presents
St. Stephens
Helms Fine Arts Center
August
13, 14, 20, 21 at 7pm
August 14, 21 at 2pm
August 15 at 1pm & 5pm
Presents
The Velveteen Rabbit
The
Musical
Contemporary concept by Jim Crosby, Dede Clark and Jan Bozarth
Written by Jim Crosby and Dede Clark
Based on The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams ©1922
Producer/Director
Dede Clark
Composer/Arranger/Musical Director
Noel Alford
Costume Designer
Set Design
Theresa May Gary M.
van der Wege
Lighting Design Sound
Design
Brian Davis Christopher Staefe
Choreography Assistant
Costume Design
Nina Standifer Theada Bellenger
Stage Manager
Theada Bellenger
The Players
*Toys*
Ferdie
..
..Amber Anthony (8/13, 8/21 2p)
.Caroline Craven (
8/14 2p, 8/15 1p, 8/20)
.Hannah Clark (8/14 7p, 8/15 5p, 8/21 7p)
Rex
.
..
.Clint Gilfillan
Wheels
..
..Victoria Nassif
Atomic Laser Tank
.....Emma Haining
Lafayette
.....Reno Bostick
Chanel
...
....Grace Sarosdy
Check
.....Rachel Flores
Mate
.
...Mason Kerwick
Natalia
Natalie McCauley
Mermaid
....Chelsea DuBose
Goldfish
...
..Rachel Nayer
Way-Out Wally
..Andrea Cody
Monk
..
..
..Kelsey Smith
Baby
...
....Shae Boyd
Party
...Katie Haag
Raggedy
.
....Zoe Tyson
Fairy
.Kylee Long
*Hip-Hop
Street Bunnies*
Thump
....Carl Romines
Bump
.
......Stazie Engel
Lump
.
...Kelley Donoghue
Boney
.......Ryan Swanson
Maroney
...
.Devon Austin
Skinny
.
....Chelsea Onstott
Minnie
Sarah Wingfield
Flo
...
.
..Jenny Zeitz
Moe
.
...Chloe Worth (8/13, 8/14 7p, 8/15 5p,
8/21 2p)
.
...Lauren Payne (8/14 2p,
8/15 1p, 8/20, 8/21 7p)
Icey
....Caroline Craven (8/13, 8/14 7p, 8/15
5p, 8/21)
.
....Hannah Clark ( 8/14
2p, 8/15 1p, 8/20)
Dicey
..Amber Anthony ( 8/14, 8/15, 8/20, 8/21
7p)
.
.....Hannah Clark
(8/13, 8/21 2p)
Spicey
.
...
....Kylee Long
*Real
People*
Zoe
Helen Hutka
Molly
..Lauren Payne (8/13, 8/14 7p, 8/15 5p, 8/21
2p)
...Chloe Worth (8/14 2p,
8/15 1p, 8/20, 8/21 7p)
Jeffrey
..
..
......David Barnes
Wish
..
........Bowman Maze
Aunt Lucy
.....
.Stazie Engel
Homeless
Bo
.....Richard Woolsey
Mom
..
.....
....Julie Slim
Dad
..
......Mike Austin
Gram
.
.
Elinor White
Gramps
........Jack Brock
Mr. Houlihan
.
..
...Greg Romines
Mrs. Houlihan
..
...Pamela Villars
Ellen
....Donna Bostick
Bob
....Victor Engel
*Houlihan Tribe*
Rick
Houlihan
..
Carl Romines
Francine Houlihan
..Kelley Donoghue
Pat Houlihan
.
.
.Ryan Swanson
Alice Houlihan
.....Devon Austin
Marty Houlihan
.Chelsea Onstott
Sophie Houlihan
...Sarah Wingfield
Amy Houlihan
.
Jenny Zeitz
Carolina Houlihan
...Lauren Payne (8/14 2p, 8/15 1p,
8/20, 8/21 7p)
Chloe
Worth ( 8/14 2p, 8/15 1p, 8/20, 8/21 7p)
Peggy Houlihan
Caroline Craven (8/13, 8/14 7p, 8/15
5p, 8/21)
...
...Hannah Clark (8/14 2p, 8/15 1p, 8/20)
Megan Houlihan.
Amber Anthony (8/14, 8/15, 8/20,
8/21)
...Hannah Clark( 8/13, 8/21 2p)
Annie
Houlihan
.
