Local Performances Archives - Enchantment Theatre Company

Musicopia Is Our 2017 Eden Award Recipient

April 7, 2017 by Zachary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6, 2017

CONTACT:
Carin Brastow
Managing Director
215-496-9160 (office)
carin@enchantmenttheatre.org

ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY SELECTS MUSICOPIA AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2017 EDEN AWARD

Philadelphia, PA—Enchantment Theatre Company has selected Musicopia as the recipient of its 2017 Eden Award. Since 2009, Enchantment has presented this award to an individual or organization that exemplifies the values that guide Enchantment – imagination, originality, transformation and community. This award will be presented at our Annual Benefit on May 7, 2017 at the Philadelphia Zoo. Enchantment Theatre Company’s signature fundraiser, the Benefit brings in children and families from all over the Philadelphia region to celebrate the power of theater and arts education. This year’s event will include a special performance of our newest Enchantment Everywhere production, The Bremen Town Musicians; a buffet reception; an instrument petting zoo; and other creative music and theater activities for children (and adults) of all ages.

“We are thrilled to recognize Musicopia with our 2017 Eden Award,” says Carin Brastow, Managing Director of Enchantment Theatre Company. “Musicopia is dedicated to bringing the joy of music to thousands of underserved children across the Greater Philadelphia Region. Today, with fewer state and federal dollars supporting school districts, arts organizations like Enchantment and Musicopia are stepping up to fill the gap in order to keep the arts a part of children’s lives, regardless of their ability to pay.

With our premiere production of The Bremen Town Musicians, based on the classic Grimm fairy tale about individuals working together to discover their purpose and becoming musicians, it seems only fitting that we honor Musicopia. We feel that Mrs. Eden would have been proud of the Committee’s choice!”

“We are delighted to receive such an honor. Musicopia and Enchantment Theatre Company share complimentary missions to make the arts accessible to all children,” says Musicopia Executive Director Denise Kinney. “Both organizations work to provide artistic experiences to help children develop the socio-emotional skills necessary for a 21^st century workforce. Our sincere gratitude to Enchantment Theatre!”

The Eden Award was established in 2009 to honor the late Judith S. Eden, friend, Advisory Board member and faithful supporter of Enchantment Theatre Company. Eden, a resident of Center City, was a zoning attorney and civic activist who died of cancer in August 2008. Eden was an exceptional leader in many civic organizations and causes, including the Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight. This award keeps alive the memory of an extraordinary woman who devoted her energies to her family, her work and her community in a way that was truly transformational.

About Musicopia: Musicopia’s mission is to provide opportunities for children to experience, learn, perform, and appreciate music. Offering a wide range of in-school and out-of-school programs spanning Pre-K through 12^th grade, and with a focus on economically underserved communities, Musicopia gives all children the opportunity to learn to play an instrument and be a member of a musical community. Through the operation of the Gift of Music instrument donation program, Musicopia collects and repairs used instruments to place them in the hands of a needy child or school.

About Enchantment: Enchantment Theatre Company is a professional non-profit theater company with a reputation across the country for excellence in both theater and arts education. Since 1979, Enchantment has inspired children to dream, explore, think and connect through imaginative storytelling onstage and in the classroom. We accomplish this by transforming great stories into great theater using our signature performance style, which blends music, puppetry, dance, magic and masks into an engaging theater experience. Our vision is to share Enchantment’s unique artistry with as many children and families as possible. This includes 50+ schools and nearly 20,000 children in the Philadelphia region reached by Enchantment Everywhere who many not otherwise have access to theater and also the more than 100,000 children reached by its national tours.

For tickets to Enchantment’s Annual Benefit, “Play with us at the Philadelphia Zoo,” visit http://enchantmenttheatre.org/benefit/

The 2015 Eden Award Goes to the Neighborhood Gardens Trust

October 16, 2015 by Zachary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 15, 2015

CONTACT:
Carin Brastow
Managing Director
(215) 496-9160 (office)
carin@enchantmenttheatre.org

ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY SELECTS NEIGHBORHOOD GARDENS TRUST AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2015 EDEN AWARD

Philadelphia, PA—Enchantment Theatre Company has selected the Neighborhood Gardens Trust as the winner of its 2015 Eden Award. Since 2009, Enchantment has presented this award to an individual or organization that exemplifies the values that guide Enchantment – imagination, originality, transformation and community. This award will be presented at the opening performance of Enchantment’s newest original production, Peter Rabbit^TM Tales, December 12, 2015 at the Arts Bank Theater.

