Saturday Showtime!

It's hard to believe that MCT came in on Tuesday, selected their cast, and were ready to perform a one-hour musical, not once, but twice, on Saturday! As usual, the little ones who play the roles of Dust Bunnies steal the show, but everyone from the Princess and Pea, to the Leprechauns, to the Phony Princesses made the show come to life. Kudos to all the kids who worked hard to make the sixth year of the MCT residency a success! If you saw the show or had a child who partcipated, we'd love to hear your reaction to the performance. You can also see larger images and download and share the photos by clicking the link that appears in the left corner of the mini slidescreen. This will take you to the Picasa album where you can see your favorites and send friends and family to view them, as well.

Rehearsals Move to the Stage!

There's nothing like a big stage, a huge auditorium, and spotlights to kick up the jitters, but our Princess & the Pea cast didn't seem the least bit nervous! Here are some shots from the Friday night rehearsal--just one day until the curtain goes up. The hardest part? Keeping quiet backstage! But these little stars-to-be pulled it all together--you'd think they'd been doing this for ages. We hear that the costumes are brand new this year and can't wait to see what they look like. The "big kid" is Alex from Missoula Children's Theatre who plays the role of the Chief Leprechaun.

Two Days Until Show Time!

The cast of 62 started with a group audition on Tuesday where everyone had a chance to try some moves,show some "character," and have a lot of fun! By Wednesday, lines were learned and songs were being combined with stage cues. It's a little confusing at first, but the kids pick up fast and within a few short hours are starting to come together as a real ensemble. Check out the slideshow which shows some of the "Riverdom" and "Glacierdom" groups rehearsing their roles. Mouse over to the lower left corner of the screen and a link will pop up to the Picasa site where you can see full versions of each photo to download and share.

Missoula Children's Theatre Comes to Town!

This is the 6th year the Kenan Center welcomes back the Missoula Children's Theatre for a week-long residency that culminates in two performances on Saturday! We had a great turn out at auditions and all 62 kids will have roles in the show! In the photo are MCT Actor Directors Alex Kotlarek (right) and Nicole Schalmo (left). They had the awesome job of deciding who would get to play the roles of some pretty unusual characters like Dust Bunnies and Leprechauns. Stay tuned for photos and more behind-the-scenes info as we get ready for showtime!

Join Us for a Free Gallery Tour

Fall is a beautiful time to visit the rural countryside of Niagara County, especially with the wonderful produce stands, farms and wineries. Why not take a leisurely drive and make a stop at the Kenan Center on September 20where you can enjoy a free Talk and Tour with guest curator Gerald Mead of the current exhibit, Feasting Eyes: Artists Take On Food. The tour begins at 2:30 pm. The gallery is admission free, but for a $5 or more donation, you can get your hands on the limited edition color catalog--a real steal for any artophile, especially if you collect or just love Western New York artists. Also--remember to bring some non-perishable food items which will help out the YWCA of Niagara's Domestice Violence Safe Dwelling.

Check out what's in the exhibit on our early blog posts and slideshows, and also this week's Artvoice where you'll find a nice article by Lucy Yau. Go to Artvoice story.

Anneke Ieda Joins Us as String Instructor

The Music Arts Program is well on its way with the addition of string instructor Anneke Ieda. A native of Lancaster, PA, Anneke received her undergraduate degree in Music Education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and went on to a Masters Degree in orchestral Conducting from SUNY Fredonia which is well noted for its music program. Anneke taught strings to grades 5-12 in Jamestown Public Schools and also Suzuki violin at Global Concepts Charter School in Lackawanna. We're thrilled to have Anneke join us!

Meet Our New Music Arts Program Coordinator

We couldn't be more excited about our new partnership with the Lockport City School District that will bring string instruction to elementary school students and an even more extensive summer program to the Kenan Center starting next summer!

Called the Music Arts Program, or MAP, the first component--in-school instruction--begins this month and coordinating all the details is Paul Monaco. Paul has plenty of experience for his new role! Paul's love of stringed instruments goes back to the wee age of five when he started playing violin. He later went on to play tuba and electric bass in the Army. After completing his BS in Educational Studies and MS in Education at Canisius College, Paul went on to teach in the Royalton-Hartland School District where he's currently employed full-time. Paul says he's really excited about being selected as the progam's first coordinator and believes in the philosophy that every student should have an opportunity to learn to play if there's an interest. We're looking forward to future recitals!