Tada! Youth Theatre Presents UP TO YOU, Now thru 5/20

TADA! YOUTH THEATER announces the World Premiere of UP TO YOU. Book and music by Eric Rockwell, lyrics by JoAnne Bogart, UP TO YOU will be directed by Janine Nina Trevens. The limited engagement will be at TADA! Youth Theater).  Performances begin tonight, April 27 and continue through Sunday, May 20. 

Like all TADA! musicals, UP TO YOU is a professionally produced off-Broadway musical performed for kids, by kids; and dealing with topics relevant to kids and their experiences. UP TO YOU takes place in 1977 during elections for the student council at Hamilton High. It examines several relevant issues facing young people today including – peer acceptance, verbal bullying, stereotyping based on activities you take part in, and wanting to be popular.  The musical also explores political campaigning: making and keeping promises both pre- and post-election, as well as corruption.  Through the course of the musical the narrator, Eric, is bullied because of rumors about his sexuality and because he won’t go along with the “in” crowd. Some of his schoolmates feel badly about what is happening but choose not to become involved. Others hide their own feelings in order to be accepted with the popular kids, and still some choose to risk their own reputations to defend him. The story, loosely based on some of Mr. Rockwell’s own high school experiences, emphasizes the idea that each individual can make a difference for themselves and the community at large in a fun, entertaining, age-appropriate and approachable way. UP TO YOU is recommended for ages 5 and over.

UP TO YOU’s cast is comprised of members of TADA!’s Resident Youth Ensemble; kids between the ages of 8 and 18 from the NY-metro area who participate in this FREE year-round youth development.  They are:

ALEC COHEN (Ridgewood NJ, 17) – ERIC
ALEX GETLIN (Manhattan, 18) – WENDY
GABRIELA GROSS (Brooklyn, 16) – VANESSA
ANNALEE TAI (Manhattan, 13) – TRACY
ZOEY SCHORSCH (Manhattan, 12) – SHELLEY
MEAGHAN TURNER (Manhattan, 18) – MOLLY
CEANNA BRYANT (Manhattan, 13) – LAURA
DANIELLE PALMER (Bronx, 13) – MICHELE
NIKKI ZIVKOVIC (Queens, 13) – MELISSA
ROMELLO RODRIGUEZ (Bronx, 15) – MARK
Brian Ward (Brooklyn, 15) – TOM
Martin Lewis (Staten Island, 16) – BILL
AUSTIN TIPOGRAPH (Manhattan, 16) – JOHN
ANTHONY RADDI (Cedar Grove NJ, 13)– JIM
BRIELLE RADDI (Cedar Grove NJ, 15)– JENNY
SAMMY GROB (Manhattan, 14) – PAT
GEORGIA O’LEARY (Manhattan, 12) – JANET
LEAnn Martin (Irvington NY, 12) – MARILYN
SAWYER SMITH (Manhattan, 12) – JEFF
ONDINE ATWELL HUDSON (Manhattan, 13) – LEONA
VICTORIA COTTON (Queens, 14) – MAY
NICOLE ROSENGURT (Brooklyn, 13) – SUMMER
KRISTIN CALLAHAN (Manhattan, 13) – HOLLY
DIEGO ARELLANO (Queens, 14) – INDEPENDENCE
THOMAS VAETHROEDER (Brooklyn, 11) – CHRIS
PRISCILLA ESTEVEZ (Queens, 11) – MARA
K.K. POHLY (Manhattan, 8) – CINDY
JADEN JORDAN (Brooklyn, 10) – RUSSELL
MARTINE BOWMAN (New Rochelle NY, 13) – ANNIE
OLIVIA ESTEVEZ (Queens, 10) – AMY
JONAH LEVINOWITZ (Brooklyn, 12) – CLAUDE
NATHAN LOVE (Brooklyn, 9) – KEVIN

The production features choreography by Associate Artistic Director Joanna Greer, musical direction by Jim Colleran, scenic and lighting design by Steve O’Shea and costume design by Virginia Monte

UP TO YOU plays the following schedule through Sunday, May 20:

Saturdays at 2pm & 4pm
Sundays at 2pm & 4pm
Added performances on Fridays, April 27 and May 18 at 7pm.  
There are no performances on Sunday May 13.

Tickets are only $15 for adults and $8 for children; Premium tickets (also available for every performance) are $25 for adults and $15 for children and feature priority seating and support TADA!’s programming..  Tickets are now available online at www.tadatheater.com/currentseason.asp. Tickets may also be purchased in-person one hour prior to performance.  Non-Profit Group rates start at $6 per child for groups of 20+; birthday party packages are also available.

Running Time:  approximately 60 minutes

Website: www.tadatheater.com

IT’S UP TO YOU, a forum event to discuss bullying through leadership, moderated by Kaitlin Monte, Miss New York, will be for parents and kids on May 6 at 11am.  The event is free. RSVPs should be emailed to info@tadatheater.com.

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