“We are so pleased to recognize the Neighborhood Gardens Trust with our 2015 Eden Award,” says Carin Brastow, Managing Director of Enchantment Theatre Company. “Neighborhood Gardens Trust is dedicated to preserving community gardens and shared open spaces that enhance quality of life in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. NGT, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, has protected 35 open spaces across Philadelphia, which were transformed from vacant lots to beautiful gardens that grow flowers and organically grown produce.

With our world premiere production of Peter Rabbit^TM Tales, based on the original tales of Beatrix Potter – a pioneer in land conservation – it seems only fitting that we honor the Neighborhood Gardens Trust for preserving and protecting the very nature that inspired Ms. Potter’s art and stories. We feel that Ms. Potter and Mrs. Eden would have been proud of the Committee’s choice!”

“We are honored to receive this award and delighted that Enchantment Theatre Company has selected an organization dedicated to improving the urban environment,” says Neighborhood Gardens Trust’s Executive Director, Jennifer Greenberg. Just as ETC introduces city youth to the creative possibilities that are inherent in the arts, NGT supports and sustains opportunities for urban residents of all ages to creatively engage with the natural world.”

About Neighborhood Gardens Trust: The Neighborhood Gardens Trust, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, has preserved 35 gardens and shared open spaces and has the goal of protecting as many as 100 spaces throughout the city. The Philadelphia Land Bank, a mechanism for turning vacant land into productive use, will help NGT reach this goal, reflecting the rising trend of households growing their own food and the increased interest in community gardening.

The parcels of land under NGT’s umbrella range from single house lots to 3.7-acre spaces. The gardens include tranquil spots filled with flowers and trees to bountiful vegetable gardens that contribute to the PHS City Harvest program, which raises healthy food for families in need. Among the NGT gardens are long-established, stunning landscapes such as Aspen Farms in West Philadelphia and the urban oasis filled with found art called Summer Winter Garden, as well as Moore Street Garden, the green space most recently protected by NGT.

About Enchantment: Enchantment Theatre Company is a professional non-profit theater company with a reputation across the country for excellence in both theater and arts education. For more than 35 years, Enchantment has been guided by its mission: to create original theater for young audiences and families that inspires, challenges and enriches our audience. We accomplish this by combining great stories with our distinctive signature style, blending music, puppetry, dance, magic and masks into an engaging theater experience. Our vision is to share Enchantment’s unique artistry with as many children and families as possible. This includes those in the Philadelphia region reached by Enchantment Everywhere who many not otherwise have access to theater and also the more than 100,000 children reached by its national tours.

For tickets to Enchantment’s Opening Day Benefit: An Enchanted Garden Party on the 12^th of December, go here.

Happy Birthday, Beatrix!

July 28, 2015 by Zachary

Today, July 28, 2015, is the 149th birthday anniversary of celebrated author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, the creator of the beloved Peter Rabbit books. In celebration and anticipation of her 150th birthday anniversary next year, Enchantment Theatre is bringing her captivating stories to life in a 2015-2016 national tour by arrangement with Frederick Warne & Co and Penguin Books UK. We are thrilled to present the authorized theatrical version of these magical and adventurous stories in Peter Rabbit™ Tales. Using fantastic masks, whimsical puppets, gorgeous scenery and original music, the magical, marvelous World of Beatrix Potter™ will come alive on stage.

Curious how Enchantment adapts wonderful classic stories like these? Take a peek at the below video for an inside look at the adaptation process. Happy Birthday, Beatrix!

Now take a look to see if Peter Rabbit™ Tales is coming to a town near you!

Seven in One Blow!

April 8, 2015 by Zachary

By Rachel Hulsart, Marketing Intern

We at Enchantment Theatre Company are excited to introduce to you The Brave Little Tailor, our newest Enchantment Everywhere production that is based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale of the same name. When a feisty little tailor kills seven flies with one blow in his workshop, he gains an air of confidence as he proudly displays Seven Dead in One Blow on his sash while walking about town. Many are stunned to see his sash as they assume that he killed seven knights in one blow rather than flies. Because of this misunderstanding, he ends up facing the challenges of defeating two giants, a rhinoceros, and a ferocious dragon from the kingdom where he would be rewarded by having the Princess’ hand in marriage.

