Lexington Children's Theatre

Hello Lexington!

2011-09-09T15:48:00.000-04:00

I am Lacey Ruminer, the new Arts Admin Intern at Lexington Children's Theatre. I graduated in May from Arkansas Tech University with a BA in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. I am very excited to be in Lexington and working for LCT.

I have just about survived my first 2 weeks here at LCT! I have to admit that the first couple days were a little overwhelming. Standing in the Box Office on Monday morning watching the other Arts Admin Intern, Carrie, answer phones, send invoices, work on a magazine ad, and finish up a radio spot while trying to talk me through things was a little overwhelming. I caught myself wondering what I had gotten into. Thankfully those thoughts quickly started to fade and things are making a lot more sense. That is greatly due to the amazing staff here at LCT. Everyone has been so nice and welcoming. They understand that it might be a little overwhelming at first and reassured me that I didn't have to pick it all up in a day or two, which I don't think is humanly possible.

I think one of the highlights of the first week was actually getting to sit in on one of the rehearsals of Old Jake’s Skirts, which is one of the shows that will be touring around to different schools this fall. Students came over from a school across the street to see the show and give the actors a chance to perform in front of an audience. The show is adorable and getting to hear the kids’ reactions was so great. It is amazing to see how even small jokes can get the kids rolling with laughter. Nothing can brighten your day better than the sound of lots of children laughing.

I want to say again how welcoming everyone has been. This is the farthest I have ever been from my home of Fort Smith, Ark, so I was a little worried about moving to a place where I knew absolutely no one. Those fears didn't last long though after meeting the other interns. As I was moving in and getting settled, random interns popped in to say hello and invite to me to the weekly Sunday potluck. I think I was invited to the potluck at least 5 times by different people. I guess the good thing about the way our jobs run is that at some point everyone was the new person and so they know what it feels like.

So as I said before, I have survived the first couple weeks and I am so excited to see what is to come! We have a great season and I am very happy to get to be a part of it!

Lacey
Arts Admin Intern

So long, farewell...

2011-08-26T16:56:00.006-04:00

Our guest blogger today is Meghan Fleming. Over the last year she has worked as one part of the two person intern team that it takes to simultaneously run the box office, create marketing materials, write press releases, book school shows, and act as an information hub for the theatre. Today she sends us a fond farewell as she leaves LCT for new adventures:

Today is my last day as an intern here at LCT. Wow, that’s really weird to say. I honestly can’t image leaving this place and will miss it more that I can express in a single entry. It hasn't really sunk in yet. But I know on Monday, when I’m back in Georgia unpacking all my stuff and not sitting in the Box Office feverishly researching graphic design ideas, selling tickets for school shows, or anxiously awaiting the amazingly fun Arts Admin meeting at 3:30…it’ll hit me. I’m not in Lexington anymore. I’m not working with the outstanding, creative, and supportive staff of LCT. I’m not going to get to hear all the children exclaim with such excitement about getting to come to the theatre, and tell us afterwards simply “That was a good show”. After this realization there’s a good chance that I’ll cry. But since I’m known for wearing my emotions on my sleeve, this won’t really surprise anyone who’s gotten to know me over the last year.

I could look back and tell you about how I discovered the internship, or even tell a few funny stories during my time here like Ms. Lucy did a few weeks ago. But I don’t think I could really do this experience any justice in that way. How I got here isn’t so terribly interesting. And what I’m leaving with is a bit too personal and close to my heart for me to share in this entry. I think the best thing that I can say is simply “Thank you.”

Thank you for believing that I was the right person for this position. Thank you for letting me live in this amazing city for a year. Thank you for helping me to stumble through the growing pains of post-college life with a little dignity and grace still intact. Thank you for surrounding me with some of the most talented and innovative people I’ve ever met. Thank you for pushing me when I was hesitant, giving me a hug after a long day, kicking my butt when it needed kicking, and making me laugh when I needed it most. Thank you for letting me explore, create, imagine, and experiment. Thank you for restoring my curiosity in the world around me. Thank you for just being the amazing people and company that you are. And finally…thank you for letting me be a part of it, even if just for a little while. I know that all of the things I have learned here will help me continue into the next part of my journey wherever it will take me. Walt Disney said it best:

I will miss you all and hope to see you soon!

Meghan Fleming

(Former) Arts Administration Intern

"DURING the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year..."

2011-08-15T10:12:00.001-04:00

This morning as I left for the theatre, a familiar cool met me. The crisp in the air was a solid reminder that wish as I might, the summer season will soon draw to a close. Grade school students have returned to their classrooms, teachers have begun making plans for their schoolyear, and LCT welcomes a host of new intern arrivals as we prepare for the upcoming season. As much as I will miss the warm, lackadaisical days of summer bliss, I cannot hide my excitement for the fall.

