We had a great time preparing for and performing the CATS Musical Theatre Boot Camp (Nov. 24-26). This was the second year we have offered this course, and I feel the students learn and grow so quickly in three days. Basically, we auditioned all the songs, assigned solos, learned vocal parts and choreography for two days, and then perfected, worked and put the finishing technical elements together on the final day. Helen Buck, the Choreographer, and I worked for a couple weeks choosing songs, trying to create a realistic feline world for the students to attach their characters, and finalizing plans and ideas. Overall, I am extremely proud of all the students in the level of professionalism and quality of performance on Wednesday, November 26. Singing and Dancing classes are offered every quarter with Noble Fool’s Performing Arts Academy . The next session of Singing classes offered will be in the early spring with songs from “Mamma Mia” for younger students and songs from “Spring Awakening” for teen students. And for those of you who are looking for another boot camp experience, check out the Xmas break acting boot camp: “Harry Potter” and “Anne Frank”.  More information can be found at:www.noblefool.org/education.

Preps, gangstas, anime kids, scenesters, bohemians, geeks – what do they all have in common? Usually nothing, but in the Noble Fool Theatricals Youth Ensemble production of Godspell, they all come together in an alley setting to relate Jesus’ parables. These six groups comprised of 38 local kids and teens are taking the stage at Pheasant Run Resort for four weekends beginning November 29, 2008.

Following the 1970 Broadway script by Stephen Schwartz and Jon-Michael Tebelak, Godspell puts a modern spin on the Biblical parables based on the book of Matthew by using dance, acting and songs. Hits from the show include “Day By Day” and “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”.

Godspell is full of “group appropriate” dancing and finger snapping music. The ensemble style cast, led by Tyler Vaughn of Geneva as Jesus, has been rehearsing since early October to get the dance moves (including “Stomp”-like moves) and music perfect.

“The best part about my role is the challenges I face while trying to act like Jesus. Trying to act like I’m perfect without seeming arrogant, and attempting to grasp the humbleness that the Lord showed every day has been a fun challenge for me,” says 17 year old Vaughn.

“Godspell has been performed many different ways, but never as modern and relevant to young people as our version,” says Director Tracy Whiteside. “The show is funny, uplifting, humbling, and ultimately about achieving harmony among disparate groups through the love of our Lord. Please don’t miss this inspiring message, especially fitting at this time of year.”

Other cast members include from St. Charles: Abbey Marie Villwock, Alex Adams, Allison Cook, Barbara Homan, Kevin Chlapecka, Megan Gill, Rachel Whiteside, Sara Monteleone, Geneva: Alana Goodrich, Allison Grischow, Becca Grischow, Ally Carrino, Cassidy Van Cleve, Connor Colbert, Josh Harper, Molly Carberry, Natalie Carberry, Rob O’Neil, Sadie Vaughn, Batavia: Cecily Lemon, Erika Nickelson, Jackie Scheer, Jessi McCluskey, Mary Alcott, Megan Warren, Rebecca Rousseau, Bartlett: Amy Marik, Katie Brazier, Madeline McCue, South Elgin: Allie Kutcher, West Chicago: Elena Tubridy, Carol Stream: Kara Witkowski, Tom Horvath, Maple Park: Leah Richards, Downers Grove: Liann Lucansky, Elburn: McKenzie McMullan and Winfield: Nadia Pelletier. Godspell is directed by Tracy Whiteside of St. Charles and musically directed by Ken Jones of Wayne.

By Tracy Adams, NFT Parent of Cast Member Alex Adams

What do a Calvin & Hobbes comic book, a Game Boy Advance, a marionette puppet, Lego Stars Wars AT-TE Walker and an ATV have in common? These are all things the young A Christmas Story cast members have wanted for Christmas as much as “Ralphie” wanted his Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle.

In the show, Ralph takes the audience back into his middle-class American life in the 1940’s and shares his favorite childhood Christmas memories. Gabriel Harder (age 12, of Elgin) who portrays young “Ralphie” on stage has a favorite Christmas memory of making a fake fireplace to hang stockings on. Nine year old Charlie Zimmer of Geneva (Schwartz) fondly remembers the Christmas when his family got a new puppy. 13 year old Garrett Weaver (Flick) comically recalls his Great Grandma’s dentures falling out of her mouth onto the floor and his dog running away with them, and 11 year old Rebecca Roy of Geneva (Ester Jane) happily remembers being taken on a surprise trip to Florida – her best Christmas ever!