In German culture, a tailor used to be seen as the poorest of the poor, and his value would be mocked by saying “Nine tailors make one man.” However, a tailor was also viewed in German culture as someone who would surprise everyone with his wit. The tailor in this story uses his wit to overcome the challenges he faces by thinking on his feet. The Grimm Brothers were interested in making the main character a tailor in order to inspire people to not let their outward appearance prevent them from accessing the power and wit they have inside them. So for the kids reading this out there, know that you are not too small to accomplish anything. Just use your brains, wit, and courage!

At an Enchantment Theatre Company performance, audience members of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to explore creative worlds and embrace the experience of live theater. Enchantment Theatre is dedicated to a unique style of performance by including expressive masks, puppetry, magic, music, movement and pantomime in our productions. In The Brave Little Tailor, we will again use these performance modes to create a world where, for a moment, kids will share a space with a giant, see a battle with a dragon and witness the courage of a simple man. It is our hope to create a magical experience for all ages, one where a child can dream big.

The Brave Little Tailor will be touring the five-county area from April 27th to June 12th. There will also be public performances at three local venues:

Sunday, May 10th / 2:00pm / Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street / FREE for everyone
Sunday, May 31st / 11:00am & 12:00pm / Smith Memorial Playground, 3500 Reservoir Drive / FREE for members
Saturday, June 6th / 2:00pm / Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Avenue / FREE with admission

Are you an educator or presenter that is interested in bringing Enchantment Theatre Company to your school or venue? Contact us at 215-496-9160.

FREE Flounder Performance at MCCC on Oct 11

September 29, 2014 by Daniel Hoffens

On Saturday, October 11, we will present a FREE performance of The Fisherman and the Flounder at Montgomery County Community College. The show is at 11:00 AM in the theater inside the Science Center, and seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Enjoy the magic of our first Enchantment Everywhere production! Recommended for children in grades K-5. Production is approximately 40 minutes long, and there is a talkback after the show, in which the cast answers your questions from the stage!

College Address: 340 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422

ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES FOUR CAPTIVATING TALES FOR UPCOMING 2014-15 SEASON

June 27, 2014 by Daniel Hoffens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 26, 2014

Contact: Carin Brastow, Managing Director
Telephone: (215) 496-9160
Email: carin@enchantmenttheatre.org

Breathing life into 4 classic stories onstage across the United States and in classrooms and
community venues across the Philadelphia region

Philadelphia, PA: Known nationally and internationally for thrilling young audiences with imaginative productions of classic stories that enchant young and old alike, Enchantment Theatre Company is poised to present yet another captivating collection of shows for its 2014-15 season. Today, Enchantment’s Artistic Directors Landis Smith, Jennifer Blatchley Smith and Leslie Reidel revealed the programming that will comprise the 2014-15 season. This October, Crockett Johnson’s beloved tale of “The Adventures of Harold and Purple Crayon” sails across the United States to enchant thousands on our annual National Tour. This December, the timeless fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” transforms Philadelphia’s Arts Bank stage into a winter wonderland. In addition, through the regional touring program Enchantment Everywhere, Enchantment will present two Brothers Grimm tales, “The Fisherman and the Flounder” and “The Brave Little Tailor,” to thousands of children across the Philadelphia region – providing access to high-quality productions to those who have limited access to the arts.

We’re delighted to offer these marvelous tales that celebrate imagination, friendship, family and possibility. We can’t wait to share these spellbinding theatrical experiences with children and families across the nation and in our hometown of Philadelphia.” says Artistic Director, Landis Smith.

The season opens in October with our National Tour of “The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon.” Children and families across the United States will join Harold (and his magical purple crayon) in an amazing on-stage adventure. Harold is a curious, imaginative and resourceful little boy who creates the worlds he wants to explore, using nothing more than a big purple crayon and his sky’s-the-limit imagination. Adds the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, “Harold is pure MAGIC! The brilliant use of projections and seamless transitions from ‘markings’ of the crayon to the elaborate (and very copious) props transforms what could easily have been a theatrical nightmare into a truly remarkable theatrical experience. The Brooklyn Center audience was astounded, as evidenced by the cheers during the final curtain call. Enchantment delivered yet another home run for our family and school audiences!” Visit EnchantmentTheatre.org for information about the Touring Itinerary or contact Barbara Simon at Brad Simon Organization: (212) 730-2132 or barbara@bsoinc.com if you would like to book “Harold.”

