Bernadette Peters Narrates PBS' "Children Will Listen" Documentary
By Andrew Gans
24 Nov 2004
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Bernadette Peters
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A new documentary about a group of elementary school children who overcome a series of obstacles to mount a theatrical production will premiere on PBS stations around the country Nov. 25.
Entitled "Children Will Listen," the real-life story concerns a group of underprivileged children who produce and perform in a production of Into the Woods Junior. Two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters narrates the documentary, which also features appearances by Woods creators Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.
"Children Will Listen," according to production notes, "follows a group of 143 fourth through eighth grade Washington, D.C. public school students — as they experience the theatre for the first time, beginning in the classroom and culminating in their production at the Kennedy Center's 2002 Sondheim Celebration. The film captures the students and their mentors as they work against time and limited resources to build the sets, design the costumes and ultimately perform in . . . Into the Woods at the AFI Theatre, Kennedy Center."
David V. Picker, executive producer of "Children Will Listen," said in a statement, "The documentary captures an unforgettable experience for their children, their families, teachers, and for all of us involved in the project." Charlene Gilbert directed the 60-minute film.
Bernadette Peters was last on Broadway in the acclaimed revival of Gypsy, for which she received a 2003 Tony Award nomination for her performance as Momma Rose in the Sam Mendes-directed production. She won her two Tonys for her performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song & Dance and Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, and she has also starred on Broadway in Mack & Mabel, On the Town, Sunday in the Park with George, The Goodbye Girl and the original production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods.
"Children Will Listen" is set to air on PBS Nov. 25, 8-9 PM ET; check local listings. To view a trailer of the documentary, visit www.childrenwilllisten.com.
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