TADA! Youth Theater Presents ODD DAY RAIN 4/15-5/22

The award winning TADA! Youth Theater (Janine Nina Trevens, founder/Executive & Artistic Director) will present the World Premiere of Odd Day Rain, written by Janine Nina Trevens and Deirdre Broderick with music and lyrics Deirdre Broderick. The show is directed and choreographed by Joanna Greer and Jim Colleran is the musical director. Odd Day Rain will begin performances on April 15 at 7PM and will run through May 22, 2011 at the TADA! Theater (15 W 28 St).

Odd Day Rain is an energized blend of rock/pop/mod-opera-bringing new multi-media, futuristic and cutting-edge elements to the organization's repertoire. Conceived and written by Artistic Director Janine Nina Trevens, with co-book, music and lyrics by Deirdre Broderick, the hour-long musical introduces us to a community of "outside" kids who live entirely without technology and a girl who lives totally through her virtual computer world. Two girls from these very different worlds meet and become friends. As the story unfolds, we learn how to control technology, and how technology can control us if left unguarded. Through the girls' journey, our young audiences will experience the power of human connection, for one has learned to "feel"- through not a machine, but her senses and heart.

Through Nina's over 26 years of working with children, she has observed that they are increasingly caught up in their technology: computer games, social networks, texting, e-mails, cell phones and television. As a result, people have less time for direct personal contact. And certainly adults aren't immune to this seductive world of technology either-shutting down and avoiding life, rather than living. Watching kids and adults with their phones or computers almost as another limb solidified that the Odd Day Rain idea was right for TADA!. Nina and Deirdre take a fresh look at this theme that has been examined in many different genres, through an unusual format-a musical written for children to both perform in and enjoy as audience members. What better way to examine the dynamics of contemporary culture than in a piece that reaches children and youth who are the arbiters of pop culture and the future of our world? Odd Day Rain is recommended for ages 5 - 105.

Cast includes the following Members of TADA!'s Resident Youth Ensemble Program: Allie Korbey (Brooklyn, age 15), Amanda Jean (Brooklyn, age 10), Amiri Taylor (Brooklyn, age 16), Anthony Raddi (New Jersey, age 12), Ariana Sepulveda (Warwick, age 16), Austin Tipograph (Manhattan, age 15), Brielle Raddi (New Jersey, age 14), Ceanna Bryant (Manhattan, age 12), Chinue Ellis (Brooklyn, age 13), Christina Franklin (Brooklyn, age 17), Gabby Gross(Brooklyn, age 15), Jacob Roger-Gordon (Manhattan, age 12), Josiah Fluker-McInnis (Brooklyn, age 11), Maddie Rubin (Manhattan, age 11), Martin Lewis (Staten Island, age 15), Meaghan Turner (Manhattan, age 16), Nikki Zivkovic (Queens, age 12), Ondine Atwell-Hudson (Manhattan, age 12), Rah Taylor (Brooklyn, age 16), Romello Rodriguez (Bronx, age 14), Sammy Pohly (Manhattan, age 10), Sawyer Smith (Manhattan, age 11), Simone Singletary (Brooklyn, age 13), Sofia Fusco (Manhattan, age 10), Tamia McDaniel (Queens, age 12), Thomas Vaethroeder (Brooklyn, age 10), Tristan Hickey (Manhattan, age 13), Victoria Cotton (Queens, age 13).

ABOUT TADA! PRODUCTIONS:
TADA!'s original productions employ professional directors, choreographers and designers who work with a multi-ethnic cast of NYC children (ages 8-18) who are members of the TADA! Resident Youth Ensemble. TADA!'s productions lauded by critics around the country including The Los Angeles Times who praised, "Colleran's songs ring out, and Greer's jazzy dances electrify;" and Theateronline.com who said, "Fresh, updated...will surely delight the entire family." Some of TADA!'s Alum are: Kerry Washington, Josh Peck, Christina Vidal, Mizuo Peck, Jordan Peele and Ricki Lake.

ABOUT TADA! YOUTH THEATER:
For over 25 years, the Drama Desk Award-winning TADA! Youth Theater has produced original musicals performed by kids ages 8-18 for family audiences. TADA! makes theater accessible through classes, school residencies and a free youth development program for the most talented kids in the area. TADA! believes in giving every child the chance to explore and perform musical theater together in an artistic, educational, supportive and professional environment.

ODD DAY RAIN

April 15-May 22, 2011
Book by Janine Nina Trevens and Deirdre Broderick; Music & Lyrics by Deirdre Broderick
Director: Janine Nina Trevens; Choreographer: Joanna Greer; Musical Director: Jim Colleran

Opening Night Friday, April 15 at 7PM

Performances Schedule: Saturday and Sunday at 2PM & 4PM
Added shows: Wednesday, May 18 at 10AM & 12PM; Friday, May 20 at 7PM
Post-show discussion about children and technology after 4PM show on May 15.
No shows on April 23, 24 and May 8.

TADA! Theater is located at 15 West 28th St.
Second Floor (between Broadway and 5th Ave), NYC
Regular tickets: Adults $25, Children $15
Limited cheap tickets: Adults $20, Children $8. First come, first serve.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.tadatheater.com or
Through the Box Office at (212) 252-1619 x 128.

Running time is 60 minutes; recommended for ages 5 to 105.
For more information, please visit www.tadatheater.com or call (212) 252-1619 x128
Press performances: Friday, April 15 at 7PM; Saturday, April 16 at 2PM & 4PM;
Sunday, April 17 at 2PM & 4PM
To speak with Ms. Trevens or any members of the cast or to arrange press seats,
please contact Springer Associates PR at 212 354 4660.

Also at TADA!
WEEK-LONG MUSICAL THEATER CAMPS (Grades 1-3 and 4-8)
Create a mini-musical in just 5 days! Monday-Friday (9:30am-2:30pm, $425)

MARCH 21-25 (NEXT WEEK!)
Grades 1-6

APRIL 18-22
Grades 1-3 & 4-8

Also, check out www.tadatheater.com for more details regarding:

TADA!'s annual Online Auction (April 15 - May 16)

TADA!'s Family Dance-a-thon on Saturday, May 7, 2011

 

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