In December, just in time for winter, “The Snow Queen” blows into town for our Philadelphia audiences for what The Inquirer simply calls “Holiday Magic.” When a young boy vanishes, his best friend sets out on a magical journey to bring him home. So begins the tale of Gerda who is determined to rescue her beloved friend Kai from the wicked Snow Queen. This fantastic adventure through the land of snow and ice is told with life-size puppets, expressive masks, original music and imaginative theatrical effects and brings this story of a brave young girl to life in a uniquely magical way! Adds the LA Times, “Brave little Gerda’s cry for help against The Snow Queen’s demon guards is eloquently answered with heavenly intervention in the form of a gauzy, graceful puppet. It’s a moment of narrative and visual beauty, one of many that illustrate how aptly this company from Philadelphia is named.” For more information about this production, we invite you to visit EnchantmentTheatre.org.

Throughout the 2014-15 year, Enchantment will tour regionally with their new arts access program, Enchantment Everywhere. These imaginative, professional, portable productions travel to schools, arts venues, parks and retirement communities, literally anywhere there is a community of families and children. Enchantment Everywhere productions ensure that children and families within the region have access to high-quality theatrical productions, regardless of their ability to pay. This past spring, Enchantment toured “The Fisherman and the Flounder” inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, to 35 schools and over 10,000 children across the Philadelphia region. Because of its popularity, Enchantment will tour “Flounder” this fall throughout the region from September 29-October 11, 2014. In April of 2015, Enchantment will premiere its second Enchantment Everywhere production of “The Brave Little Tailor” by the Brothers Grimm. These magical productions are designed to breathe life into classic literature. They are a perfect introduction to the performing arts while also providing children a creative way to interact with literature. To book “Flounder” or “The Brave Little Tailor” please contact info@enchantmenttheatre.org or call (215) 496-9160.

About Enchantment: Enchantment Theatre Company is a professional non-profit theatre company with a reputation for excellence in both theater and arts education. For more than 35 years, Enchantment has been guided by our mission: to create original theater for young audiences and families. We accomplish this through the imaginative telling of stories that inspire, challenge and enrich our audience, onstage and in the classroom. All of Enchantment’s productions are original adaptations of new and classic fables, myths and legends, set to classical or original music. Our unique style of performance – incorporating expressive masks, life-size puppets, magical illusion, music, dance and pantomime – is accessible to all children, regardless of language barriers and encourages ethnic minorities, whose theatrical participation is among the lowest, to learn and grow through the expressive arts.

Enchantment Theatre Company became a not-for-profit theater in 2000. Since then, we have provided imaginative professional theater performances and in-school arts residency programs for over 150,000 local students through long-term partnerships with the School District of Philadelphia and PA School for the Deaf. In addition to its arts education work in schools, Enchantment performs a regional holiday production for families and takes one of its major works on the road each year to reach school groups and families in 30-40 states reaching on average 100,000 children each year, totaling more than 1 million since the year 2000. The presentation venues range from a huge tent at a North Carolina Festival to sophisticated theaters like the Lincoln Center in New York or the Kennedy Center in DC. Enchantment has toured in the Far East six times. We also provide a unique in-front-of-the-orchestra theatrical experience for young people with more than 60 symphony orchestras nationwide and in Canada, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. We have been the recipient of major grants from many national and local organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wyncote Foundation, The Independence Foundation and The Victory Foundation, to name a few. We are a company that retains the founders’ original philosophy that “experiencing live theater is essential for children to thrive.”

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If you would like more information about our season, please contact Carin Brastow, Managing Director at (215) 496-9160 or carin@enchantmenttheatre.org.

Enchantment Everywhere Update: 2 Weeks Down, 6 To Go!

May 2, 2014 by Daniel Hoffens

Whew! Wow, have we learned a lot over the past two weeks. April 21 was the very first day of our local touring program, Enchantment Everywhere, and it has been thrilling to visit six different Philadelphia District schools over the past two weeks in order to bring them our newest production.