..Kylee Long
The Play
Act I
Prologue Believers by Robert Beto Skiles and Jan Bozarth
Toys
Sc. 1 Living Room, Christmas Day
The Joy of Christmas by Ray Benson, Dede Clark, Jan Bozarth
Kids, Adults
Sc. 2 Jeffreys Bedroom, that night
Together Next Christmas by Robert Skiles, Jan Bozarth, Dede Clark
.Jeffrey, Molly
The Things We Do by Butch Hancock, Noel Alford ..Toys
What Is Real by Robert McEntee
.Rex, Ferdie
Live For Your Dreams by Noel Alford . ..Baby, Party
Sc. 3 Living Room, Valentines Day
Sc. 4 Jeffreys Room
Unfair/Toy
Blues by Jo Carol Pierce, Jan Bozarth, Dede Clark, Noel
Alford
..Zoe, Molly, Party, Wish, Toys
The Magic of Love by Eliza Gilkyson ...Fairy
Sc. 5 Living Room
Sc. 6 Jeffrey's Backyard
Youre My Best Friend by Joe Scruggs ...Jeffrey, Ferdie
Sc. 7 Jeffreys Room, Minutes Later
Im Really Real by Bob Watkins, Noel Alford
Ferdie, Toys
Things Arent What They Appear To Be by Susan Voelz, Bruce Hughes, Dede Clark
Check, Mate, Rex, Raggedy, Baby, Chanel
There will be a 15 minute intermission.
Act II
Sc. 1 Park, Picnic
The Joy of Summer Vacation by Ray Benson, Dede Clark,
Jan Bozarth
Kids, Adults
Sc. 2 Park, Just Before Dawn
Hip Hop Bunny Rap by Dede Clark and Noel Alford
. Street Bunnies
I Dont Like Dancing by Joe Ely and Noel Alford
.Street Bunnies, Ferdie
Sc. 3 Jeffreys Bedroom/Living Room
I Need Him More Than You by Dede Clark and Noel Alford
... .Mom
Together Next Christmas by Robert Skiles, Jan Bozarth,
Dede Clark
. Company
Sc. 4 Alley, Day
Just a Piece of Trash by Marcia Ball
.. .Homeless Bo
The Magic of Love by Eliza Gilkyson
.. ..Fairy
Sc. 5 Jeffreys Backyard
Reprise: What is Real by Robert McEntee
.Company
Directors Note
When we first did this show
in 1990, we sold out for 26
performances at the Capitol
City Playhouse. It was the
biggest hit they ever had, no
small thanks to the
extraordinary songwriters who
contributed their time and
talents. I love this show, it
touches my heart deeply and I am
hopeful you will also find beauty in
this tender tale of love.
I am blessed to work with so much
talent, the cast, the crew,
the designers, the musicians, and
above all my amazing
friends and colleagues Noel Alford
and Theresa May.
Thank you for coming to the
Velveteen Rabbit,
Dede Clark
Production Crew
Stage
Manager
..Theada Bellinger
Backstage
Crew
.Corey Bushman
..Chase McBride
...Adan Yanez
Follow
Spot Operator
..Sarah Petrosky
Fly Operator
Kim Van Dyke
Box
Office/Program
Pamela Villars
Publicity
Adrienne Dawes, Jazz McBride
Publicity Photography
..
.Henry Friedman
The Band
Keyboards
Noel Alford
Bass
.
...Danny
Garrison
Drums
..Adam Clark
Special Thanks
Thanks to Carolina Sanders, Juan and Kate Miranda, Robert Wyburn and the staff of St. Stephens, Jim Swift, Cyndi Williams, John Kolsti, our parent volunteers and the families of all the young people involved in the show
The professionals
Dede Clark (writer/producer/director) has produced/directed nearly 100 productions and received numerous B. Iden Payne nominations and awards for her work. Besides The Velveteen Rabbit, she has created six other original musicals, Waking Sleeping Beauty, Monsters!, Bugs, The Emperors New Shows, Goldie and Cyberella. The owner of kidsActing, she has happily taught thousands of kids for twenty-four years. Prior to establishing kidsActing, Dede worked in film and
television. Of all her productions, she says her greatest is her almost eleven-year-old daughter, Hannah, who will be joyfully entering the fifth grade at Austin Waldorf School this fall.
Noel Alford (musical director/composer/arranger) has been the musical director at kidsActing for over thirteen years. He has written many songs for kidsActings original musicals and helped write scripts for Cyberella and The Emperors New Shows. He has been a theatre and club performer for more years than he cares to remember (from his high school days in the Medieval Period).
Gary M. van der Wege (scenic design) has designed over one hundred sets across the US and Mexico, including the numerous
kidsActing productions he creates in his San Marcos studio. He will soon be representing the U.S. as a member of the fencing team in the Paralympics in Athens, Greece.
