LPP summer youth theater program expands to first play
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – James Giarla portrays a teacher in a vignette “The Kindergarten Creed” during Friday’s performance of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”
The play by Robert Fulghum returns for two more shows today at the Clifford Wise Middle School auditorium in Medina. The shows start at 1 and 7 p.m., with a $5 admission.
Giarla of Lyndonville is one of eight cast members in the production by the Lake Plains Players Summer Youth Theatre Program. Other students shown in the photo include, from left: Adam-James Horton of Lyndonville, Mady Elliott of Medina and Makenzie Cook of Albion.
Other cast members include Sarah Corser, Brigham Durrant, Ella Gardner and Ashton Huth.
The LPP expanded its summer program for youth after maxing out the summer musical in recent years. There are 60 cast members in next week’s production of Mary Poppins Jr. at the Roy-Hart High School Auditorium.
“We wanted to offer more programming for more students,” LPP President Gabrielle Montgomery said about the new play for youth performers.
She said the LPP summer theater programs are drawing on students from about 10 different school districts, mostly in Orleans and Niagara counties.
Adam-James Horton is one of eight students in the play. This is the first play by LPP in the summer youth program. The community theater organization wanted to give more young people a chance to shine on stage.
“All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” features several vignettes that are reflections on life. The play lasts about an hour.
Sarah Corser of Lyndonville offers a soliloquy during a vignette about “Cinderella.”
The play is directed by Danielle Cobb. LPP utilized the Medina middle school for the first time because Roy-Hart’s auditorium is being used for LPP’s musical production this summer.
Brigham Durrant, second from left, plays a pig in a vignette about Cinderella. The play imagines a role for a pig in the famous tale. The pig proves to be a trusty companion to Cinderella, played by Ella Gardner at left. Mady Elliott and Makenzie Cook are also shown in the photo.
Mady Elliott reflects on playing hide and seek in the fall, and how many adults often play hide and seek in real life, choosing not to share their struggles and fears.
In “The Bench,” Sarah Corser, left, and Makenzie Cook share how the bench has a long history of offering place to relax, offering a retreat for everyone.
