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Hello All!
April 27 was officially named "MIAMI CHILDRENS THEATER DAY" by Miami-Dade County's Mayors Office!
Miami Childrens Theater and Angela Ardolino (the company's founder and executive director) were honored by the city and county on Thursday, April 27th for serving Miami for the past 10 years.
On Sunday MCT was also acknowledged with a front page story in the Neighbors section of the Herald (see below attached).
Miami Childrens Theater
www.miamichildrenstheater.com
COME SEE THE SHOW! LAST WEEKEND!
Pictures from our current production of Seussical the Musical.
Photographer Marimer Codina (786) 423-5280
Posted on Sun, Apr. 30, 2006
KENDALL
Theater marks 10 years with Seuss on stage
As Miami Children's Theater celebrated its 10th anniversary, Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami proclaimed a day in its honor.
BY ANI MARTINEZ
armartinez@MiamiHerald.com
Fairy tales and rhymes suddenly landed onstage at the Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center's RussellTheater, thanks to the Miami Children's Theater Company.
Aspiring young actors will perform Seussical the Musical this week in celebration of the theater group's 10th anniversary. Some actors have been part of the program at the Coral GablesYouthCenter since the beginning 10 years ago, or joined four years when the troupe first came to the JCC in Kendall.
''It began as an after school activity when I started at the Coral Gables Youth Center eight years ago,'' said Clara Fath, 16, a student at New World School of the Arts who played a lead role in Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde. ``When I came here I was so terrible, but now I guess they consider me lead material.''
Like many of the performers, Lauren Nedelman is consumed with dreams of Broadway, but school is taking center stage. She will attend the Boston Conservatory for Music this fall after graduating from Coral Reef High.
''They have given me everything,'' Nedelman said. ``My school doesn't have things like this. I don't think I would have had a chance at the Boston Conservatory if it wasn't for this place.''
For Seussical the Musical, Nedelman was pushed to her limits as The Cat in The Hat.
''They really help you with character development,'' Nedelman said. ``I have to be over the top, so every time I thought I had it, Angie pushed me.''
Nedelman is referring to Angela Ardolino, founder and executive producing director of the theater, who said it has not been easy keeping the group running for 10 years.
''You would think people in Kendall are excited they don't have to go to Coral Gables or SouthBeach, but it is even more difficult,'' Ardolino said. ``It is difficult to find funds for a program that changes kid's lives.''
Miami-DadeCounty and the City of Miami both issued the theater proclamations on Thursday, making April 27 ''Miami Childrens Theater Day,'' to recognize the group for its work. Officials thanked the company for changing kids' lives through the arts.
The group instructs people ages 6 to 21 in theater, music, production, creative writing, visual arts and music.
''We are building future audiences,'' Ardolino said. ``We want to inspire them so they grow up and appreciate the arts.''
The costumes are vibrant and playful and the hairstyles and makeup range from theatrical to wacky, but the young actors are serious about their performance. They sing their hearts out while commanding the stage.
''I thought this was just an after school activity, but it has proven to be more than that,'' said Aida Curtis, of South Miami, the mother of Sophia Curtis, who is acting and made the glitzy costumes. ``My daughter is more focused on her studies and her reading level has gone up.''
Ardolino's goal is to convert this extracurricular activity to a foundation of self-esteem and responsibility.
''We don't do anything different from Broadway,'' Ardolino said. ``They have to be responsible because they are all capable of doing it.''