Theresa May (costumer designer) is a book publisher (Editor-in-Chief at the University of Texas Press) by day and a costumer and performer by night. She has costumed too many kidsActing productions to list and has loved every single one of them. She received B. Iden Payne award nominations for outstanding costume design for Bugs and Goldie. She also was part of the writing team for kidsActing's latest original musical, Waking Sleeping Beauty and--huge thrill!--co-wrote two songs with Noel. She thanks her husband Juan and daughter Kate for resigning themselves to living in complete chaos for ten months out of the year so she can have a costume shop at home.
Brian Davis (lighting design) has designed over 150 shows and worked on countless others in the last four years. He was nominated in 2002 for a B. Iden Payne in Design for Moby Dick and won the award in lighting design for Aint Misbehaving. He is proud to have continuing working relationships with the Public Theatre in NYC, Ariel Dance Theatre, kidsActing and the City of Austin, where he will return to
design lights for the Trail of
Lights for his second year.
Christopher Staefe (sound design) is a DMA candidate in Electronic Music Composition at UT Austin. After receiving degrees in Music Composition with an emphasis in Electronic Music from the U. of Virginia and Palm Beach Atlantic College, sound design became his parallel field of study. Recently he's workedwith Tina Marsh and the Austin Summer Musical Theatre. As a composer, his music has received performances in Japan, London,
California, Arizona, Louisiana
and Texas. He's won awards in the 2002 Keio University Digital
Arts Awards and the 2004 ASCAP/SEAMUS Student Commission Competition.
Theada Bellenger (stage
manager/assistant costumer designer) joined
the kidsActing force in 2001 and has hopscotched into property master and stage
manager for the larger musicals. She also handles the task of show coordinator
for the dozens of other classes that kidsActing hosts. Theada is currently
studying set and costume design at UT Austin.
Nina Standifer (choreography) is an art teacher at Martin Middle School in AISD. She choreographed the kidsActing production Annie and taught at kidsActing camps this summer, as well as choreographing the Austin Summer Musical for Children production of Fractured Fairies and Tails. Numerous Longhorn Singer shows have also benefited form her skill. She would like to thank her husband, Ian, for his endless patience and support.
About the Cast
This is Amber Anthonys (Ferdie/Megan) 10th
performance with kidsActing and it can be guaranteed that she has loved each
one. With her energy, you can imagine her determination for doing something she
enjoys!
Devon Austin (Maroney/Alice)
loves to sing, dance and act. 3 years of Theater Arts got her a gold medal at
UIL in 8th grade. This is her second play with kidsActing.
Mike Austin
(Dad) is a technical writer by day and Devon Austins dad all the time.
Velveteen Rabbit is his first time on stage since high school, a long time ago.
A lover of swimming and trampoline, David Barnes (Jeffrey)
has been with kidsActing for four years. This is his 9th show.
A systems analyst by day (when not serving as son
Reno's personal chauffeur), Donna Bostick (Ellen) thought doing
this show would be fun.
Reno Bostick
(Lafayette) says Hi! Hope you enjoy the show!
Shae Boyd
(Baby) loves kidsActing and Dede. Her favorite roles include Bianca in Kiss Me
Kate and Rizzo in Grease. She thanks her mother and friends for their
incredible support.
Jack Brock (Gramps) has been an
educator for 53 years and works as a counselor for AISD. He has his wife, 3
children, 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
This is Andrea Codys (Way-Out Wally) 11th
production with kidsActing. Andrea has a history of playing comical roles such as
Whattamaya Slobb in Cyberella and Poppy in Waking Sleeping Beauty.
Hannah Clark
(Ferdie/Peggy/Megan) calls Dede Mom. She saw her first kidsActing show at 2
months and is thrilled to finally play a main part. A fifth grader at Austin
Waldorf School, she plays the cello and just got a bunny named Velvet.
Caroline Craven (Ferdie/Peggy)
is excited to be playing in her 3rd show at kidsActing after Youre
a Good Man Charlie Brown and Annie. She enjoys dancing, playing piano, water
skiing and her little sister.
This is Kelley Donohues (Lump/Francine) first production with
kidsActing. She
would like to encourage everyone to read more books.
This is Chelsea DuBoses (Mermaid) 4th musical
with kidsActing. She has her own rabbit, Whiskey, who walks on a leash, and was
named that for all the trouble she got into.
Stazie Engel (Aunt Lucy/Bump) is enjoying her 15th show with
kidsActing. Her plans include being a theatre/dance major at UT or Skidmore and
her dream job is working at Esthers Follies.
Victor Engel (Bob) is a photographer, programmer and owner of a specialty
advertising
company. His last performance in a musical was as a thief in "The Green
and Silver Bowl" in 1979.
Rachel
Flores (Check) is in 6th grade at
Hudson Bend. She has performed with
kidsActing
in Sound of Music, Annie, and Grease.
