YS Kids Playhouse will present its 18th summer season of theater by and for youth. As always, the season is centered around the premier of a new, original musical. This year’s offering, Mo’s Night at the Opera, written and directed by John Fleming, is derived from W.A. Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and the Marx Brothers’ classic film A Night at the Opera. The influences themselves both nod to the Commedia delle Arte roots of pantomime and slapstick comedy that are presented in the show. The fancifully costumed production, with costumes by Ayn Wood, also features live music and period dance. The production stage manager is Victoria Sutton. The production has original music by Neal Kirkwood as well as the music of Mozart, Irving Berlin and the McGuire Sisters. Featured collaborators in the making of the musical include choreographers Debbie Blunden-Diggs, from the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Valerie Claggett and Jill Becker. Additional musical direction is provided by James Johnson of the Yellow Springs Community Chorus.
The Mo’s Night Orchestra is a mix of adults and youth including Elsie Bradley, Brian Bradley, Mary Beth Burkholder, Seth Kaplan, Mike Kremer, Ursula Kremer, Kevin Mulhall, Meredith Rowe and Jenn Wheeler.
Mo’s Night at the Opera is a zany new musical that follows a tangle of relationships both on and off stage on the opening day of an opera. It is performed by a cast of 31 youth from Yellow Springs, Xenia, Springfield, Dayton – and Wisconsin. The cast includes Desiree Lynn Ames, McKenna Banasza-Moore, McKenzie Byers, Sumayah Chappelle, Lorien Chavez, Bella Ehret, Reese Elam, Taylor Felder, Kevon Mathews, Will C. Mitdbo, MacKenzie Moore, Greta Kremer, Jack Lewis, Haley Mapes, Windom Mesure, Lucas Mulhall, London Neal, Tahlia Potter, Meryam Raissouni, Ayonna Sanders, Eridon Stewart, Nia Stewart, Nia Smith, Dominick Smith, Jonah Trillana, Sharon Tyler, Myah Vanover, Marya Weigand, Shekinah Williams, Samantha Woolley. The stage crew includes Keegan Chlanda, Christian Elam, Nadia Mulhall, Gabe Trillana and Eli Mulhall.
The YSKP’s 2012 Season is a partnership with the Yellow Springs Community Chorus and is presented in conjunction with the YS Arts Council’s Yellow Springs Experience series. Information about Yellow Springs Experience events can be found at: http://www.yellow-springs-experience.org. Supporters of Mo’s Night at the Opera also include the YS Community Foundation, the YS Community Council, Antioch College, the Ohio Arts Council, Antioch Midwest, the Morgan Family Foundation and the generosity of friends and patrons of the YSKP.
Reservations for Mo’s Night at the Opera can be obtained by calling the YSKP at 767-7800. Tickets will be held until 7:15pm on the night of the reservation. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children, (5+) students, and senior citizens. For information about the YS Kids Playhouse, please visit www.yskp.org.
