The artistic team at The Emerald City Theatre Company on the North Side knows its newest creation is a hit. But it’s not anything audiences will see at their home for performances, the Apollo Theater.
It’s called “The PlayGround,” and it’s the company’s new play development process that was implemented this past summer. It features “play dates” that range from staged readings in front of young audiences to table readings with actors, writers and designers.
“What we set out to do was create a lab where we could develop work for the mainstage or even play with ideas for work that might be developed,” said Ernie Nolan, Associate Artistic Director at Emerald City.
Nolan adapted and directed “If You Take a Mouse to School,” which opened in September and was the first play to come out of “The PlayGround.”
Because of contractual reasons, two pages of the play needed to be rewritten. Originally, Mouse wrote a story called “Goodnight Mouse,” but Nolan had to change the story Mouse writes for the Emerald City production. A “play date” was the perfect opportunity to get feedback from the kids.
“I asked the group what kind of story they would like to hear,” Nolan said. “Was it a story about dinosaurs...or cowboys...on the moon? What cool thing did they want to see? Almost all of the three to five-year-olds wanted the story the character wrote to be about playing with his friend. They didn't want anything crazy. They wanted something that was identifiable and important to them.”
While staged readings for young audiences are not necessarily groundbreaking in children’s theater, Emerald City sets itself apart in another way.
“Ours is the only company that workshops and receives feedback from children, parents, and educators,” Nolan said. “It's the three groups that our company actively serves, so we want to know what they want and how we can help them.”
Elizabeth Schmeski, an artistic intern at Emerald City during the summer, took part in one of the “play dates” and noticed the children’s unique feedback.
“They have no filter,” she said. “I remember a little girl who would cup her hands over her ears whenever Boy would start to list his daily activities.”
Throughout the show, Boy lists his daily activities—brushing his teeth, doing a science experiment or eating a snack—and adds simple physical movements for the children to imitate.
“Clearly she was showing us that she didn’t like that part,” said Schmeski. “Some kids were not into the lists, so we had to cut a lot of it.”
Like most kids shows, “Mouse” gives the actors a chance to connect with the audience.
“I think it’s a lot of the repetition and direct contact with the audience that makes the show effective,” said Mary Williamson, who plays six different characters in the play. “It’s also a really fun, silly show.”
Audiences have responded quite positively to “Mouse,” and Nolan said it has almost become “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for kids.
After “Mouse,” Emerald City’s season of new plays continues with “Hansel and Gretel” (Nov. 20-Jan. 4.) and “The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle,” (Jan. 17-Mar. 14) both of which will take trips to the “PlayGround.”
Check out a clip of "Mouse" here.
It’s called “The PlayGround,” and it’s the company’s new play development process that was implemented this past summer. It features “play dates” that range from staged readings in front of young audiences to table readings with actors, writers and designers.
“What we set out to do was create a lab where we could develop work for the mainstage or even play with ideas for work that might be developed,” said Ernie Nolan, Associate Artistic Director at Emerald City.
Nolan adapted and directed “If You Take a Mouse to School,” which opened in September and was the first play to come out of “The PlayGround.”
Because of contractual reasons, two pages of the play needed to be rewritten. Originally, Mouse wrote a story called “Goodnight Mouse,” but Nolan had to change the story Mouse writes for the Emerald City production. A “play date” was the perfect opportunity to get feedback from the kids.
“I asked the group what kind of story they would like to hear,” Nolan said. “Was it a story about dinosaurs...or cowboys...on the moon? What cool thing did they want to see? Almost all of the three to five-year-olds wanted the story the character wrote to be about playing with his friend. They didn't want anything crazy. They wanted something that was identifiable and important to them.”
While staged readings for young audiences are not necessarily groundbreaking in children’s theater, Emerald City sets itself apart in another way.
“Ours is the only company that workshops and receives feedback from children, parents, and educators,” Nolan said. “It's the three groups that our company actively serves, so we want to know what they want and how we can help them.”
Elizabeth Schmeski, an artistic intern at Emerald City during the summer, took part in one of the “play dates” and noticed the children’s unique feedback.
“They have no filter,” she said. “I remember a little girl who would cup her hands over her ears whenever Boy would start to list his daily activities.”
Throughout the show, Boy lists his daily activities—brushing his teeth, doing a science experiment or eating a snack—and adds simple physical movements for the children to imitate.
“Clearly she was showing us that she didn’t like that part,” said Schmeski. “Some kids were not into the lists, so we had to cut a lot of it.”
Like most kids shows, “Mouse” gives the actors a chance to connect with the audience.
“I think it’s a lot of the repetition and direct contact with the audience that makes the show effective,” said Mary Williamson, who plays six different characters in the play. “It’s also a really fun, silly show.”
Audiences have responded quite positively to “Mouse,” and Nolan said it has almost become “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for kids.
After “Mouse,” Emerald City’s season of new plays continues with “Hansel and Gretel” (Nov. 20-Jan. 4.) and “The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle,” (Jan. 17-Mar. 14) both of which will take trips to the “PlayGround.”
Check out a clip of "Mouse" here.
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