TRUCK FIRE – Firefighters knock down a fire in a Ford Explorer truck in Arrowhead Trailer Park in the 1200 block of Sawmill Creek Road Saturday evening. One person received fire-related injuries and was taken to the hospital, Sitka Fire Department Chief Craig Warren said, and the truck was considered a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Warren said. The fire hall received the call about the fire at 5:33 p.m., and one fire engine with eight firefighters and an ambulance were dispatched, he said. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka's Young Performers Prepare for Two Plays

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

Sitka Fine Arts Camp is kicking off its Young Performers Theater season this year with a popular Broadway musical and an original work by the theater group’s director.

Classes begin next week, and Director Zeke Blackwell is hoping for a few more signups to be able to fill the cast for the musical “Matilda.”

“It’s been a show I’ve loved for quite some time and that I thought would be a good fit for YPT,” Blackwell said.

The theater program produces two plays in semester-long classes for grades two through six; and grades seven through 12. A theater tech class is offered for those in grade six and up, taught by SFAC tech director Elle Campbell.

“Matilda” is the Tony award-winning musical that ran for four years on Broadway. It’s based on the book of the same name by Roald Dahl and is one of the most oft-produced musicals for high schools in the U.S.

Blackwell said he was drawn to the story’s theme of “love overcoming hardship,” and thought it would be a good fit for his regular troupe of actors.  

“Looking at ‘James and the Giant Peach’ (produced last semester) I thought it would be a good time to do it – (‘Matilda’) has tons of roles, which is something I’m always excited about,” he said. “Most of the roles have a lot of things to do.”

SFAC restructured the YPT program last fall as a semester class, one for older kids (grades seven to 12) and one for younger (grades two to six). The production of a play was a major part of the classes but the kids did other theater work, such as improv, during the rest of the semester.

Last fall’s and winter’s productions were the play “A Wrinkle in Time” for the older kids and the musical “James and the Giant Peach” for the younger ones. Both drew good participation levels from actors and were well attended at performances.

The continued popularity of the program under the new structure and requests from students prompted the staff to select “Matilda,” for the older kids. It’s an ambitious undertaking, given the size of the show, which has a minimum cast of 21. The directors of the show, including music director Hannah Cummiskey and vocal coach Rhiannon Guevin, agreed the play should be staged at the Performing Arts Center.

The younger kids will put on Blackwell’s “Ghost Writer” at the YPT home base in Odess Theater. Signups for this program have been going well, Blackwell said.

With classes set to start in a few days, Blackwell is still hoping enough older kids sign up to stage the large musical, but he has a backup plan in the works if that doesn’t happen, so the class can still be offered and a play produced.

Blackwell said he doesn’t know why signups are slower this year for the older age group.

The new structure of YPT is a firm commitment for a semester, requiring kids to choose between activities. New this semester also is a requirement for vaccination for those ages 12 and up, which might have affected signups for a few in the older age group, Blackwell said.

“Due to the intimate nature of the activity, in line with guidance from the CDC and local health officials, we’re requiring vaccination for 12 and up,” Blackwell said.

The younger age group is signing up as usual and Blackwell is looking forward to working with them on his original play in addition to furthering their theater skills. There are still openings for this as well as the tech theater class.

Describing the plot of “Ghost Writers,” Blackwell said, “It’s a group of pre-teen paranormal investigators who are investigating a haunted library. It’s a comedy with spooky elements, scary stories and ghosts. But it’s lighthearted and comedic.”

As to the structure of the YPT program, Blackwell and others were pleased with results last semester, giving parents, kids and staff a consistent schedule instead of a varying schedule around putting on a show.

“We were able to pace the building of the show rather than a crazy rush to get it done in a set period of time,” Blackwell said. “It was nice to have time after the show to reflect on performances and talk about it, and do theater scenes outside the play. It broadens the theatrical experience.”

Schedules and signups are at fineartscamp.org. Those with questions can contact zeke@fineartscamp.org.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Businesses using the Centennial Hall parking lot testified Tuesday against a proposal to charge them rent in addition to the $200 annual permit fee. City Administrator Hugh Bevan made the proposal in response to the Assembly’s direction to Centennial Hall manager Don Kluting to try to close the $340,000 gap between building revenues and operational costs.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand President William S. Paul Sr. will be special guest and speaker at the local ANB, Alaska Native Sisterhood Founders Day program Monday at the ANB Hall.

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