You may know that our first Enchantment Everywhere production is based on the classic Grimm tale The Fisherman and the Flounder, but what you probably don’t know is that our cast members not only perform the show, they (with our fearless Stage Manager Jamel) also serve as the crew, putting the set together before each show and packing it up again to move on the next venue! The first day was tricky, but now that we have two weeks under our belt, we have gotten very good at loading the show in and out of a new venue quickly and efficiently, which is great. It enables us to fulfill the purpose of Enchantment Everywhere – to bring portable productions directly to local communities!

Other things we learned:

Principals and teachers are awesome – and very helpful in organizing a tour like this.
Kids are amazed by the set , especially when the hut turns into a cottage and the cottage turns into a castle!
Kids ask good questions. Some that were asked during the Q & A session we provide after each show included: “What was the moral of the story?” and “Why did the actors want to play these characters?”

Over the next 6 weeks, we will visit a total of 30 schools in Philadelphia, Chester, and Delaware counties, serving over 7,500 children! Who knows what other cool things we’ll learn?

Philadelphia Sinfonia Association Press Release

April 7, 2014 by Daniel Hoffens

Contact: Jonathan Hummel, Executive Director
Philadelphia Sinfonia Association
215.351.0363
jhummel@philadelphiasinfonia.com

March 30, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PHILADELPHIA THEATER GROUP TO PERFORM WITH AWARD WINNING LOCAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Two Philadelphia based arts organizations, Philadelphia Sinfonia Association (PSA) and Enchantment Theatre Company (ETC), are collaborating for the first time to present “Myths & Fairy Tales” a one-hour concert that will appeal to all ages and features a little something for everyone. In addition to beloved classics like Jacques Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld Overture and Richard Rodger’s “Waltz” from the Broadway musical Cinderella, the concert’s climax is a beautiful fully staged performance of Maurice Ravel’s Ma Mere L’Oye (Mother Goose ballet) with four actors from Enchantment Theatre and the top level symphonic orchestra from Philadelphia Sinfonia.

“This truly unique and moving performance will present Ravel’s hauntingly beautiful ballet in its rarely-heard entirety, while providing our gifted young musicians the educational opportunity to work with one of the country’s finest professional theater groups. The result will be a visually and aurally rich evening of entertainment,” says Maestro Gary White, conductor and music director of the Philadelphia Sinfonia.

CONCERT INFORMATION: Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 7:30 PM at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 3723 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Tickets are $20 and available at http://philasinfonia.ticketleap.com/sinfonia-enchantment/ or call 215.351.0363.

The Philadelphia Sinfonia Association, one of the region’s premiere youth orchestra programs, includes the Philadelphia Sinfonia (its award winning top symphonic orchestra composed of 100 talented musicians ages 13-22), an intermediate-level full orchestra, a string chamber orchestra and several smaller ensembles.

Philadelphia Sinfonia has performed at the Kimmel Center, the Mann Music Center, the Liberty Medal Ceremony honoring Colin Powell and at the 2000 Republican National Convention. Internationally, Philadelphia Sinfonia has performed to full houses in Holland, Great Britain, Russia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Belgium and Argentina. For more information about Philadelphia Sinfonia, directions to the concert, or spring auditions, please visit: www.philadelphiasinfonia.com, or call 215.351.0363.

Enchantment Theatre Company thrills audiences with its innovative and visually dramatic family theater productions. The company was founded in 1979 by Jennifer Blatchley Smith and Landis Smith, both actors and playwrights, and expanded to an artistic partnership with Resident Director Leslie Reidel in 1995. Enchantment Theatre Company’s distinctive artistry combines masked actors, puppets, magic, music, and more. Their original and inspiring productions have served more than a million children and families across North America and around the world including performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Lincoln Center in New York City; the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; the Academy of Music and the Kimmel Center with the Philadelphia Orchestra in their home town of Philadelphia; and in the Far East, performing in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. The company has appeared with major orchestras including those of Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Minnesota, Seattle and Montreal and with the Boston Pops on the PBS “Christmas at the Pops” television special. Other Enchantment symphonic concert productions include The Firebird, Mother Goose, The Merry Pranks of Till Eulenspiegel, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Scheherazade. Please visit http://enchantmenttheatre.org or call 215.496.9160.

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