Today, our tour actors arrived. At 9am, we were sitting around the board room listening to presentations from the designers for "Old Jake's Skirts" and "Tales of Edgar Allan Poe." As I have listened to these ideas and concepts start to come together, I grow increasingly more excited to see the final product-- which is saying something, because I'd never read "Old Jake's Skirts", and Poe never really fascinated me.

But to see how the costume designers are literally bringing Old Jake and Shoestring (his trust hounddog) to life is truly breathtaking. And then the set and props-- the beautiful woodstains and the intricacies of each prop. You have to see them to appreciate the time and effort and thought and inspiration that has gone into each and every piece. They're wonderful. It's such a heartwarming story. See the photo of Shoestring below.

And Poe. There really aren't words. Miss Vivian is bringing to life 3 of Edgar Allan Poe's most well-known stories, all the while interjecting moments from Poe's life and snippets from his other stories and poems. She has woven them together so wonderfully, and our designers have risen above and beyond the challenges set before them. Joscelyne described her costuming as "neo-gothic with a hat tip to the victorian era"-- and they are going to look so incredible! The set design manages to incorporate each of the three tales, while also providing a modernity to which audience members can relate. I literally got chills of anticipation thinking about how spine-tingling this production is going to be.

It's going to be a magical season here at Lexington Children's Theatre. While I am saddened to bid adieu to the warm weather and summer friends, I cannot deny that I am excessively enthused for the wonders this season will bring. Purchase your tickets soon -- this is going to be one wild, crazy, wonderful ride.

Winding rills and tingling chills,

Carrie
Arts Administration Intern

"Ms Lucy, your clowns are here."

2011-08-04T14:23:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is the last day of Summer Theatre School 2011. While we are all exhausted from the intense (yes, just like camping) nine full weeks of managing and teaching upwards of seven classes each week, and I’m personally pumped for the annual Shakespeare Presents Series sharing, the closing of the summer is certainly bittersweet. I’ve enjoyed working with 11 Teaching Artists from all of the country and students who arrive so excited for the day they barely remember to say goodbye to their parents and jump at the opportunity to clean the lunch room. (True story.) Also, I have a unique position as Lead Teaching Artist/Theatre School Administrator which means some weeks I spend teaching and others I’m in the office.

Carrie asked me to write a blog giving an overview of the summer. I could write for days and never be able to capture the essence of Summer Theatre School. I’m not sure how to describe the journey of exploring your favorite book as a character living in that world. So, I’m just going to choose a few moments that really stand out to me from this summer.

I taught Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters the first week of classes. Most of the students in our class did not know each other at the beginning of the week and my co-teachers and I noticed a divide that formed any time the students chose how to group themselves. We made a conscious effort in our planning during the week to focus on community building activities and on Friday at lunch I looked over and saw a very large group of students eating sitting on the floor. They had chosen to sit on the floor so the entire class could sit together. It may seem like a small thing, but rarely in a week long class does a teacher (at least in my experience) see the long term effects of their work.

During Princess Academy, the teachers asked if we were interested in being involved in teaching their class the Maypole Dance. And just for fun we decided we should teach in role – meaning Amie and I found delightful…outfits (I’m not sure what to call those costumes…I remember them being very colorful) and barged into a Maypole Dancing Lesson demanding in made up accents they perform for us because we were Maypole Dancing Experts. After getting very upset that they did not have a Maypole we charged the class with decorating the ribbons and pole and left. Soon we returned, and with a lot of hot glue, created a Maypole and began teaching. There’s really no fancy or exciting ending to this story – it was just a super fun afternoon running around gathering supplies and playing/working with a fun class. Oh, and the dance was lovely in their sharing.

A few days ago, I was sitting at my desk and my phone rings. This in itself is not unusual. I answer. This is the response from Carrie, “Ms. Lucy, your clowns are here”. Having gotten most of my giggles out as a ran down the stairs, I greeted the two clowns from Barnum & Bailey who came and taught a workshop for four of our classes. They did a demonstration of different types of clowning makeup and after, for a little fun, taught a spitting lesson. The Learning Stage was full of laughter as we watched the stage (and some people sitting on the front row) fill with water sprayed out of our friends’ mouths. Instead of a cherry on top of this sundae, each person got their very own Barnum & Bailey clown nose.

In short, this summer has been full of surprises, meeting and becoming friends with some of the best people and young people I know, coffee, giggles, strange noises coming from the hall, pizza, long hard hours, crafts, mosaic-ing, oh yeah, and fun.

