Vice-President’s Annual Report 2019 – 2020
The Children’s Theatre, Inc.
Vice-President’s Annual Report
2019 – 2020
VICE-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
We at The Children’s Theatre, Inc. are reflecting on our 25th, and most tumultuous, season so far. We were unable to put a full program together due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we were able to have a very successful showing of Elf, The Musical, Jr., a timely classic performed during the holiday season. It was our first show to feature individual microphones for our leads and involved some very elaborate set pieces.
Our second show, Sherlock Holmes, was just one week away from being performed at the Schwartz Theatre when everything was shut down “temporarily.” The actors continued practicing while awaiting word on the resumption of the performance, but it never came to be. Additionally, Jack and the Magic Beans, our final show of the season, was indefinitely postponed.
Steven Mercer
Vice-President, Board of Directors
MISSION
The mission of the Children’s Theatre, Inc. is to foster and encourage children in the development of and commitment to the highest standard of theatre through instruction, direction, and production of quality performances, whereby, its audiences may gain an appreciation for the arts.
GRANTS
Luckily, funding came by the way of our grants from Kent County Fund for the Arts and The Delaware Division of the Arts in order to afford our successful Elf, The Musical, Jr. production. Funding from The Delaware Division of the Arts was divided equally between our two shows of the season. We are most appreciative of their continued support.
Our productions are supported in part by The Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
The good news is that our grant writers have done it, once again! The Children’s Theatre, Inc. received funding for the 2019-2020 season from these same state and county organizations. The Delaware Division of the Arts awarded us $2,300 initially, with another $1,000 coming through the Cares Act, helping those affected the pandemic shutdown. We also received a $2,500 grant from The Kent County Fund for the Arts. As stated earlier, we are grateful for the opportunities and support that we have received from these organizations.
Special thanks go to Andre LaMar of the Dover Post and Gary Emeigh and Ashton Brown of the Delaware State News for their enthusiastic support and press coverage of our productions.
AUDIENCE COUNT
Our only production, Elf, The Musical, Jr. to go live, which included public and school shows, performed to sold-out crowds all three times at the Schwartz Center for the Arts.
Report of Visitor Count of State-Owned Buildings
|
Event |
Visitors |
Notes |
|
Auditions |
200 |
50 children each play, 1 parent per child (50 children + 50 parents x 2 shows) |
|
Play 1- Musical |
3,080 |
35 children + 35 parents x 4 practices per week x 11 weeks (35 children +35 parents x 4 x 11) |
|
Play 2 |
1,440 |
30 children + 30 parents x 3 practices per week x 8 weeks (30 children + 30 parents x 3 x 8 |
|
Return of sets, props, & costumes to Old Brick Church |
40 |
Parents and children assisted in moving set pieces to and from Old Brick Church to the Schwartz Center. (20 people x 2 days) |
|
Total Visitors |
4,760 |
|
2019-2020 SEASON
ELF, The Musical, JR. (December 2019)
Thirty-five children performed in this modern musical at The Schwartz Center for the Arts. We had sold-out crowds for both our public shows and the school show, which was offered at half price tickets for students and teachers. With great musical accompaniment, elaborate set pieces and “snow” falling from the rafters, the crowds were mesmerized by the comedic affair. Children in the audience were even allowed to visit “Santa” during intermission at our two public shows.
Sherlock Holmes (March 2020)
Thirty children practiced for eight weeks to put on their mysterious show at The Schwartz Center for the Arts. We were one week away from presenting when the governor shut down all public spaces due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The actors continued to practice virtually via Zoom, but attempts to find an outdoor venue were unsuccessful and, alas, the show did not go on.
SPONSORS
Our corporate and organizational sponsors for this brief season were (in alpha order):
The Delaware State University
Dover City Council
Edelman Spine & Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
The Law Offices of Baird, Mandalas & Brockstedt
Forney’s Too
Law Office of Laura A. Yiengst, LLC
Northgate Laundromat
Papen Farms, Inc.
Pizza Delight by Giacomo
S&S Auto Detailing
Wesley College
Additionally, we had several parents, grandparents and theater fans who also donated to our organization, out of the love of the arts and/or their family.
If you or your business would like to be a sponsor to our tax-exempt organization, please send your check to The Children’s Theatre, Inc. c/o Treasurer, P.O. Box 823, Dover, Delaware 19903. Please consider making your tax-deductible donation through our website, www.thechildrenstheatre.org, our Facebook page, or through your purchase at Amazon Smiles. We thank you in advance for your generous support.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, scholarships have been presented to two deserving high school seniors for $500 each. This season, in honor of one of our most dedicated actors and her untimely passing, we renamed our scholarship: The Kaitlyn Clendaniel Memorial Scholarship. The two recipients this year were Shantai Napolitano and Tierney Bowen.
Their applications, letters of reference, community service and commitment to The Children’s Theatre, Inc., made them perfect candidates for this award, which is now in its seventh year.
Shantai is staying local at Wesley College where she is studying Communications, a skill strengthened through her theater experience. Tierney is attending Susquehanna University, where she continues with her singing skills in Chorus.
We wish them the best of luck as they begin their college studies, and we invite them to visit us during their semester breaks.
The Children’s Theatre’s proposed 2020-2021 Season
Synopsis: Winter Workshop, children will be taught some choreography and act out some fairy tale stories, complete with costuming and makeup. View website link after December 5, 2020.
Synopsis: Lion King, Jr., the Musical, Disney's The Lion King has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world. The African savannah comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle... and back again, in this inspiring, coming-of-age tale. Audition dates: February 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2020. Performance dates: Saturday, May 8 at 7:00 P.M. and Sunday, May 9, at 2:00 P.M. Venue: Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, DE Tickets: $10 per seat, purchased through Eventbrite or at the door.
Synopsis: Jack and the Magic Beans. This classic tale is based on the original English source of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean, however, in this retelling of the tale, you will be enlightened and entertained by the cast of characters that to some, may have been unknown in this story, but will be sure to enhance, delight, and bring laughter to those in the audience regardless of age, as Jack, the hero of the tale, not only climbs the beanstalk and faces a giant, but rescues the kidnapped monarch of the kingdom. Auditions dates: TBD Summer Program Performance dates: TBD Summer Program Venue: Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, DE
Tickets: $10 per seat, purchased through Eventbrite or at the door.
TICKETS: All seats for all public shows are $10. Audition information is available on our website and Facebook page.
Support The Children's Theatre Inc.
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The Children’s Theatre, Inc. organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
Funding in part also provided by The Kent County Fund for the Arts.
