The Santa Monica Playhouse Education Conservatory presents a very special short-burst production on Friday, April 6, 2012. The show, “STUFF: A Spring Cleaning Treasure Hunt,†is presented, crafted and created by the sixteen six to 11-year-old members of the Santa Monica Playhouse Spring Theatre Camp.
In each Playhouse student play production session, the young thespians, in collaboration with artistic and educational staff, develop themes and ideas for an original piece of musical theatre, themes that resonate with their own ideas and ideals for a better world. This year, it was a unanimous decision to do a play that would help clean up the planet by supporting recycling/reuse efforts in our community.
Since it is Spring, the idea of Spring Cleaning quickly came to the fore, and the students, now in their third day of a five day program, are already neck-deep in the creative process. “STUFF†focuses on the concept of recycling rather than destroying, and of giving our cast-offs and left-overs a second chance at life, while at the same time exploring our own emotional baggage, the bad habits and behavior we accumulate that might well be sent to the trash bin (selfishness, bullying, low self-esteem, rudeness, taking our families and friends for granted).
In an effort to create a dynamic set and at the same support their recycling efforts, the cast of “STUFF†have set about to gather an entire stage full of clothing, books and toys that are gathering dust, not only in their own households, but from friends, neighbors and the community at large. Their hope is to fill the entire Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage and patio area with “stuff†– items which will, at the close of Friday’s performance, be donated to the Salvation Army and to Goodwill.
Written and directed by Playhouse Co-Artistic Director, with Young Professionals’ Company members Mira Baum and Mary Cruz, and education interns Adya Mohanty, Diana Silvers and Sarah Silvers, “STUFF†features Kayla Edyel, Sharry Eydel, Dilan Gohill, Aaron Leland, Hank Mansfield, Taylor Mulholland, Karolina Newall, Clara Nicolas Violet Rist, Carmen Inga Tryggvadottir, Raeva Vasisht, Mira Wali, Sidd Wali, Shani Yaron and Ksenia Zinkevich.
The show will play for two performances only – Friday, April 6, 2012 at 2:30pm and 4:00pm.
Tickets are $5 each and seating is limited. Reservations may be made by calling the Playhouse Box Office at 310-394-9779 ext 2.
