Emerald Coast Theatre Company Launches Fall Theater Programs

After a second successful summer season, Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) continues its mission of providing art education to the Northwest Florida region with three after school/weekend opportunities this fall.
 
This holiday season, ECTC will stage a performance of “Yes, Virginia The Musical,” an original production based on the true story of 8 year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who wrote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper in 1897, inquiring about the existence of Santa Claus. Fourth through twelfth graders are welcome to participate. This musical will be rehearsed and performed at the Destin Community Center.
 
Tuition is $195 per child, with a 20 percent discount extended for siblings and a 10 percent discount for both military and Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation members. Save an additional $25 by registering before Aug. 29. Parents can provide a single payment or divide the fee into three payments. Space is limited. Rehearsals are on Saturdays from 9-10:30am. and begin Sept. 6 and run through Dec. 6 (skipping Nov 29). The final performance will be Dec. 6 at 11am.
 
Students grades two through four are invited to join the cast of the theatrical production “Alice in Wonderland.” After school activities at Destin Elementary and Butler Elementary will include theater games, improvisation exercises, and rehearsals for the production. Family and friends will be invited to see the final production — complete with sets, props, and costumes pieces.
 
Tuition is $195 per child, with a 20 percent discount extended for siblings and a 10 percent discount for both military and Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation members. Save an additional $25 by registering for the DES show before Aug. 29 or the BES show before Sept. 12. Parents can provide a single payment or divide the fee into three payments. Space is limited.
 
"Alice in Wonderland" will be rehearsed and staged at Destin Elementary School on Wednesdays from 3-4:15pm. Rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 3 and run through Nov. 19 with the performance at 6pm. A second production of “Alice in Wonderland” will be rehearsed and staged at Butler Elementary on Thursdays from 2:25pm-4pm. Rehearsals begin Sept. 25 and run through Nov. 20 with the performance at 6pm.
 
“There are so many benefits to children being involved in educational theater: language arts, communication, listening, public speaking, self-confidence, and it’s just plain fun!” said ECTC’s associate artistic director, Anna Fisher.
 
ECTC celebrated its second summer on the Emerald Coast with four theater camps. Young thespians from 30A to Niceville had their chance to shine on stage. Three production camps and one musical theater camp encompassed the 29 days of educational theater and more than 70 children were involved. The summer started at Butler Elementary where the cast of “101 Dalmatians” sang and danced their way into the hearts of the audience. Natalie Melancon stole the show as Cruella, fully committing to her role. The henchmen, Horace and Jasper, played by Brett Bailey and Becket Rhea, complemented Natalie with incredible comic timing. 
 
Camp Broadway was next on the agenda as campers sang and danced their way through the week at Seaside Neighborhood School. Toe tapping tunes such as “Mama Mia” and “Freak Flag” from “Shrek the Musical” were used to teach musical theater skills, while theater games were played to build skill in acting. 
 
Next ECTC was off to see the wizard at Destin Elementary with the “Wizard of Oz” (produced by ECTC in partnership with the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation). Eric Plunk (Tin Man), Susannah Bulaga (Scarecrow), Olivia Wilson (Dorthy), Riley Woodard (Toto), and Ora Wolfgram (Lion) led a cast of 37 to see the Wizard (Olin Wolfgram). The cast astonished family and friends with a spectacular performance at the end of just one week of rehearsals.
 
The final event of the summer took place at Ruckel Middle School with the musical “Willy Wonka Jr.” Elise Figueroa brought her zany personality to the role of Willie Wonka, while Will Maloney charmed the audience as Grandpa Joe. 
 
Nathanael Fisher, producing artistic director of ECTC, said, “We had such an amazing summer. I am so thankful for the community support. The use of the school facilities, a great staff, the priceless help of volunteers and parents entrusting us with their kids — all contributed to the remarkable success of summer 2014.”
 
Emerald Coast Theatre Company was founded in 2012 by Nathanael Fisher, MFA, and his wife, Anna Fisher. Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, ECTC’s mission is to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theater. ECTC operates year-round with a two-fold mission to provide both educational and professional offerings to the Northwest Florida community. Educational outreach includes after school and home-school programs, touring and staged productions, summer camps, workshops and classes. The professional theater efforts are focused on family-oriented productions, festivals and collaborations as well as acting and improv workshops and classes for adults. For more information on Emerald Coast Theatre Company, call (850) 687-1637, email info@emeraldcoasttheatre.org, or visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org. Find ECTC on Facebook at ECTheatreCompany.