National Youth Arts - ArtsDig - Resource for youth arts
 
News

YOUNG ARTISTS ENSEMBLE PRESENTS

The 36th ANNUAL TEEN SUMMER MUSICAL

CARRIE The Musical

CARRIE The Musical will be staged in an environmental interactive setting within a High School auditorium, as it takes a timely and hard look at peer pressure and school bullying.

 

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Young Artists Ensemble presents its Teen Summer Musical production of CARRIE The Musical directed by Mark Andrew Reyes, with musical direction by Zachary Spencer and a live orchestra conducted by Susan Treworgy-Calkins.  Performances are July 29 – August 7, 2016 at the Thousand Oaks High School Performing Arts Center.

Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she's an outcast who's bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she's at the mercy of her loving but cruelly over-protective mother. But Carrie's just discovered she's got a special power, and if pushed too far, she's not afraid to use it . . .

According to director Mark Andrew Reyes, “The YAE is undertaking one of the most challenging productions we have ever attempted in CARRIE The Musical. This musical has a darker aspect, in the same theatrical style of SWEENEY TODD.  CARRIE The Musical is a show with a timely theme in its message against Peer Pressure, School Bullying and Retaliation.  But at the heart of the show, the simple question: “What does it cost to be kind?”

Based on Stephen King's bestselling novel, it is set in the small town of Chamberlain, Maine. CARRIE The Musical features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic film), music by Academy Award winner Michael Gore (Fame, Terms of Endearment), and lyrics by Academy Award winner Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose).  

The musical has a checkered history,” says Reyes. “Originally considered a flop in 1988 (by no less than the Royal Shakespeare Company) the authors joined forces in 2012 with an Off-Broadway theatre group, completely restructuring the script and updating the story to modern day. This revival proved to be a huge hit, leading to productions in London’s West End and Los Angeles.”

The updated version is set today in the small town of Chamberlain, Maine and focuses on the social impacts of bullying, including the destructive power of clique groups, the use of Social Media as a bullying device, and adult intervention (and the lack thereof).  It also shows the cycle of victims of abuse, the consequences of retaliation and the power that one person has to change things.                   

The environmental theatre setting for the show is the aftermath of the prom. Audience members will arrive at Thousand Oaks High School to find crime scene tape and fire salvage equipment. Yearbook photos of the cast/characters will be displayed on walls.   Once inside the theatre, spectators will find evidence of the fire’s destruction, construction lighting, and more investigation tape.

At the top of the show, a bright white light pierces down on the lone survivor, Sue Snell. As she narrates, the kids appear out of the shadows, and the musical plays through the last days of their lives, using a high energy Rock score.

“With only 28 young actors, this show has a smaller cast than many of our past shows,” says Reyes, who has reached out to the Conejo Valley School District’s Anti-Bullying task force to schedule mediated talk backs with the cast following a performance.

Young Artists Ensemble is also sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive.   Blood donations will be taken on Monday, August 1st, 2016 between 3-9pm at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. Donors must be at least 17 years old.  For information or to make an appointment to donate blood, visit www.yaeonline.com.

                Premium tickets for CARRIE The Musical are $21 Premium seats are $19 for adults and $17 for children, students and seniors.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 805-381-1246 or at www.yaeonline.com.  There is a 10% discount for groups of ten or more for a single performance. Call (805) 381-2747 or visitwww.yaeonline.com if you have any questions. Please Note: this production is rated PG:13 and contains material that may not be appropriate for some audiences.

Young Artists Ensemble has received many accolades in the past 36 years including the Encore Statue Award from the City of Thousand Oaks for Excellence in the Arts, and Best Innovative Program 2011, Large District from the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.  Most recently, it received six top honors in the National Youth Arts Awards for the 2014 Teen Summer Musical Jesus Christ Superstar, including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding Youth Orchestra.

                           

DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS

WHAT: Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she's an outcast who's bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she's at the mercy of her loving but cruelly over-protective mother. But Carrie's just discovered she's got a special power, and if pushed too far, she's not afraid to use it... After a particularly cruel shaming of Carrie occurs, one person has the compassion and courage to ask a simple question; “What does it cost to be kind?”

 

CARRIE: The Musical takes a timely and hard look at peer pressure, school bullying, and even the rise of social media in these instances.

 

Based on Stephen King's bestselling novel, it is set in the small town of Chamberlain, Maine. Carrie features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic film), music by Academy Award winner Michael Gore (Fame, Terms of Endearment), and lyrics by Academy Award winner Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose).

 

Please Note: this production is rated PG:13 and contains material that may not be appropriate for some audiences.

 

WHEN:

Performances: July 31 - August 9, 2016
Friday, July 29                        7:30pm           

Saturday, July 30                    7:30pm           

Sunday, July 31                      2:00pm           

Wednesday, August 3            7:30pm           

Thursday, August 4                7:30pm           

Friday, August 5                     7:30pm           

Saturday, August 6                 7:30pm           

Sunday, August 7                   2:00pm           

 

WHERE:  

Thousand Oaks High School Performing Arts Center

2323 North Moorpark Road

Thousand Oaks, CA


HOW:  (805) 381-1246 or www.yaeonline.com


TICKETS: Premium Reserved $21.  Orchestra: Adults $19, Children, Students and Seniors $17. Groups of ten or more receive a discount of 10% if purchased in a single transaction.

 

OTHER:  Free parking is always available. Accessible seating available by calling (805) 381-1246. 

 

DETAILS FOR RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

WHAT: Young Artists Ensemble sponsors a Red Cross Blood Drive.   Donors must be at least 17 years old.  To ensure the safety of blood donation for both donors and recipients, all volunteer blood donors must be evaluated to determine their eligibility to give blood. The final determination will be made on the day of the donation at the blood drive or blood donation center. If you were deferred from donating in the past, you may be able to donate again.

 

WHEN:

Monday, August 1, 2016

3:00 to 9:00 pm                      

 

WHERE:  

Hillcrest Center for the Arts

403 W. Hillcrest Drive

Thousand Oaks, CA


HOW: For information or to make an appointment to donate blood, visit www.yaeonline.com.


OTHER:  Free parking is always available.  

 



   

Home   |   Awards   |   Reviews   |   News   |   Actors   |   Headshots   |   Theatres   |   Calendars   |   Newsletters   |   Membership
Auditions   |   Workshops   |   Drama Instruction   |   Playwrights/Scripts   |   Vendors   |   Links   |   Advertising   |   About Us