--Lucy Lynn

It's the day of the show, y'all!

2011-07-21T14:15:00.001-04:00

Annie opens TONIGHT!

I sat in on the invitational dress rehearsal last night, and what a fun show it is going to be! The sets are incredible (a HUGE thanks to the set crew for all of the long hours they put in, including my roommate, Vanessa!), the costumes are gorgeous (Eric and the costume shop did an amazing job), and the cast is hilarious. Everyone who stepped on that stage brought a smile to my face, from Mr. Warbucks singing "I Don't Need Anything But You" to the Orphans' rendition of "Hard Knock Life" to the Cabinet's rousing chorus of "Tomorrow." This truly is not a show to miss.

This is the first time I've manned a box office for a show of this size, and what a day it has been. Phones ringing off the hook all. day. long. It is so rewarding to hear the excitement in everyone's voices as they call to purchase tickets-- all of the hard work everyone has put in over the last two months is finally coming to fruition. Again, a massive thank-you to everyone who has helped in any capacity over the course of putting this show up.

Tickets are still available for all other performance of Annie (Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2 and 7:30, and Sunday at 2 and 6) but purchase yours now, as they're selling like hotcakes! (Although it might be more appropriate to say they are selling like popsicles, thanks to the heat this week... haha) Go online, call the Box Office, or come by and see us to get your tickets now!

Easy Street and Dancing Feet,

Carrie
Arts Administration Intern

Harry Potter Happiness!

2011-07-14T16:34:00.000-04:00

Is anyone else as stoked about the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 2 as I am??? Ok, I know that my Box-Office coworker Meghan is. I brought our Harry Potter battling wands to work today, and she was stoked.

We think everyone at the theatre is (not so) silently celebrating with us-- we have 2 Harry Potter-themed summer classes going on this week. Earlier, "Harry Potter and the Wand of Destruction" crept through the lobby. When Meghan discovered them, they successfully wiped her memory with a rousing, "Obliviate!" She was able to sneak up on them later to catch some photos of their progress this week. Enjoy!

If I Ran the Circus

2011-07-08T16:43:00.000-04:00

Across the street in the auditorium of St. Peter and Paul, a group of rowdy 6- and 7-yr-olds are letting their friends and family know exactly how things would be if they ran the circus. To be quite honest, many days it feels like we're running our own circus here. We currently have a host of Alexanders (who suffered a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad camping trip this morning), some prancing Fancy Nancy's, rambunctious circus ringleaders, twisted Fairy Tales, and a clan of creatures from the Spiderwick Estate crawling through our building.

In addition to my administrative duties in the box office, I have the privilege to frequent all of the other departments running around in this circus. This week we celebrated with the costume crew when our dress forms finally arrived. (Thank you Beaux Arts Ball!) The Annie cast braved a torrential downpour last night to come in for rehearsal. Thanks to our recent $2.5 million endowment from the Little Foundation, meetings are taking place regarding the (permanent!) future of our Shooting Stars Youtheatre satellite program. And the ringleaders across the street were visited by the infamous Miss Viola Swamp, who read "Miss Nelson is Missing" and taught them the benefits of being a well-behaved class. (It's a shame I missed seeing her. She visited their class at the exact same time I was out of the office. Strange...)

It was another jam-packed week here at the theatre (literally, thanks to the holiday weekend), and we're already gearing up for another fun-filled adventure next week. Enjoy some photos from the week!

Big tops and camping flops,

Carrie
Arts Administration Intern

Our Fancy Nancy's prepare for their sharing!

Our ringleaders anxiously await the start of the circus!

Life as an LCT Intern

2011-07-01T16:08:00.001-04:00

Greetings, theatre-lovers!

Welcome back to the LCT blog! It has been a long year since the last post, but what a year it was. Our 2010-2011 season brought stunning shows, creative classes, exciting new special events, and another year of friendship with our LCT family.

I joined the family in May of this year, and I can't believe it's been over a month already! The last few weeks have been insane in the best way possible-- helping design marketing materials for the Shooting Stars Youtheatre's Alice in Wonderland and the 10th Annual Summer Family Musical, Annie, learning how to handle ticket sales, hosting hundreds of students in the Imagination Zone, our summer theatre school, and so much more. In addition to getting to know my incredible crew of co-interns, I've had to opportunity to talk with the insanely knowledgeable staff of theatre professionals that work here. And the families! Oh, the families. Wonderfully friendly smiling faces that welcomed me to the family from my very first day. As I write this, I'm serenaded by the sound of 20 four- and five-year-olds performing their version of "Angelina Ballerina" for their family and friends. I watched the morning session's "Where the Wild Things Are" this morning-- pics coming soon. Seriously, this is my job? It rocks!

