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Peninsula Youth Theatre E-Whisper
December 2007

in this issue
  • Gentry Gala to Benefit PYT
  • The Reluctant Dragon
  • Peter Pan Auditions
  • Winter/Spring Classes Now Online!
  • School Play in a Box
  • Brush Up Your Shakespeare!

  • The Reluctant Dragon

    What happens when a knight goes to slay the fearsome dragon and the dragon refuses to fight? Find out in our upcoming production of The Reluctant Dragon! Based on the book by Kenneth Grahame, this Stories on Stage production is sure to be a great holiday treat for the whole family!

    Performances take place Dec. 14 at 9:30am and 11:00am and Dec. 15 at 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:00pm.


    Peter Pan Auditions

    Join PYT this spring and audition for our upcoming production of Peter Pan. Children ages 8 and up will have a great time in this classic musical - and some will get to soar across the stage, flying to Never Never Land.

    Auditions take place Jan. 5 & 6 at the PYT studios. If you are unavailable to audition those dates, a limited number of late audition slots are available on a first- come, first-serve basis. To schedule a late audition, call Joan Adelman at (650) 988-8798 x304.


    Winter/Spring Classes Now Online!

    PYT's Winter/Spring class schedule is now online! Take a fun drama class this semester.

    Auditioning for Peter Pan or High School Musical? Try one of our new audition workshops. Limited to just 10 participants, students will have the opportunity to work through their monologue and song to make the most of their audition time.

    Make 'em laugh with our comedic acting class. Students will develop the skills necessary for anyone interested in featured character parts or comic leads.

    Are you a dancer who wants to learn how to start blocking your own routines? PYT's choreography workshop will give you a primer in how to structure dances for musical theater.


    School Play in a Box

    PYT has recently received grants from The James Irvine Foundation and IBM to expand our pilot "School Play in a Box" program.

    With "School Play in a Box," PYT provides a school with the instructor, sets, costume plot and an assortment of scripts to choose from. Students ages 8 through 12 learn the basics of acting, character development and storytelling while having fun, learning teamwork skills and rehearsing a production. The 10-week program culminates in a play that will be presented to parents and students.

    Grants from All Stars Helping Kids, Junior League of Silicon Valley and Mountain View Kiwanis have made it possible to offer participation scholarships to any students whoqualify for the school lunch program.

    Schools that have already participated in the program include Bowman International School, Encinal School and Willow Oaks School.

    If you're interested in staging a play at your school, email pib@pytnet.org for more information!


    Brush Up Your Shakespeare!

    If you can't commit to nightly rehearsals, but still want an opportunity to perform, try PYT's performance workshop for ages 12 and up, directed and choreographed by Katie O'Bryon.

    This session we'll be performing a one-act version of The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare's hilarious farce about a family separated in a shipwreck. Twenty-five years later they all arrive in Ephesus, where the father awaits a death sentence. Can this family -- including identical twin sons (with their identical twin servants) and their lovely mother -- be reunited in time to raise the 1,000 marks necessary to save their father?

    Prerequisite: Auditions Jan. 21 at 6pm. Cold readings from the script. Call (650) 988-8798 x302 for information and appointment.


    Gentry Gala to Benefit PYT

    In 2008, Gentry Magazine will celebrate 15 years of delivering style, wit, sophistication and originality to the mailboxes of the Peninsula and Silicon Valley. To celebrate, the annual gala will be truly remarkable:

    A Spotlight on the Arts

    All proceeds from the May 31 event at the Sheraton Palo Alto will benefit three local nonprofit arts organizations, including Peninsula Youth Theatre.

    It is difficult to describe a Gentry gala, as it is unlike any other such event. Richard Acquaviva, Gentry's executive publisher, sums it best: "You don't know where to rest your eyes or your taste buds."
    Every public space at the hotel will be filled with some of the Bay Area's best chefs - about 30 in total. They'll serve a selection of their finest treats and most innovative specialities. And they always go over-the-top: guests indulge in everything from barbecue to caviar - it's an incredible feast!

    Each room will feature performances from one of the beneficiaries: You'll hear show tunes by Peninsula Youth Theatre, arias by West Bay Opera, and the melodic choral voices of the Ragazzi Boys Chorus. Strolling players will be in glorious costumes - a feast for the eyes and ears!
    A silent auction will begin a month before the gala and culminate at the event - wonderful items including getaways, jewelry, gift baskets and more. You might even spot a pirate or two selling their "loot" as a chance to win a spectacular prize in our Pirates of Penzance raffle. Some of our favorite interior designers are getting in on the act too. Ten premiere designers are each creating pillows that will be decoratively displayed at the gala and auctioned off for the three organizations.

    The VIP reception, held two hours before the gala begins, will be themed Discovery to Destiny. As an arts enthusiast, think of the joy you feel when you discover a new talent or are in the presence of an accomplished artist. At the VIP party, we will be showcasing a guest performer on the verge of breaking into Broadway and a named artist who will treat us to a few magical moments with her talent. We'll also introduce you to an emerging visual artist whose work will be presented in a special gallery exhibit.

    Sound like fun? The Gentry Gala is always one of the most memorable events in Silicon Valley. This 15- year anniversary celebration will surely live up to the legacy. There'll be special surprises and unexpected twists around every corner!

    Get involved by sponsoring the event. For more information, contact Emily Wu at (650) 988-8798 x305.

    Click HERE to purchase tickets!
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