of modern times, having provided the material and inspiration for plays and musicals, live-action and animated films and television specials, music and album titles (such as Pink Floyd’s The Piper at the Gates at Dawn named after Chapter 7 of The Wind in the Willows), and a Disney park attraction (Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride).

Based on the children’s literary classic, this musical adaptation will entertain both children and adults. The story centers on ten-year-old Mary Lennox, who is sent to live at Misselthwaite Manor with her uncle in England after the death of her parents in colonial India. Once there, she finds her new home to be a gloomy fortress—her uncle is rarely home, and his young son, Colin, never leaves his room, convinced that he is an incurable invalid. When Mary discovers a strange, walled garden that has been locked up for years, she enlists the help of the gardener’s apprentice, Dickon, and together they coax the garden back to life. The garden seems to have a wonderful, magical effect on all who enter it, allowing Mary to help restore Colin’s health and repair his broken relationship with his father. This version also introduces the large and endearing Sowerby family who serves Misselthwaite Manor and befriends young Mary. The book is by Tim Kelly; music and lyrics are by Bill Francoeur. The production is directed by Christa Pizzoferrato.

First published in 1909, THE SECRET GARDEN has captivated generations of readers with the tale of two children who, with courage and strength, become determined to make their lives and the lives of others around them more joyful. The novel was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924), who was born in Manchester, England, and moved to the United States as a teenager. She wrote more than 40 books and is most famous for Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden.

THE SECRET GARDEN opens at NCTC on January 29. Performances are Fridays, January 29 and February 5 at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, January 30 and February 6 at 7 p.m.; and Sundays, January 31 and February 7 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $8 for children, students, and seniors. Special group rates and party packages are available. Shows may sell out, so please call the theatre at 860-666-6282 to order tickets.

Touring performances of THE SECRET GARDEN begin in February. Check back over the next few months for dates and locations, including closing performances back at NCTC in April.

A very happy holiday season and wishes for a wonderful 2010 go out to all of our NCTC friends and family! Thank you for your participation and support in 2009!

“NCTC grew strong as a Newington Parks and Recreation program for nearly forty years,” said NCTC Executive Director Darren Farrington. “We’re growing again, and we’re very excited to begin offering some of our new classes through the Town.”

NCTC programs listed in the Newington Parks and Recreation Winter Program Guide include two introductory classes and one for older students: Creative Play for Preschoolers (ages 3-4); Let’s Dance (ages 4-5); and Broadway’s Best (ages 9-14), which is designed to give young stage performers an edge in dance auditions and productions.

Additional theatre classes beginning in January include: Beginning Drama I: Travels Around the World (ages 5-8) and Beginning Drama II: Introduction to Stage Techniques (ages 8-12). Classes are designed to appeal to both new and returning students, but no prior experience is required for any class.

For dancers, in addition to Let’s Dance and Broadway’s Best, NCTC will also offer Little Stars, an introduction to tap, jazz and ballet for ages 5 to 8.

Other winter programs at NCTC will begin in February. These include NCTC’s Broadway Show Choir, a performance group in which students ages 10 to 18 learn and perform songs from Broadway musicals; no audition is required for the show choir. Auditions will be held in February for ages 9 to 14 for a spring production of The Wind in the Willows.

All theatre and dance classes will be held at NCTC at 743 North Mountain Road in Newington. For schedules, detailed class descriptions, and downloadable registration forms, please visit the NCTC website at www.nctcarts.org. Registration forms may be mailed or delivered to NCTC. Drop-in hours for registration at NCTC are: Wednesday, December 30, from 10 am to 2 pm; Wednesday, January 6, from 4 to 6 pm; Friday, January 8, from 10 am to 2 pm; and Saturday, January 9, from 10 am to noon. Anyone is welcome to visit NCTC’s facilities during these hours. Registration for classes offered in conjunction with the Newington Parks and Recreation Department may also be made through that office.