And to think, it's just getting started. I have a whole season of fun ahead of me, and I can't wait to experience it with all of you. We'll have spotlights from other interns and staff and be sure to keep you updated on all the magic happening here.

So come on in -- join a summer theatre class, sign up for a Season Subscription, purchase your tickets for the 10th Annual Summer Family Musical-- and stop by the box office to say hello! I'll be here all year, folks. :)

Pink shoes and Wild crews,

Carrie
Arts Administration Intern

Visit Wonka's Candy Shop!

2010-07-28T14:09:00.005-04:00

Hello all!

This is Tiffany, the Marketing and Sales Associate at LCT! As we get ready to open Willy Wonka tomorrow night, I’ve been busy readying a fantastic Candy Shop for the lobby before, after and during the show’s intermission! From Ale-8 lollipops to Wonka Sploshberries the Candy Shop will be stocked with your favorites!

Along with sweet treats, there will also be some Wonka-fide souvenirs! You can pick up a button straight from the Salt’s Nut Factory (as seen in the show!) or a Wonka Summer Family Musical button!

I’ve had so much fun putting the shop together and couldn’t be more excited for opening night! So make sure you stop by LCT’s Candy Shop and get your tickets to Willy Wonka!

See you there!
Tiffany

Charlie and the Chocolate Theatre Tour

2010-07-28T09:53:00.000-04:00

Hi, it's Lesley again.

I just wanted to update everyone on the great event we had. It was a ton of fun for all the staff and volunteers and we hope all who came as well. In conjunction with our upcoming production of Willy Wonka, the Development and Marketing staff wanted to put together an event that would sugar up your spirits! After our first meeting in June, we knew that we definintely needed some help so we asked for help from the education department and the production team to help us turn the building into a chocolate factory and have great things for everyone to enjoy!

Mission accomplished! Everyone who came was greeted by our very own Mr. Willy Wonka and each had to take an oath and sign the famous contract! All 3 floors of the theatre were covered with great things for kids to do and the whole first floor was almost covered in chocolate! We had great crafts like mixing sprite and mentos to make fizzy lifting drinks in the invention room! We also took purple balloons and gave them heads, feet and hands for the Violet's Volume craft. At the Candy Land Craft we had grahm crackers, icing and candy so that kids could create their own game boards. The education department created a building wide scavenger hunt and there was a really cool obstacle course for kids. In the learning stage we had a trivia game where everyone got to compete against Mike Teavee and the first floor had tons of candy everywhere! It was more than any kid could imagine just there for the taking plus a Chocolate Fountain to dip marshmellows and grahm cracker in! Who could ask for more!

It was a lot of fun for me to go around and take pictures of so I thought I would share a couple with you.

Hope you can make it to our next event!

Lesley

Summer Family Musical Auditions

2010-06-01T13:18:00.008-04:00

Hi Everyone, it's Lesley. I am the Managing Director for LCT. I wanted to let everyone know that this weekend are auditions for our 9th Annual Summer Family Musical, Willy Wonka. If you have never been through one of our auditions before, let me fill you in on my experience!

Now, please know first and foremost, I am not an actor. I love theatre so I support it from the business side. But I did not study it or practice it before my audition. But that's why our Summer Family Musical is so great. You don't have to have any prior experience and theatre doesn't have to be your life's work. Our Summer Family Musical is for families and individual theatre lovers to be part of something over the summer they will never forget. And I assure you, that is exactly what it does. I auditioned several years ago for The Wizard of Oz and was lucky enough to be cast in the chorus and had the time of my life (I'm the one in the 3rd row 2nd from the right!).

I was a little nervous about auditions, but after going through them, it's not intimidating at all. It's actually a TON of fun! This is what we did the year I auditioned. (Please know this may or may not be what happens this year.) We split up into groups and did three different segments of the audition. My group first went to the dance segment (and no, I am not a pro dancer. I think she was making sure we can move or see who among us were shining star dancers). Then my group went to the singing segment and we sang in groups of 3 for the musical director. It was nice not to have to belt it out all by myself but I do suggest you at least make sure they can hear you! Then we went to acting segment and the director handed us pages that had the lines on them and we broke into groups and did scenes from the actual show. It was fun. He had us read several different parts and it was fun just to try new things. Then the director pulled all of us back into one group and told us the logistics and we went home. All together it was about 4 hours and it was a great afternoon. I met a lot of new people and got to step outside my box for a change. Getting cast was really just the icing on the cake. The next year, I was not so lucky to be cast, but hey...you can't win them all! It's still fun auditioning no matter what.