The 11 children cast in A Christmas Story have a lot of hard work ahead of them as they rehearse an average of 6 days/week for the next 4 weeks followed by 6 weeks of back to back performances. After their first week of rehearsal, they have already decided that the scene where “Flick” gets his tongue stuck to the flag pole is one of their favorites. While Gabriel looks forward to the fight scene with real-life best friend Stirling Joyner (Scut Farkus), Sam Schumacher (alt. Randy) looks forward to “spending quality time with his oatmeal.”

Most of the youth cast have theater experience and have shared the stage together in the NFT Youth Ensemble’s Oliver! this year, while others like Charlie and Max Lauser (alt. Scut & Schwartz) are making their stage debut.

“We are very excited about A Christmas Story,” says Artistic Director and show Director John Gawlik. “This is the first time Noble Fool Theatricals is working with children on a professional show. The cast is outstanding and the talent of these children never ceases to amaze me. It’s also gratifying to see so many children who have trained with our Performing Arts Academy reach the next level.”

“I cannot believe they are actually paying me, at 10, to perform with people I love at my favorite place on Earth (NFT Mainstage),” says Maddy, who is one of the seven young actors enrolled in the NFT Academy. “This is a dream come true.”

A Christmas Story cast features (in alphabetical order): Maddy Donatelli (age 10, Geneva), Michael Etzkorn (age 10, Lisle), Julie Ganey (Evanston), John Gray (Chicago), Gabriel Harder (age 12, Elgin), Mary Hollis Inboden (Chicago), Julia Joyner (age 9, Plano), Stirling Joyner (age 13, Plano), Max Lauser (age 10, Naperville), Tom McElroy (Chicago), Kelsey Pettrone (age 10, La Grange), Rebecca Roy (age 11, Geneva), Sam Schumacher (age 11, Itasca), Garrett Lee Weaver (age 13, Darien), and Charlie Zimmer (age 9, Geneva).

Posted by Missy Donatelli, NFT Parent of Cast member Maddy Donatelli

Hello again! We just finished our first week of rehearsal and it went great. The first week, especially the first day, is a lot like the first day of school where you get to meet everyone and you are given all the information and forms to sign, you get measured for costumes and the designers will review how the set, lights and sound will appear. Then you all sit and read the script. Once we read the script a couple of times we are ready to begin “blocking” the show. “Blocking” means figuring out where all the actors are moving on stage from scene to scene; are they sitting in a chair and then walking to the door or going up the stairs, etc.

The show sounds great live. All the moments from the movie have been woven into the stage version and the cast is having a lot of fun telling this story. As for our children’s roles–Ralphie, Randy, Ester Jane, Helen, Scut Farkus, Flick, and Schwartz–they are all doing great work. There are some very funny moments that I know you will be talking about after the show.

I will be back next week to let you know how the second week goes. Till then, make sure you get tickets, the show is selling fast!

John Gawlik, Director

Garrett Weaver (Flick, left), Charlie Zimmer (Schwartz), and Gabriel Harder (Ralphie) pose after their photo shoot during their first week of rehearsals.

When I’m not performing, I’m teaching. I’ve been involved, in one way or another, as pianist, performer and music director, with about 260 musicals. (I’m not THAT old, I just do a lot of them).

I’ve done music with people of all abilities, from age 4 to 100–really: that was music therapy at the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis. I’ve done shows at four universities, with the Oregon Symphony, and this year wrote the music for a documentary.

Doing music is really like learning another language, and it can come in handy in all sorts of unexpected ways.

In November, I’m teaching a class at Noble Fool Performing Arts Academy around Avenue Q, the hilarious Broadway musical. If it’s as much fun as RENT was last spring, we’re in for a great time.

Classes like this are for adults who want to get together, learn some songs, and get more experience performing. It’s not low pressure, it’s NO pressure.

If it sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out Avenue Q on the web, or shoot me an email at tomkingclear@gmail.com.

And, viva la musique!

