Twenty-five years ago, back in 1984, TADA! Youth Theater staged their first show
– an original production called The Little House of Cookies. It’s a
story that begins a long, long time ago when the little house was at the heart
of a very young and happy and exciting world. Countless years later, in 1969, it
looks like a dilapidated little house in the middle of New York City, but it
might still house some magic left within her little, old walls.
Now, in 2009, even 1984 seems like a long, long time ago,
during which time TADA has turned out hundreds of terrific young theatre talents
through their unique resident ensemble training program and their dozens of
original stage productions. Their most recent group being well represented in
this 25th Anniversary edition of Little House of Cookies with a cast
pulled from across New York City, Westchester, and New Jersey ranging in age
from 9 to 17.
One of the youngest, dynamic 10-year-old talent Martine
Bowman, stars as Alice – a girl yearning to make friends and do things
with people, but who always gets callously rejected for reasons that aren’t
very clear, but whatever the reason, she’s super excited when a new girl
arrives in town and doesn’t know Alice is a pariah, with Kristen Callahan
as fun new playmate Jane who helps turn the little house start a new life,
giving several others a new life in the process.
TADA’s shows are always good about giving a lot of
characters moments to shine. They include the neighborhood kids who are dissing
Alice, but may change their tune before it’s all over. Leon (Jordan
Alston-Harmon) and Carl (Amiri Taylor) and basketball friends putting
up with Carl’s stuck-to-the-hip baby sister Squirt (charismatic 9-year-old Priscilla
Estevez). Michelle (Taylor Hogan) and Stacy (Jennifer Wais)
are two milkshake-addicted friends who got to, got to, got to urgently satiate
their demanding sweet tooth. Martina (Victoria Cotton) manages her four
up-and-coming singers with flair and a controlling attitude with the fab four
group The Beagles consisting of John (Jonathan Bach), Paul (Austin
Zambito-Valente), George (Jacob Ross), and unhappy drummer Stingo (Logan
Riley Bruner) ready to break out on the music scene and make girls swoon.
Like the girls in diva-ish Deedee’s (Christina Franklin) funky go-go
girl’s band.
They are all joined by a couple adult performers – a
cantankerous landlord (Andrew Martin) and the sweet elderly lady Mrs.
O’Brien (Serena Rosario-Stanley) who has almost as much affection for
the mysterious little house as children have for Mrs. O’Brien’s delicious
cookies. Which we each get on our way out after the show!
Performed July 10 - August 1, 2009
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Alice: Martine Bowman
Jane: Kristin Callahan
Leon: Jordan Alston-Harmon
Carl: Amiri Taylor
Squirt: Priscilla Estevez
Michelle: Taylor Hogan
Stacy: Jennifer Wais
Martina: Victoria Cotton
John: Jonathan Bach
Paul: Austin Zambito-Valente
George: Jacob Ross
Stingo: Logan Riley Bruner
Deedee: Christina Franklin
Mary: Maeve Cavadini
Susie: Miriam "Claire" Jones
Cindy: Danikha Catada
Linda: Brielle Raddi
Barb: Natalia Amaya
Jenny: KyLee Savage
Raggedy Ann: Ceanna Bryant
Mrs. O'Brien: Serena Rosario-Stanley
Landlord: Andrew Martin
Neighborhood Kids:
Niles Jordan
Isabel Vera
Georgia O'Leary
Director: Janine Nina Trevens
Choreographer: Joanna Greer
Musical Director: Jim Colleran
Set Designer: Andrew Farrugia
Costume Designer: Cheryl McCarron
Lighting Designer: Steve O'Shea
Production Stage Manager: Lester Grant
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