She is a member of The Acting
Company
in Lakeway.
This marks Clint Gilfillins (Rex) 30th show with kidsActing.
His first show was actually the Velveteen Rabbit (Mate). Clint takes voice
lessons from James Meny and just retuned from a successful trip to LA.
Katie Haag (Party) has been involved with kidsActing for 2 years. Recently, she starred as Ms. Hannigan in
Annie and as Sandy in Grease. Katie enjoys acting,
singing
and self-tanning.
Emma Haining (Atomic Laser Tank) has been in 12 kidsActing shows. She is
happy to be blowing things up and her goal in life is to grow a tail.
Helen Hutka (Zoe) would like to thank Dede & Noel for all the help
they have given her throughout the years. Without them she would not be the
actress she is today.
Mason Kerwick (Mate) is a 12 year old who loves to swim, act, cook and
do
gymnastics.
This is his 4th musical with kidsActing. He has 3 cats and 2 dogs.
Kylee
Long (Fairy) has done many shows with
kidsActing, including Rose in
Waking
Sleeping Beauty. She is currently enrolled at Baylor as a Pre-Med Forensic
Science student with a minor in Anthropology.
This is Bowman Mazes (Wish) 11th show with kidsActing. He has been
juggling rehearsals with Marching Band and kidsActing, but has still managed to have fun!
Natalie McCauley (Natalia) is a sixth grade student at Hudson Bend Middle School.
Her interests include dancing, singing, reading, and swimming. Natalies
previous acting experiences include The Music Man and Annie.
This
is Victoria Nassifs (Wheels) 2nd production with KidsActing.
She says she loves being able to run over people. She also played Patty in
Grease.
Rachel
Nayer (Goldfish) studies ballet, tap,
jazz, and classical guitar. Performing credits include numerous camps, street
fairs and recitals, and opening the Texas
Juggling Societys professional show.
Chelsea
Onstott (Skinny/Marty) loves to act
and this is her 5th show with kidsActing. Outside of acting, she
swims with Capitol of Texas Aquatics and plays trumpet at Canyon Vista Middle
School.
Lauren Payne (Molly/Moe/Carolina) has done 6 performances at kidsActing
and loves it.
Carl Romines (Thump/Rick)
has been in kidsActing productions 7 times. Besides acting, Carl enjoys break
dancing, baseball, aggressive skating and having fun. He is 10 and encourages
other young actors to join.
Greg Romines
(Mr. Houlihan) is a work at home telecom engineer and part time
baseball
coach. He also played a Dad in his last part in a theatrical production 27
years ago.
Grace
Sarosdy (Chanel) has been in 6
kidsActing productions and loves the part of Chanel. I want to thank the cast
and crew for making this an awesome show.
This is Julie Slims (Mom) 1st performance with kidsActing
and a very special first mother/daughter show for her and Victoria Nassif. She
has performed locally with AMT, the State Theatre and in the Cabaret Series at
Zach Scott.
Kelsey Smith (Monk) hopes to pursue a career in acting so she is really
excited to have this experience. This is her 2nd show with
kidsActing and she really enjoys doing it.
Ryan Swanson (Boney/Pat) has been with kidsActing for 2 years.
This is his 5th production. He really likes Neopets, Pokeman and
kidsActing.
This
is Zoe Tysons (Raggedy Ann) 2nd show with kidsActing. In Grease,
Zoe played preppy Patty Simcox. She points out that Raggedy Ann and Patty are
pretty different. Zoe says, Go Velveteen Rabbit.
For her return to the stage after 25
years, Pamela Villars (Mrs. Houlihan) wants to thank Dede Clark and
especially her daughter, Shae Boyd, for allowing her to share the show.
Elinor
White (Gram) received her music
education at UC Berkeley and her
Masters
Degree in Voice at Cal State Hayward.
Her career in musical theater spanned 35 years of Music
Direction/Conducting.
Sarah
Wingfield (Minnie/Sophie) started in
kidsActing as Fingers in Oliver last fall, then played Frenchie in Grease.
Sarah loves musicals, costumes and her dogs. She is 11 and going into the sixth
grade.
Richard
Woolsey (Homeless Bo) has been
performing with kidsActing for 24 years. He has been in shows too numerous to
mention. He is also the one and only original "Homeless Bo".
Chloe
Werth (Molly/Moe/Caroline) is 14 years
old and is new to Austin. She enjoys the Fine Arts, including acting, drawing,
writing and music. She also loves technology, especially video games and
computers.
In
kidsActing shows for 3 years, Jennifer Zeitz (Flo/Amy) has also played
in Aladdin, Charlie Brown and Oliver. She enjoys being a star that shines for
her family, friends and especially the audience.