ADULT MUSICAL THEATRE CLASS: “AVENUE Q”

Ages: 16+

Classes: Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 pm

Nov. 6 through Dec. 18, 2008
(No class Nov. 27)

Showcase: December 18 at 8:00 pm

Tuition: $175

Instructor: Tom Clear

Whether you have taken a singing class before, were in the high school choir, or just like to sing in the shower, you’ll have a great time with this group. This is for students who want to develop their performance skills and improve technique. The class includes singing, harmony and stage presence. Students work on solos, duets and ensemble pieces from a popular musical. Don’t miss this opportunity to sing out in a welcoming, fun atmosphere.

For more info, visit www.noblefool.org/education

A CHRISTMAS STORY! Red Ryder BB Guns, “You’ll shoot your eye out,” The infamous “fragile” Leg Lamp. These are just a few of the most memorable moments from the classic holiday movie A CHRISTMAS STORY…

Here at Noble Fool Theatricals we will be performing the stage version of this great film. Right now, we are less than a week away from starting rehearsals for A CHRISTMAS STORY. This is when everything starts to really amp up. We will have three weeks of rehearsals and a week of previews before we open. We have been in preparation for the show for about a year and I can’t wait to get started. We have a cast of 17 including understudies. One of the exciting aspects of the show is that we were able to cast several local children, who have received theater training from our Performing Arts Academy. For many, this will be their professional stage debut. Through the process they will also get the opportunity to work with professional adult actors from Chicago. I am thrilled with the wonderful talent of the entire cast and am excited to get started. I will keep you updated as rehearsals get underway!

John Gawlik

Director

Each month, NFT Performing Arts Academy selects an outstanding student to be featured in the Student Spotlight of the Month. The selected student is featured in the NFT Playbill and on the blog. Our Student Spotlight recipient for October is Gabriel Harder!

Gabriel Harder is a 12 year old homeschooled 7th grader who “eats, sleeps and breathes drama.” Beginning with his first role of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit four years ago, Gabriel has been in many theatrical productions ever since. Last year in Christian Youth Theater’s Pocahontas he received the Spark Plug award, and this past spring he made his Noble Fool Theatricals debut as The Artful Dodger in the Youth Ensemble’s production of Oliver.

Gabriel has loved his Noble Fool experience so far, saying that he really appreciates the serious, professional atmosphere and training he’s received. (Although he says one of his favorite NFT memories was actually a very comical one - coming to practice one day, the Oliver cast found a caged bobcat at the entrance to the building they were in, and a zoo convention had taken over their practice room!) Gabriel has been especially encouraged by director Tracy Whiteside, who is a wonderful mentor who’s given him much guidance.

“I saw Gabriel Harder perform on stage 2 years ago and knew then he would be a star,” says Tracy Whiteside. Not long after that, I had him in an acting class. He wowed me with his talent and maturity. So when Oliver auditions came up at NFT, I tracked Gabe down and asked that he audition. He did not disappoint. The Oliver directing team was so impressed we cast him as The Artful Dodger, one of the leads. Even though he is very young, he was always professional and well prepared. Gabe was a pleasure to have in the cast and set a good example for the other kids. I couldn’t have been happier or more proud when I heard he was cast as the lead in A Christmas Story. I know there are more exciting things to come for him.”

Gabriel feels his time on the NFT mainstage with Oliver helped prepare him for his first professional role of Ralphie in Noble Fool’s A Christmas Story.

Noble Fool Theatricals Artistic Director and A Christmas Story Director John Gawlik is impressed with the amount of talent Gabriel has displayed at a young age. “He has an amazing ability to connect to the characters he portrays. It’s also very exciting to have the chance to cast our very own NFT Academy student in our professional mainstage production, and I’m hoping that all of our students will have this kind of success.”

While Gabriel plans on pursuing a career in acting, he also loves unicycling, helping out on the worship team at church, studying history, and writing and directing his own movies.

(Tom Clear is the pianist in Some Enchanted Evening, the songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein, playing on the Pheasant Run mainstage through November 1st.)

This is turning out to be a very pleasant show, fun to rehearse and fun to perform. Audiences seem to like it a lot.

The five singers in the cast are such good musicians, my role is very easy. During rehearsals, we worked out things like tempo, cut-offs, and diction under the musical direction of Dr. Harold Mortimer, of Ball State University, so we have a very clear roadmap. Our performing task now is to make each song sound like it’s happening spontaneously, for the first time.

