Image: Rachel Wells
It’s Friday in the life of eight young people as they navigate the rough waters of high school. Experience a NEW high-energy musical full of drama, humor, and real-life situations interwoven with the latest discoveries about the mysterious teen brain. Is this your life? Your school? Find out by coming to see the world premiere of Teen Brain: The Musical performed by DCT’s Teen Scene Players playing Feb. 15-24, 2013 at DCT’s Rosewood Center for Family Arts.
DCT’s teen and young adult programming focuses on issues and interests of the underserved teen audience. In response to the many requests for more performance opportunities for teens, last season DCT’s Academy introduced the Teen Scene Players, an advanced acting training course for young adults, with an added level of professionalism by including a public performance. All classes taught in the DCT Academy culminate in a presentation for invited family and friends on DCT’s stages, however, the Teen Scene Players class culminates in a DCT Season Special performance open to the public.
TEEN BRAIN: THE MUSICAL reveals the teen struggle with stress, the pressure to succeed, parents, relationships, homework, risk taking, technology, and impulsivity. Underlying the action of the play is the latest research on the teen brain. Once thought to be just an adult brain “with less miles on it,” the latest neuroscience reveals a very different picture. “Writing a play about the teen brain has interested me for a long time because they are so different, yet brilliant,” says playwright Linda Daugherty.
Daugherty is an award-winning playwright whose work has appeared in prominent theaters and colleges throughout the United States, and hundreds of high schools throughout the world. She is one of a few writers creating significant pieces developed specifically for teen audiences to critical acclaim. In 2011, she received both the regional and national awards by the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine in recognition of her dedication to improving the health and well-being of adolescents. Also in 2011 she, along with Dr. Susan Sugerman, were jointly nominated as Texan of the Year by The Dallas Morning News arts staff for their symbiotic relationship bringing challenging theater and facilitated discussions to DCT audiences.
By presenting the latest teen brain research with scenes and songs interwoven into a real life story, DCT hopes its teen audience will leave the theater aware of the risks they face and better able to look at their own ability to make healthy, productive choices. Daugherty adds, “I wanted to present the material in a fun and lively way, and a musical felt right. Plus, I knew the perfect composer.”
Dallas based composer/lyricist Nick Martin has been involved with DCT since he was five years old when he was cast as a gnome in Daugherty’s Cinderella, Or Everyone Needs a Fairy Godmother. His most recent musical, The Milford Project, won Best of Fringe at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2011. “I really tried to capture the teenage brain in action with the music,” says Martin. He continues, “the songs come at you quickly and aggressively, and I incorporated a lot of different “looks,” from traditional Broadway to modern hip-hop and rock.” A rock show style lighting theme designed by Melissa Cashion provides exciting, theatrical visuals to complement singers holding microphones and live accompaniment by Martin.
SYNOPSIS: It’s a typical Friday in high school. Ziggy can’t wait to present his report on the teen brain. Straight-A “perfect” Dana has a crush on Austin. Everybody knows Spivey’s been cheating on Ashley from his Facebook posts, and Ashley decides to throw a small party at her house while her parents are out of town. At the end of the day, a terrible accident forces everyone to rethink who they are and about the choices that lead to a tragedy.
TEEN BRAIN: THE MUSICAL ends with some questions about the characters futures, but ultimately leaves the audience with a feeling of hope. An insightful dialogue facilitated by health professionals and representatives from DCT’s Advisory Council follows every performance. A special opening night panel discussion will be led by Susan Sugerman, MD, MPH, FAAP, Girls to Women Health and Wellness; Don Hafer, PhD of Texas Health Resources and Behavioral Health Service Line Director; and Sam DeWitt, a doctoral student in the Cognition and Neuroscience program at the University of Texas at Dallas Center for BrainHealth.
TEEN BRAIN: THE MUSICAL is intended for an audience of teens and adults, ages 12 and up. The production contains strong language and situations. Not suitable for young children.
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN PREVIEW NIGHT
Attend the final dress rehearsal on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 pm and pay-what-you-can! A suggested donation is $10 per person.
TGIF OPENING NIGHT PARTY
Attend the show on Friday, Feb. 15 and enjoy an opening night panel discussion and reception following the play. Meet the authors, actors, crew, designers, and panelists to continue the conversation.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Director & Choreographer – Nancy Schaeffer
Musical Director – Nick Martin
Assistant Director – Melissa Cashion
Set Designer – H. Bart McGeehon
Costume Designer – Abram Rankin
Lighting Designer – Melissa Cashion
Sound Designer- Ziggy Renner
Properties Designer – Anna Klawitter
Stage Manager – Kim Augustine
CONSERVATORY CAST
Holly -Colleen Breen
Dana – Annabel McGill
Austin – Austin Ovcarik
Ziggy – Carter Brown
J.J. – Froy Gutierrez
Terri – Kendyl Mull
Sonya -Meghan Harshaw
Ashley- Hunter Wienecke
TEEN CREW
Nick Shelokov, Emmie Abels, Vlad Plumlee, Chet Monday, Kelli Anne Rekieta, Jacob Pitts
DALLAS CHILDRENS THEATER, ROSEWOOD CENTER FOR FAMILY ARTS
5938 Skillman Street, Dallas, Texas 75231
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:
Friday, February 15, 22 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 16, 23 at 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 17, 24 at 1:30 pm
Performance Dates and Times: Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 1:30 pm
Ticket Prices: $12 single tickets, $10 for subscribers
DCT Box Office: 214-740-0051
Tickets also available on-line! www.dct.org
Weekday Student Matinee shows also available Tuesdays through Fridays. Please call ArtReach Booking at 214-219-2049.
Dallas Children’s Theater’s 2012-2013 Season is sponsored by Michaels; Texas Instruments Foundation; TACA; and Target. General sponsors include The Rosewood Foundation; Texas Instruments, Inc.; the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; NGP Energy Capital Management; and Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation. The following families are part of DCT’s Medici Circle and provide financial support designed to sustain DCT’s commitment to high production values: The Harold Simmons Foundation and The Hersh Foundation. Additional funding and support is provided by Texas Commission on the Arts and Green Mountain Energy (DCT’s official renewable energy partner).