This year's show is Willy Wonka. We are absolutely excited about this show and all the fun things our designers have planned to make it unlike anything you have ever seen before. Let's just say that Violet will be no ordinary blueberry and our Oompa Loompas will be fabulous! Plus, our Marketing & Development department is planning on turning our whole theatre into a Chocolate THEATRE for a special event in July. Don't miss it, whether you want to audition or just come see the show in August!

Click Here for more information about how to audition.

Costumes! Costumes! Everywhere!

2010-05-26T14:55:00.002-04:00

Hi LCT Blog-o-sphere! My name is Eric Abele and I'm the new Resident Designer/Costume Director at Lexington Children's Theatre. Many of you may remember that I served several years in the Education Department here, teaching young people from ages four to sixteen. But, now I'm down on the second floor, loving every minute of being a full-time production artist at my favorite theatre.

Working diligently with my current costume intern, Joscelyne Oktabetz (soon to be costume journeyman), we have spent the past few weeks reorganizing and re-imagining the costume shop. We couldn't be happier with the results! Hopefully from the photo, any of you familiar with our shop will see some new uses of our space.

The costume shop is busy with wonderful artists working hard to accomplish the design, production, maintenance, and storage for LCT's eleven show season, as well as our Education Programming. Right now, I have five shows bubbling through my head, all in very different stages of the process.

1. Snow White: We're well in to full production mode! Our new draper, Theresa Bush has been cranking out patterns and cutting fabric, while our wonderful stitchers, Marilyn Cook and Jamie Carter have been sewing them together. We have our first round of fittings June 7th!

2. Willy Wonka: The design is completed, but we can't move forward without a cast! (although we have made a mock-up for Violet as a blueberry). Casting is June 5 and 6, so you'd better call and make your audition appointment today If you'd like a sneak peek at those designs, you can look at my online portfolio.

3. River Rat and Cat: Our fall tour designs are due this Friday! The director, Larry Snipes, and I have agreed on the "looks" of the characters, so it's a matter of coloring the final sketches and looking at them in conjunction with Jerome Wills's scenic design to make sure it all works together with Larry's vision.

4. If you Give a Mouse a Cookie: Since this design is by Joscelyne, my job is to estimate the cost of production, mentor her in sourcing fabric and materials, and supervise the costume production from start to finish. It will be the first time I have to make a pair of pants to fit a mom wearing stilts!

5. Isaac Murphy/NeverEnding Story: I lumped these guys together because they're on the same level. We're still talking with the directors about the initial ideas regarding the design. Who are these people? What are these plays about? What story are we trying to tell? What inspires us? Who knows where we'll be by the time those shows are in final form?

So, that's what's going on in the costume shop. Feel free to poke around my website if you would like to see sketches from other LCT shows I've done this year: http://www.ericabele.com/.

See you at the theatre!
Eric

Summer has started at LCT

2010-05-26T11:24:00.006-04:00

My name is Lesley Farmer and I am the managing director for Lexington Children's Theatre. Today, my job is starting a blog. I am excited as this marks a new territory for LCT yet to be explored so I am going to kick it off with what is exciting today. Everyday brings something new for LCT so I hope to stay on top of it as much as possible and tell all of you what I see and why the work all of my co-workers do is so vital to Lexington and the field of Youth Theatre. I personally never knew that Children's Theatre was my dream job. But working here has made me realize that this is exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. So, since I am excited everyday to be here in this job, I am going to share with everyone why I think LCT is amazing and why everyday what we do in our building shapes the lives of young people across the country.

To start it off...

It's an amazing morning as all of our summer interns have arrived and this morning we started orientation. Getting to know games are always a great way for us to get to know our new interns and we can hardly believe all of the states that were represented from our new staff. Nebraska, Arizona, Massachusetts and Tennessee just to name a few. 18 interns in total! Many people who are new and many returning faces. All of whom are here to work tirelessly over the summer to run our theatre camps and our summer productions, Snow White and Willy Wonka.
Plus we introduced our new core staff members which both started as interns themselves. Eric Abele, our new Costume Designer, started as an Education/Performance Interns here in 2003. He has worked on stage, in our education department and helped us start our Shooting Star Youtheatre program. Tiffany Dupont was our Arts Administration Intern in 2008 and now she returns as our Marketing and Sales Associate.

The rest of this week will be spent helping our interns get used to LCT and find their way around Lexington. If you happen to see one of them please make sure to say hi and welcome them!

Have a great day!