Crystal Theatre History Part 2

History

Mission/Accomplishments

Goals

Community Service

Classes

1997

March opened the spring season with "Cinderella" and "Mother Goose Retires" performed by little kids. "Mother Jones & the March of the Mill Children" received its world premiere May 16th. Performed by combined ages, the musical was written by Cheryl Kemeny on a playwright's grant from the CT. Commission on the Arts. The high school opera class presented Mozart's "Bastien & Bastienne". Crystal Theatre became a founding member of the Norwalk Arts Council and performed at various functions. Sept. saw the inauguration of our public access weekly TV show "Crystal Theatre Presents" produced by artist Mariner Pezza. The show features Crystal students doing backstage interviews, skits and excerpts from shows and events. The high school opera class presented "Little Red Ridinghood" (Barab) and took it on tour. Two more world premieres included Joan McFarland's "Rat, Juice and Marmelade" and Alexandrea & Cheryl Kemeny's "Snow White". "Mother Holly" was our holiday show. "Krystal" (our teenage original music pop-group) was formed.

1998

1998 January 's performance of "Living The American Dream" (C. Kemeny) received an honorable mention in the Moss Hart Award Competition. "Perseus, the Dragonslayer" (middle school), "Rumpelstiltskin" (little kids), "Oliver" (mixed), "Hansel & Gretel" (little), "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (mixed) and the world premiere of "Without Passion Or Prejudice"(high school) by David Jackins. This year saw the establishment of our first 2 summer camps, one at the Wallace Center for the Performing Arts, the other at Dance Dimensions. The student opera group took Barab's "Chanticleer" on tour.

1999

World premiere of Robert Puleo's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and of Joan McFarland's "Nightmare At Dreamcamp". Other classes presented "Snow Queen" at Greenwich Academy, "Alice In Wonderland" (little kids), "Aesop's Fables" (little kids), "The Friendship Players" (middle school) and the world premiere of the rock opera "Cleopatra, her true story" written by Cheryl Kemeny and performed by the high school group. Fall season began with "Louder Than Words" (high school), "Snow White" (younger students touring company), and "Princess Crystal & the Toymaker Elves". "Krystal"'s first CD was released on October 22nd at a Halloween Bash & concert/dance for kids. They appeared on The Fairfield Exchange (TV, CH 12) and at the Oyster Festival. Our website was inaugurated, designed by Crystal parent Jack O'Melia at www.crystaltheatre.org. Two additional 2-week, multi-arts summer camps were added to our schedule: "Arts In The Park" in partnership with the City of Norwalk. A total of 8 weeks of summer programs was offered.

2000

"Cinderella" (little kids) was followed by the world premiere of "Sleeping Beauty" (C. Kemeny). Feb. saw the world premiere of "Cosmic Nightingale" by Mariner Pezza performed by middle school. "The Magic Pendulum" by Harold Littledale & Peggy Heinrich received it's world premiere in March as a partnership project with the 3rd grade chorus of Rowayton Elementary School. Shakespeare's "As You Like It" was performed by a mixed group in April followed by "Murder's In The Heir" (middle school). Two separate groups performed "Invaders!" (little kids) and our season ended with "A Midsummer Night's Dream" & "A 50's Revue" (middle school students). Our 4 summer camps began on June 26th. "A Spinning Tale" was presented with two different casts at the Wallace Performing Arts Center in Greenwich, CT. Our 1 week "Millenium Cabaret" presented a revue of 100 years of music at the Roosevelt Center and our 2 multi-arts camps presented art shows and performances of "Mother Goose Retires", "Perseus, the Dragonslayer" and "The Maccabees", all original musicals by Cheryl Kemeny.

This fall we will present the world premiere of a student written and directed musical, "Time and Time Again" at the annual New England Theatre Convention in New Haven as well as at Roosevelt Center on Nov. 18th and 19th. In December we perform at the City Hall Treelighting, then present a modified version of Victor Herbert's "Babes In Toyland". In January it's "Li'l Abner" followed by 2 world premieres - "Goose Alley Gang" by Joan McFarland and "Puss 'N Boots" with book by Margaret Jackins and music/lyrics by Cheryl Kemeny.