In other words, to make it new.

Cathy Lord, in the show, is excellent at this. She never “phones it in.” She engages each audience in a slightly different way, because each audience is different. Accompanying a singer like this is a delight.

I came to Chicago to play for improvisors–not jazz improvisors, but comedians. I did two shows at Second City last year and completed their Music Director program. I’m a Music Director for ComedySportz Chicago. I also accompany dance classes at Giordano Dance in Evanston.

It’s great to combine the spark of improvisation–basically, something new–with wonderful classic songs. Best of both worlds, I think.

Thanks so much to everyone that auditioned. We sincerely appreciate your time and efforts. We were blessed with so many talented people, and wish we could cast everyone. If you were not cast, or did not get the role you wanted, we encourage you to take advantage of our Performing Arts Classes. Professional training will help you land the role of your dreams!

We are delighted to announce the cast for GODSPELL:

Abbey Marie Villwock

Alana Goodrich

Alex Adams

Allie Kutcher

Allison Cook

Allison Grischow

Ally Carrino

Amy Marik

Barbara Homan

Becca Grischow

Cassidy Van Cleve

Cecily Lemon

Connor Colbert

Elena Tubridy

Erika Nickelson

Jackie Scheer

Jessi McCluskey

Josh Harper

Kara Witkowski

Katie Brazier

Kevin Chlapecka

Kristina Nguyen

Leah Richards

Liann Lucansky

Maddy Donatelli

Madeline McCue

Mary Alcott

McKenzie McMullan

Megan Gill

Megan Warren

Molly Carberry

Nadia Pelletier

Natalie Carberry

Rachel Whiteside

Rebecca Rousseau

Rob O’Neil

Sadie Vaughn

Sara Monteolone

Sarah Beth Rabin

Tom Harvath

Tyler Vaughn

Congratulations to the cast. I am so excited to get started with rehearsals.

Each month, NFT Performing Arts Academy selects an outstanding student to be featured in the Student Spotlight of the Month. The selected student is featured in the NFT Playbill and on the blog. Our Student Spotlight recipient for October is Nadia Pelletier!

Nadia Elise Pelletier is an ambitious 15 year old actor and award-winning vocalist from Winfield who has grown alongside the NFT Performing Arts Academy. Performing in the debut NFT youth ensemble production of High School Musical as a cheerleader two years ago, her involvement with NFT has grown into principal roles with the youth ensemble, performing in every production to date! And just recently, she has taken on an amazing challenge – performing and interning for the youth ensemble’s current production of Godspell, playing this fall. While she’ll be responsible for learning her role as a “Prep”, she will also be working with the choreography team to create the dances for the show, assign songs to cast members, and teach them.

“My favorite NFT memory is the opening show for High School Musical,” says Nadia. “I was one of the six cheerleaders who started off the show dancing to the “Wildcat” song. This was my first big performance, I mean sure, I had been in other productions, but none that were completely sold out, and I had never started off a show dancing, it was incredible. The rush of walking on stage in the dark to have the lights turned on for us six in our starting positions. I felt so much excitement from the audience let alone myself. It was fabulous, and I loved every minute of it!”

The rush didn’t stop there. Shortly after, Nadia and fellow High School Musical cast members were invited to be a part of the Broadway in Chicago touring company’s cast for eight professional performances!

“She is a dedicated student and takes every role seriously,” says NFT Education Manager and Godspell Director Tracy Whiteside. “A rarity at her age, Nadia is an amazing character actress. She shared her love of theatre while she interned for almost every academy class over the summer. As director, I’m excited to work with her as our choreography intern for Godspell. Nadia has been a tremendous help!”

Offstage, Nadia is involved with Habitat for Humanity, Key Club (a community service club), Thespians, Varsity Golf, Speech Team, and is very active with Shine, her youth group.

And in the future, Nadia wants to attend Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts with a double major in Musical Theatre Performance and Dance, with a minor in Music Therapy. “I then want to get out there and start performing on stage as a career,” adds Nadia. “NFT has taught me skills in audition technique and performance etiquette that will be so useful for my future in the arts, and I feel prepared for other theatrical endeavors that come my way.”