The Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck has a lot on its plate for the 2000 2001 season. with a generous portion of theatre and a little dance, film and guest speakers on the side. And you can swallow those down with a pleasant cabaret cabernet.
Starting off the Children's Theatre season, Sept. 16, will be the Practical Cats Theatre Company's presentation of The Balinese Frog Prince, an Indonesia myth performed by Alice Eve Cohen. Following that, the popular Zucchini Brothers will perform their kid's music Sept. 23.
In October, Theatreworks will present their musical adaptation of the Judy Blume favorite Superfudge Oct. 7, and Ballet for Young Audiences perform their adaptation of the Latin hero Zorro Oct. 21. November brings Alice In Wonderland, as performed by American Family Theatre, Nov. 4; then Theatreworks' Boxcar Children Nov. 11; and Theatre IV's Rumplestiltskin Nov. 18.
December brings some welcome returns. Another musical adaptation of Judy Blume will be presented Dec. 2 as ArtsPower brings their production of Sheila the Great. And Theatre IV will not return empty-handed Dec. 9, when they bring their production of The Tailor of Gloucester to Emelin. Finishing off the year will be a Robert Rodgers Puppet Company production of March of the Wooden Soldiers Dec. 16.
The new year will begin with two Theatreworks works: Reading Rainbow, Jan. 13, based on the popular TV series, and the Neverland fantasy Peter Pan Jan. 20. David Grover and his Big Bear Band will perform some sing-along songs Feb. 3 and the Russian American Kids Circus will perform their spectacles Feb. 4. Another circus comes to town March 3 when the Super Scientific Circus bring their audience participation presentation to the Mamaroneck locale. March also offers a string of three puppet-themed presentations, starting with American Family Theatre's Pinocchio March 17. Theatre Terra mixes live action with puppets to present their Swan's Down March 24. And the Robert Rodgers Puppet Company returns to Emelin with The Nightingale March 31.
The showers of April may help audiences prepare for the underwater motif of Ballet for Young Audiences' adaptation of The Little Mermaid, April 7. Skies will clear up though for artist David Jack to perform his children's songs April 14 and for ArtsPower's bird tale Are You My Mother? which will fly in April 21.
Emelin will finish the season with a Ball, when American Family Theatre Company return for one last time to conclude the 2000-2001 season with the fairy tale Cinderella, May 19.
The holidays will bring some special seasonal productions to Emelin. Theatreworks will provide Scrooge and company in a musical production of A Christmas Carol over Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 24-25. And as part of the "In the Jewish Tradition" series, Dec. 16, Emelin will present a Chanukah Cabaret featuring Barry Levitt, Phillip Namanworth, and Jan Neuberger among others.
If you won't get a chance to catch the cabaret in December, don't fret, Emelin will be presenting a bevy of them throughout the year. With Tony winners and nominees filling the lineup, the Cabaret series aims to bring Broadway further north. Donna McKechnie (Oct. 14), Priscilla Lopez (Nov. 18), Ruthie Henshall (Dec. 9), Sally Mayes (Jan. 13), Alison Fraser (Feb. 10), Sam Harris (March 24), Joan Crowe (April 7), Lee Roy Reams (April 21), Bonnie Franklin (May 19), and a special guest, Broadway veteran Kaye Ballard (Carnival) (Feb. 2), will all handle the mic.
Also set to appear are guest speakers that range from writers and journalists to an architect and an archaeologist. One speaker, more known for his written words than his oral, will be John Simon, the critic of theatre for various New York publications. You can hear what Simon says Jan. 17 at Emelin.
For a complete list of events and series this 28th season at the Emelin Theatre, visit their website at www.emelin.org.
--by Ernio Hernandez
