TADA!, the non-profit theatre company responsible for producing original musical theatre performed by children, will open its latest musical, The Little Moon Theatre, Dec. 20 in New York.
Based on the book by Irene Haas, Little Moon tells of a troupe of traveling players who provide entertainment for villagers. In each town, the good-hearted performers meet up with a girl or boy (or animal) who needs a solution to a troubling problem. In helping, though, the group frustrates the plans of a well-meaning fairy godmother who must grant one last wish so she can retire.
Sounds adorable, right? TADA! shows usually are, because rather than patronizing shows acted by adults for children's consumption, TADA! musicals are performed by kids, 17 and (mostly) well under. Founded in 1984, TADA! Is New York's only professional youth theatre ensemble. Recent shows by the company include The History Mystery, Flies In The Soup and Everything About Camp.
Michael Slade wrote the book for The Little Moon Theatre, which has music and lyrics by Joel Gelpe. The show was first commissioned and produced by TADA! Back in 1987-88. Michael Perreca directs this production, with musical direction by Eric Rockwell, choreography by Jeff Edmond, sets by Richard Schaefer, costumes by Shelley Norton and lighting by A.C. Hickox.
By the way, writers and composers still have time to enter TADA's Eighth Annual Playwriting Competition. Applications are now being accepted for new one-act plays and musicals to be produced as part of TADA!'s "Spring Staged Reading Series" and "New Play Project." Deadlines for entry is Jan. 15, 1997 and professionals, amateurs and students alike are encouraged to enter their works to be performed by casts of mostly children. Four winners will be announced Mar. 5, 1997, where the grand prize winner will receive a cash prize as well have the opportunity to have his/her winning play performed with professionally designed sets, costumes and lighting. The three other winners will receive staged readings of their scripts and also cash prizes.
Submission Guidelines:
*Works must be original, unproduced and unpublished one-act plays with a cast of children or of children and adults. Preference is given to works with a cast primarily of youth between the ages of 8 and 18. There may be no more than two or three adults in the cast. Children do not play adults; adult actors will be hired, as well as professional directors and choreographers.
*Plays may be geared toward an age-specific audience of teens, families or younger children. [Plays dealing with current teen topics are highly encouraged.] Plays written for an entirely adult cast or for an adult audience are ineligible.
*The deadline for submission is Jan. 15, 1997. Submit scripts with character breakdown, set and costume requirements and a self-addressed stamped envelope (for return script).
*Send submissions to:
TADA!
120 West 28th St.
2nd Floor
New York, NY 1000
For more information, contact TADA! At (212) 627-1732.
In a time when it has become increasingly difficult to obtain corporate or government funds, TADA! was recently awarded a major Grant from David & Minnie Berk Foundation to produce its "Script Marketing Project." With this special project, a catalogue of TADA!'s original scripts and scores will be published as well as distributed to theatres, schools, camps and other organizations.
Winning plays from the Playwriting Competition may also be eligible for publication (and royalties for the writer) in the "Script Marketing Project" described above.
--By David Lefkowitz and Katia Lundy
